The Retirement Newsletter: Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 1 of 2
Issue Number: 167 (20) — how to tackle decluttering in your retirement
Welcome
Welcome to issue number 167 (20) — Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 1 of 2.
While writing this week’s newsletter, I realised I had compiled over 60 decluttering tips, which was too much for one newsletter. Hence, I have split it into two.
This week, I’m sharing the first of over 60 tips on decluttering in retirement.
Decluttering
Last week, in issue number 166 (19) — Nine types of decluttering — I looked at the types of decluttering you can do in retirement:
Physical Decluttering
Digital Decluttering
Mental Decluttering
Emotional Decluttering
Financial Decluttering
Time Decluttering
Social Decluttering
Spiritual Decluttering
Environmental Decluttering
In my research on decluttering, I came across sixty tips to help with the process. Admittedly, I have not used all these tips, but I have tried some, and they work.
I have organised them based on the decluttering you may be doing.
1. Physical Decluttering
The biggest problem I found was getting started; the task seemed huge. But by breaking things down and using boxes and a timer, the task didn’t seem so daunting.
Home:
Room-by-Room Approach: I am tackling decluttering one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. If I found a room too much to handle, I divided it into parts, e.g., cupboards, bookcases, drawers, etc. and tackled them one at a time.
The Four-Box Method: There is a four-box method for decluttering: “Keep,” “Charity,” “Sell,” and “Bin.” You sort items into these boxes. I used three; I didn’t bother with a “sell” box. I also used a “Have I needed or used this in the last year?” rule to help me decide what needed to go.
Set a Timer: To make steady progress, I dedicate a specific amount of time each day to decluttering. Using a timer worked very well for me as it forced me to stick with things, and if I were on a roll, I would go over time.
Five Items: When I didn’t feel like decluttering, I applied a “five-item” approach, which involved throwing out five items. These five items could be anything in size, from a paperclip to a piece of furniture, but by doing five items, I could clear 35 in a week and 150 in a month. The numbers and impact soon added up.
Workplace (home and office):
Clearing My Desk: I removed everything from my work desk using a three-box method: “take home,” “bin,” and “pass to colleagues.” For my home desk, I cleared it, cleaned it, and returned only what was essential.
Digitise Documents: I have scanned important documents and stored them digitally. The original documents have been filed away.
Personal Items:
Seasonal Rotation: Not something I have ever done in the UK, but if you live somewhere with seasons, store off-season clothes to make space in your wardrobe.
Declutter by Category: Sort through categories like clothes, shoes, and accessories separately. I have done this. Again, it is about breaking the big task into small chunks. The “Four Box Method” and a timer helped here. Plus, I applied the five-item approach on days I didn’t feel like decluttering.
One In, One Out Rule: For every new item I bring into my home, I try to remove one old item. I am implementing this rule because there is no point in decluttering only to buy more stuff to clutter up the place.
2. Digital Decluttering
This, as I said last week, has been a major undertaking.
Files and Documents:
Back Up Important Data: Before starting my digital declutter, I ensured everything was backed up. I have continued my regular backups of important files to an external drive and cloud storage. Once everything is set up correctly, I will keep the encrypted password-protected backups for a year and then destroy them.
Create Folders: I have reorganised my files into folders with better labels describing their contents.
Delete Duplicates: I have used software to find and delete duplicate files. (There were an alarming number.)
Emails:
Unsubscribe from Unwanted Newsletters : I have unsubscribed from email lists and am applying a “one in, one out” rule. If I subscribe to a new list, I must drop an old one.
Create Filters: I set up some email filters to automatically sort incoming mail. However, I have been getting (and sending) so few emails since I retired that the filters were not worth the hassle, and I have now removed them.
Archive Old Emails: This happens automatically for me, but it is something you might want to consider doing.
Social Media:
Reviewing My Follows: I have unfollowed dozens of accounts that were no longer interesting or relevant.
Manage Privacy Settings: I have checked and adjusted my privacy settings to control what I see and share.
Limit Screen Time: You might want to consider using apps to monitor and limit your time on social media. I have not done this.
3. Mental Decluttering
Mental decluttering wasn’t something I had considered until I read about it. Now, I view it as an essential part of the retirement process, and I am so glad I have done it. However, more work needs to be done.
Setting Priorities:
For me, this has been the most essential part of mental decluttering, and I have adopted a three-part approach:
Listing My Goals: I have written down my short and long-term goals. I have done a “brain dump” of what I need and want to get done in my retirement. My approach is similar to “Get things done (GTD)”, a productivity system I used during my career.
Planning: I plan my days and weeks to align with my priorities. The aim is to maximise my time and be productive.
Limit Distractions: I have tried to limit distractions so that I can focus on getting things done. However, I also accept that I am retired and allow flexibility. If not, I may as well still be at work.
Mindfulness and Meditation:
Daily Practice: Dedicate a few minutes each day to meditation or mindfulness exercises. I have tried this, and I find sitting in a field or just being silent on a walk and listening works best for me.
Deep Breathing: Practice deep breathing techniques to reduce stress. I have tried this in the past, and it has worked. I must try to do more of it.
Mindful Activities: Engage in yoga, walking, or journaling activities. Well, I do the walking and the journalling. Yoga? I don’t think that is for me, but I may try it.
Journaling:
Regular Schedule: Set aside time each day or week to journal. I do this. I write a journal daily; I started during the first COVID-19 lockdown. I am currently on a 1,601-day streak of entries, giving 2,516 entries and 3,149 photos. While my journaling is not about recording thoughts and feelings but more about what I have been doing, I find reflecting on the day’s events useful.
Prompt-Based Writing: Use prompts to guide your writing and focus your thoughts. I have not tried this, as I can usually prompt myself.
Gratitude Journal: Write about things you are grateful for to foster a positive mindset. I do this in my journaling, but it is not the main focus of my journaling.
So, that is 27 tips and tricks to help you with three of the nine types of decluttering you may encounter in your retirement. Next week, I will focus on the remaining six areas.
This week in the Retirement Hustle
This week in The Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, I discussed Scripting — The Fully Scripted Video.
This is the third video of three on video scripting styles. The first video was on ‘winging it’ in your videos, the second was on prompted videos, and this week it was fully scripted videos.
The Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter is subscription-based. However, each video comes with a free minute or so that allows you to confirm the content, and if you take out a free subscription, you get full access to one edition.
Travel — Nostalgia Corner
This week, more stories from Cambodia. The results of an afternoon spent wandering around Siem Reap:
Cambodia — Siem Reap, Cambodia — What did I find on a wander around town?
Cambodia — Art Centre Night Market, Siem Reap, Cambodia — A daytime visit to a night market.
Cambodia — Wat Dam Nak (Wat Damnak; ព្រះដំណាក់), High School Road (cor Wat Bo Road), Siem Reap, Cambodia — Is it Wat Damnak or Wat Dam Nak? A temple in the town.
Cambodia — Wat Preah Prohm Rath (Wat Preah Prom Rath), Pokambor Avenue, Siem Reap, Cambodia — Or is it Wat Preah Prom Rath? Another temple in town.
Next week, I will be back on the temple trail in the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Next week
Next week, in issue 168 (21), I will look at how we can tackle the six remaining types of decluttering:
Emotional Decluttering
Financial Decluttering
Time Decluttering
Social Decluttering
Spiritual Decluttering
Environmental Decluttering
Thanks
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Until next time,
Nick
PS: If you would like to contribute a story, give advice, or provide anything else to the newsletter, please get in touch.