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Sometimes the path to more clarity isn't about adding something new. It's about clearing away a little of what's already there.
I recently came across a phrase that really resonated with me:
Clarity likes simplicity.
I've been thinking about those three little words quite a bit lately, especially as I've been taking stock of some areas of my business that have started to feel more cluttered and complicated than they need to be.
It started with a desire (or more accurately, strong need) to get my digital spaces organized. But as I started digging into old files, overflowing inboxes, and systems that weren't really working for me anymore (and wondering how on earth I'd managed to accumulate so much digital stuff 😂), I realized something.
It wasn't just the clutter itself that was bothering me.
It was the time I was spending looking for things. The energy it took to remember where I'd put something. The mental juggling of all those unfinished tasks and little things I kept meaning to get around to.
And the feeling that things were harder than they needed to be.
Because really, how many times should one person have to search for the same file before deciding there's probably a better way? 😂
Can you relate to this?
Maybe it's your digital clutter, too. Or maybe it's a packed schedule, a home that never quite feels peaceful, too many commitments, or the constant mental chatter of everything you need to remember and do.
Whatever form it takes, clutter and unnecessary complexity have a sneaky way of taking up space in our lives.
And sometimes, we don't realize just how much space they've been occupying until we begin clearing some of it away.
Why simplicity matters for intentional living
When we think about simplifying our lives, it's easy to focus on getting organized, decluttering our homes, or becoming more productive.
Those things can certainly be helpful. (And I'll be the first to admit that a freshly organized space makes me ridiculously happy.)
But intentional living invites us to look a little deeper.
The goal isn't to create a perfectly organized home, an empty calendar, or a streamlined system for every part of our lives.
It's to create a life that feels more aligned with who we are, what matters to us, and how we actually want to spend our days.
And sometimes, the things we've accumulated — whether they're physical possessions, digital files, commitments, habits, or expectations — start getting in the way.
They require our attention, decisions, time, and energy.
When our days become crowded with things that don't serve us well, it can be harder to hear ourselves think, recognize what we need, or give our attention to what matters most.
Simplifying is one way we can begin creating that space again.
Not so we can squeeze more into our days, but so we can be more fully present for the life we're already living.
5 ways to simplify your life and create more clarity
You don't need to turn your entire life upside down to experience the benefits of simplicity.
In fact, I find that beginning with one small area is often a much more sustainable approach.
Here are five places to start.
1. Notice where things feel harder than they need to be
Before you start decluttering or reorganizing anything, take a moment to notice where you're experiencing friction in your everyday life.
What consistently frustrates you?
Where do you find yourself wasting time or energy?
What feels unnecessarily complicated?
Maybe you're always searching for important documents, rushing from one commitment to another, or struggling to keep track of everything on your to-do list.
You know those little things that make you sigh and think, Why is this such a production?
These little frustrations can become so familiar that we barely notice them anymore.
But they're often useful clues pointing us toward something that could use a little attention.
Try this: The next time you catch yourself feeling frustrated, scattered, or overwhelmed by an everyday task, pause and ask: Does this really need to be this complicated?
You don't need to solve it immediately. Just begin noticing.
2. Clear one source of everyday clutter
Clutter doesn't have to be visible to affect how we feel.
It can show up in our physical spaces, digital environments, schedules, and even in our thoughts.
Maybe it's the kitchen counter where everything seems to land. The hundreds of emails you're saving just in case. The subscriptions you no longer use. Or the mental list of things you keep telling yourself you need to remember.
And yes, I'm including that mysterious folder of downloads you haven't opened in approximately forever. 🙈
Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, choose one small area that's been bothering you.
Set aside 10 or 15 minutes to give it some attention.
Delete the files you no longer need. Clear off a surface. Unsubscribe from a few emails. Write down the tasks you've been carrying around in your head.
It may seem insignificant, but small changes like these can create a welcome sense of breathing room.
And just as importantly, they remind us that we can make things easier for ourselves.
3. Take a closer look at your commitments
Not all clutter lives in our homes or on our computers.
Sometimes our lives become cluttered with obligations, routines, and expectations that we've simply gotten used to carrying.
Maybe you said yes to something months ago that no longer feels right.
Maybe your calendar is so full that there's barely any room for rest, spontaneity, or the things that nourish you.
Or maybe you've been holding yourself to expectations that don't actually reflect what matters to you anymore.
Intentional living means occasionally stepping back and questioning these things rather than continuing on autopilot.
Ask yourself: If I were choosing this commitment today, knowing what I know now, would I still say yes?
Now, I recognize we can’t just wildly abandon all our responsibilities (as much as we might want to!). Sometimes a commitment is important even when it's difficult.
