I recently learned two fascinating statistics about clutter: First, decluttering your spaces would eliminate 40 percent of your housework. Second, the average person spends between one and 10 minutes a day looking for lost items amid their clutter. That’s six and a half months of your life! If removing clutter results in more time and less housework, that sounds like a win to me.

But decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of stuff. It’s also about reevaluating and prioritizing your life for maximum joy and effectiveness. With that as the goal, here are a few places to get started.

Declutter your schedule

I don’t know about you, but my schedule fluctuates between being super full and super empty. Though I love having a lot of things to go to, it’s nice to have some downtime too. The best way to declutter your schedule is to evaluate activities with this simple question: Does this give me life?

I’m not talking about your job or any required events or responsibilities, but rather the extra stuff — the hangouts you schedule with friends, the time you spend in front of screens, how you volunteer, maybe even your small group involvement. If these activities are not lifegiving, it may be time to take a break from them or find an alternative. Your calendar should be filled with things you look forward to, not some daunting task list you feel you need to accomplish.

Another way to declutter your schedule is to perform an “audit” of your day. Are you making time for God? Do you wish you hadn’t spent hours binge-watching a show and maybe got a bit of cleaning done instead? Take a minute to think about how you use your free time and adjust your calendar to prioritize things that are productive, healthy, and help you feel good about the time spent.

Declutter your possessions

This is probably the category you think of when I say declutter, so you may already know how to do this. Look around your living spaces, closets, bookshelves — even your car. As you go through your possessions, pull a Marie Kondo and ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” More practically, give your stuff an expiration date. If you don’t use an item for 90 days, put it in a giveaway pile.

You may find it helpful to do a clothing or book swap with friends. Since July 15th is National Give Something Away Day, it’s the perfect excuse to swap, gift or donate items (just don’t bring home more than you give!). Gifting a book to a friend as a random kindness is a sweet touch, and when chosen with sensitivity and discernment (no “Dating for Dummies” or “How to Stop Being a Narcissist”), it’s a nice way to say, “I was thinking of you.”

Declutter your mind

As I clear my home, I often feel like I’m clearing my mind too. Another way to mentally declutter is to take a spiritual retreat. My husband makes a habit of doing a prayer retreat each month or two by going on a short hike somewhere nearby and hammocking with his Bible and journal. He’s says it’s a wonderful opportunity to re-center in a frantic world that discourages us from sitting down and hearing from God.

You can also try meditation or mindfulness to focus your mind and eliminate unnecessary distractions. James Clapper says in his blog post, “Should Christians Practice Mindfulness?,”

“Instead of giving in to distraction, be watchful. Christ is always ready and willing to transform our minds; we just need to take time to be still and know Him.”

Spending time in prayer and solitude is an effective way to calm your spirit and your mind. If you’re looking to quiet your racing thoughts, go to God in prayer. Be still before Him and He will bring you rest.

Declutter your spending

Maybe you didn’t consider this, but in the quest to declutter, it’s important to look at your spending. It’s said that what you value is shown in how you spend your money. I don’t think all spending is bad, but I would argue it’s important for you to set goals and then spend money in ways that support those goals.

Examine your spending. Are there things you can cut back on or subscriptions you can get rid of? It’s easier to do this if you first set a goal. For example, if I want to take a short trip next month, what are things I can cut out this month to help me fund next month’s trip? If you evaluate your spending based off your goals, you’ll find it’s fairly simple to get rid of the clutter in your accounts to accommodate the things you care about.

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Whether it’s your closet, your calendar, or your thought life, decluttering is a way to make space for the things that really matter. It doesn’t have to be perfect or done all at once — just start somewhere. As you simplify, I hope you find a little more peace, a little more breathing room, and a deeper sense of God’s presence in your everyday life. He meets us in the quiet, and that’s where rest and clarity often begin.

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