Three Decluttering Tips for Informal Caregivers

Remember the days when life was balanced, predictable, routine? Sure, there was stress; but it was manageable. Then entered caregiving. As joyous as caregiving is, pressure and overwhelm creep in. Left unchecked, informal caregivers can unknowingly become engulfed in the caregiving role. Caring for others becomes paramount over your own self-care leaving you feeling resentful, dissatisfied, and uneasy. Worse yet, these feelings lead to guilt and blame. Your life is out of balance in need of a regular practice of decluttering.

Decluttering is more than organizing. Decluttering involves evaluating the state of your mind, relationships, and your personal environment. What purpose are they serving? Are they in line with your core values and beliefs? What atmosphere are they creating?

If you are seeking a balanced life, read on to discover the transforming role of decluttering!

Decluttering Your Mind

One of the best ways to declutter your mind and create balance in your life is to become aware of your inner vernacular. Your inner vernacular, while typically on autopilot, holds vast amounts of energy. Often, we are unaware of our inner dialogue as it is rooted deep in our subconscious arising out of our beliefs and perceptions.

“No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, for we are the only thinkers in our mind. When we create peace and harmony and balance in our minds, we will find it in our lives.” – Louise L. Hay

Dr. Joe Dispenza sheds valuable insight into our inner dialogue. Here are three phrases he suggests removing from our inner vernacular.

"I hope"

“I hope” certainly sounds harmless. It seems to equate with a sense of faith. To be clear, hope can imbue expectation and is often used in a positive sense of wellbeing to one another. Yet, how often do you reiterate phrases to yourself such as: I hope I through this day. I hope things go well. I hope I get rich. I hope things work out. I hope... In this respect the phrase,” I hope,” casts a shadow of doubt and uncertainty. There is not really an expectation of things working out or going well. Rather, Dr. Dispenza suggests using the phrase “I know.” I know I can accomplish the expectations of the day. I know things are going well. The phrase, “I know,” speaks of certainty and assertiveness. Try incorporating “I know” into your inner vernacular.

"I need"

As informal caregivers, “I need” can be a statement of honest recognition. We need assistance with caregiving. We need support. We need guidance. We need self-care. Like anything else in life, though, “I need” can become out of balance operating from a state of lack. “I need” can be symbolic of “I will never attain.” How often have you aimlessly thought, “I need a million dollars”? Or “I need to take better care of myself” without expectation or action? And caregiving puts a twist on it because we often allow ourselves to feel guilty and underserving of good things and time for ourselves. Practice changing your inner vernacular to I am worthy and abundant. When you cast out certainty and self-worth rather than lack, your inner and outer worlds begin to change.

"I can’t"

I catch myself internally saying “I can’t” quite often particularly regarding caregiving. It is almost a daily mantra of “I can’t do this anymore!” It is a phrase my young granddaughter frequently uses. “I can’t find my shoes!” “I can’t get dressed!” I can’t clean my room!” “I can’t... ” Why let that phrase be your life mantra? Dr. Dispenza recommends replacing “I can’t” with “I can.” I agree and recognize the implicit overwhelm of caregiving. We are often called to act beyond the scope of our knowledge with limited physical and emotional resources. So, “I can’t” sets in leading to burnout, discouragement, withdrawal, or disease. I suggest an “and” statement that recognizes your natural limitations and embraces self-worth. For instance, “I am resilient, and I need a break.” “I am strong, and I take time to recharge.”

Click here to watch Dr. Joe Dispenza’s YouTube video.

Decluttering Your Relationships

Maintaining healthy relationships is crucial for emotional well-being, especially for caregivers who often prioritize others over themselves. Just as mental clutter can overwhelm, toxic relationships can create unnecessary stress and drain your energy. It is important to identify unhealthy connections, set boundaries, and seek supportive relationships to foster a more balanced and fulfilling life.

“Letting go helps us live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations that do not belong to us. This frees us from unnecessary stress.” – Melody Beattie

Identify Toxic Relationships

Healthy relationships are essential for your well-being, especially as a caregiver. Take time to reflect on your relationships and identify those that may be causing stress or negativity. Toxic relationships can drain your energy and affect your mental health.

Set Boundaries

Establishing boundaries is crucial in maintaining healthy relationships. Communicate your needs and limits clearly with others. Let them know what you can and cannot do, and don’t be afraid to say no when necessary. Setting boundaries will help protect your time and energy.

Seek Support

Surround yourself with supportive and understanding individuals who can provide emotional and practical support. Join caregiver support groups, where you can connect with others who are going through similar experiences. Sharing your challenges and successes with others can be incredibly uplifting and empowering.

Decluttering Your Environment

Have you ever walked into a room and felt a sense of calm and peace? Conversely, have you walked into a room and felt a sense of anxiousness and imbalance? This is because everything is energy and has an energetic vibration. Awareness of your environment and its energetic vibration and a continual practice of readjustment creates balance in your life.

"You are a product of your environment. So, choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward success - or are they holding you back?" – W. Clement Stone

Evaluate with Self-Kindness

Japanese professional organizer and consultant, Marie Kondo, believes that “the objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.” Remember, creating a life of balance through decluttering is far more than organization. It is being kind to yourself by taking small steps of evaluation and action. What emotion do items or rooms in your home invoke? Do you have a sense of calm and refreshment or angst and negativity? What purpose is being served?

Express Yourself

Your living environment is an expression of yourself. Are you fun-loving? Your home should reflect that. Are you drawn to nature? Incorporate natural aspects into your environment.

We tend to either not think about our possessions or to view them as incidental. Yet every possession holds meaning and value. The question is whether an item’s meaning and value remains purposeful. Decluttering your environment entails assessment. Ask yourself the following questions.

• Is this item or room serving me? Or better, how is this item or room serving me? An item or room serves you when it fulfills its intended usage and imparts positivity. For example, your favorite utensil or tool has weakened over time and no longer functions at its highest capacity. Or non-stick pans have lost their non-stickiness. Inanimate objects – pictures, electronics, memorabilia, etc.- hold energy. By decluttering your environment you clear the negative energy and open room for positive energy.

• Can the item be repurposed or the room be rearranged to better serve you. In enjoy growing herbs hydroponically. They were in an area of the house separate from the kitchen and consequently were not used. Slowly I am making space to relocate them in the kitchen or a nearby location to better serve me. Creating balance in your life through decluttering embraces creatively repurposing or rearranging an item or room.

Conclusion

Decluttering your mind, relationships, and environment has a profound impact on your well-being as an informal caregiver. By creating a more organized, supportive, and mindful life, you can better manage the demands of caregiving and find greater balance and fulfillment. Remember, taking small steps of self-kindness leads to significant positive changes and creates balance in your life.