But it might reveal opportunities to renegotiate, simplify, ask for support, or let something go.
And sometimes it simply means giving ourselves permission to stop trying to do ALL THE THINGS.
4. Create simple systems that support your life
Here's something I've been reminded of through my own organizing projects: sometimes the problem isn't how much we have to manage — it's that the way we're managing it isn't working very well.
For example, one of my biggest digital clutter challenges has been keeping track of courses, workbooks, and other learning resources I've purchased or downloaded.
They're valuable resources that I genuinely want to use. But when they're scattered across email accounts, folders, and different platforms, finding what I need can become a project all by itself.
And if I have to spend 20 minutes hunting down a course I bought to save myself time, something has clearly gone sideways. 😂
So I've been creating one organized digital library where I can keep track of what I have and find it easily when I need it.
It's a relatively small change and one that’s not very “sexy,” but it addresses a recurring source of frustration.
The important thing is that the system should make your life easier — not become another complicated thing you have to maintain.
Because we definitely don't need a complicated system for managing all our complicated systems!
A simple folder structure, one place to capture important information, or a more realistic weekly routine may be all you need.
Try this: Identify one thing you regularly spend time searching for, remembering, or managing. What's the simplest way you could make that process easier?
5. Make space to listen to yourself
This might be the most important part of all.
Sometimes we're so busy managing our lives that we rarely give ourselves the quiet space to notice how we're actually experiencing them.
We move from one task to another, responding to what's in front of us, and before long, another day has passed.
But clarity doesn't always come from thinking harder, making another plan, or finding another solution.
Sometimes it comes when we stop filling every available moment.
I love listening to podcasts when I walk, but sometimes it’s more beneficial to take a walk without listening to anything. Sit with a cup of tea. Spend a little time journaling. Step outside and notice what's happening in nature.
Allow yourself some space without feeling that you need to do something productive with it.
(Yes, even if there are approximately 147 things on your to-do list.)
You may begin to notice what you've been craving, what's no longer working, or what deserves more of your attention (aka CLARITY! 🙌🏼).
And you just might discover that you already know more about what you need than you realized.
A simple 15-minute clarity reset
If you're feeling overwhelmed and aren't sure where to begin, try this little exercise.
You don't need any special tools — just a few quiet minutes and something to write with.
Step 1: Pause (3 minutes)
Take a few slow breaths and notice how you're feeling.
Ask yourself: What feels most cluttered, complicated, or draining in my life right now?
Write down whatever comes to mind without trying to organize or fix it.
Step 2: Choose (4 minutes)
Look over what you've written.
Choose one small thing that's within your ability to change.
Not necessarily the biggest problem or the most urgent task. Just something that could make everyday life feel a little easier.
Step 3: Create space (8 minutes)
Take one small action.
Clear a drawer, delete a few unnecessary files, remove something from your calendar, or create a simple home for information you keep losing.
If the task is too big to finish, just take the first step.
The goal isn't to get everything done.
It's to begin making room for something better.
And no, you don't need to turn your 15-minute reset into an entire weekend organizing project. (Says the woman who has definitely done that before.)
Three journal prompts for a little more clarity
If you'd like to explore this a little more deeply, take a few quiet minutes with these questions:
✦ Where in my life am I feeling the most cluttered, scattered, or overwhelmed right now? What might become clearer if I gave myself some quiet space to pause and reflect?
✦ Is there something my heart has been trying to tell me that I've been too busy, distracted, or caught up in my thoughts to hear?
✦ What's one thing I could simplify, release, or step back from to create more space for peace, clarity, and what truly matters to me?
Simplicity is about making room for life
Creating a simpler life doesn't mean getting rid of everything, doing less just for the sake of doing less, or trying to make every part of your life perfectly organized.
It also doesn’t mean organizing for the sake of impressing others or out of fear of what other people think. Any simplifying that you do is for YOU.
It's about becoming more intentional with what you allow to occupy your space, your time, and your attention.
It's about recognizing what supports the life you want to live — and what might be getting in the way.
And it's about remembering that you don't have to wait until everything is organized, figured out, or under control to begin enjoying your life.
You can work toward what comes next without missing what's already here.
So if things have been feeling a little cluttered or complicated lately, perhaps this is your invitation to pause, take stock, and simplify one small thing.
Sometimes a little more space is exactly what we need to find our way back to what matters.
Ready to create a little breathing room? Try my free Create Space Bingo 5-day challenge — a fun, simple way to clear physical, digital, mental, and everyday clutter, one small action at a time. Each activity takes 15 minutes or less.
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