“One day, I looked at my to-do list and realized—it wasn’t mine. It was everyone else’s.”

We live in a world that thrives on more—more commitments, more things, more expectations. The weight of it all can feel unbearable, as though we’re struggling under a garbage truck load of “stuff.”

Everywhere we turn, there’s a voice in the background—society’s voice whispering in our ear, reminding us of the song performed by Andrea True Connection in ‘76:

“More, more, more…how do you like it, how do you like it…?”

It’s insidious. It infiltrates our choices, spaces, and minds, convincing us that more is always better—that success, happiness, and worth are tied to accumulation.

Yet, this overload doesn’t begin in our physical space. It starts in our minds—in beliefs, expectations, and fears we didn’t always choose.

What if we don’t like it?

This is where most minimalist advice falls short. Decluttering your life isn’t just about cleaning a room; it’s about knowing yourself first.

You cannot live something you don’t know intimately.

There is an order of operations in how Minimalism works:

1. Develop the Mindset—be willing to examine your motivations, triggers, and beliefs. Willingness is one of the most powerful forces in the Cosmos.
2. Apply It to Your Thoughts and Words—release mental clutter and emotional noise by writing them out of your head.
3. Extend It to Your Living Space—declutter your surroundings as a reflection of your inner Clarity.

When you approach life this way, simplifying becomes a value Exercise—what you release, what you keep, and why. This process is both grounding and liberating: like reclaiming your spirit, one thought, one item, one boundary at a time.

Here’s how to reduce overload in the right order to reclaim your peace and clarity.

Step 1: Develop the Minimalist Mindset—Simplify Your Commitments

The minimalist mindset begins with introspection—clarifying what’s truly yours to carry and what was handed to you, ceremoniously or otherwise.

You cannot declutter your space if your mind is still cluttered. It won’t feel right because it won’t feel like you. Take the time to examine your values, beliefs, and motivations. Ask yourself:

• “Why am I doing this?”
• “Who am I trying to please or prove myself to?”
• “Does this align with my true self, or was this expectation dumped on me?”

For me, this meant writing down all my commitments and investigating them. I found that obligations I thought were “mine” were actually echoes of someone else’s values. Letting go of even one was like dropping a weight I didn’t know I was carrying.

Action Step:

Write down as many commitments that you’ve taken on as you can think of – using the following categories as your guide:

Physical Health and Fitness

Emotional and Mental Well-Being

Spiritual Growth

Relationships and Connection

Social and Contribution

Financial Health and Wealth

Career and Purposeful Work

Personal Growth and Learning

Leisure and Recreation

Environment and Surroundings

With most of us, these could take a while to excavate. Be patient. Tackle this activity one commitment at a time.

Filter each through these questions:

“Does this energize me or drain me?”

“What happens if I let this go?”

“Am I doing this because I value it, or because I’m afraid of letting someone down?”

What Changes:
When you align commitments with your values, you reclaim time and energy for what matters. Your mind can relax. Your spirit lightens.

Step 2: Quiet the Inner Noise—Simplify Your Thoughts and Words

Once your mindset is clear, it’s time to release the mental and emotional clutter that keeps you overwhelmed. The beliefs you hold—whether inherited or adopted—can create endless noise:

• “I’m not doing enough.”
• “What will they think?”
• “I should be able to handle everything.”

Before you can declutter your living space, I’ve found that you must create stillness within. If you don’t you will be adding more load to the overload. This is the work of simplifying your inner dialogue.

Mindful Practices to Quiet the Noise:

Mind Breaks: Pause for 5 minutes, breathe deeply, and repeat a mantra like, “I release what doesn’t serve me. I am enough just as I am.”

Write It Out: When spiraling thoughts arise, write them down. Listing them on paper puts chaotic thoughts in order and transforms them into a thing written in a notebook that you can walk away from, thereby reducing their emotional hold on you.

Simplify Focus: Do one thing fully—whether it’s washing dishes or listening to a loved one. Single-tasking brings clarity and calm. Single-mindedness – being able to focus – follows.

The Shift:
When you quiet the noise, your mental clarity mirrors your evolving mindset. Peace takes the place of chaos, and decisions—like what stays in your space—become instinctive.

Step 3: Declutter Your Space—A Reflection of Inner Clarity

With your mindset clear and your inner noise quieted, you are ready to address your physical surroundings.

Decluttering your space now becomes an extension of the inner work you’ve already done. You are no longer asking, “Do I need this?”—you are asking, “Does this align with the life I’m building?”

Practical Steps:

Prioritize Essentials: Identify items that genuinely serve you. Ask: “Does this reflect my values, or is it clutter?”

Reframe Chores: Stop striving for perfection—embrace “good enough.” Tasks lose their burden when approached mindfully.

Can your house be clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy? Not everything is always pristine and sparkling clean, ask anyone who has a dog!

The 3-Minute Rule: If a task takes 3 minutes or less, do it now. This keeps small messes from becoming big distractions. For example, while cooking, wash up your dishes as you go.

The Reward:
If you’ve ever walked into a newly cleaned room, you know that it feels like a breath of fresh air!

As you simplify, your surroundings begin to reflect the order you’ve cultivated in your mind. You feel it physically: the weight lifts. You’re no longer living someone else’s expectations—your space is yours, clear and calm. You can breathe much easier.

There’s an Order to Freedom

I’ve learned that the minimalist path isn’t about starting with a clean house—it’s about starting with a clear mind. There’s an order to operations:

First, develop the mindset—understand your triggers, beliefs, and values.

Second, quiet the inner noise—declutter your thoughts and emotions.

Third, extend it to your space—clear your surroundings as a reflection of your inner work.

“You cannot live something you don’t know intimately. When you order your mind, your life begins to follow.”

And the next time you hear the voices of society chanting, “More, more, more…how do you like it, how do you like it…”, smile to yourself. You already know the answer:

“I like less. I like peace. I like freedom.”

Are you ready to simplify your mind, words, and space? Share one area of your life where you want to begin this process—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Book recommendation:

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Originally Published on https://akasha111blog.wordpress.com/

Paula Tozer Author

Paula D. Tozer is the author of three books - Saving Your Own Life: Learning to Live Like You Are Dying; An Elegant Mind's Handbook, and Enchanting Treve, a Novel. She is also an actor, singer/songwriter, Creativity Coach, competitive speaker, and leader with Toastmasters, as well as an avid cyclist, hiker, gym rat, and critter lover. The vast majority of her accomplishments have been achieved after the age of 50, demonstrating that It is never too late to be what you truly could have been...

Paula believes that living fiercely at any age is the way to optimize our time on this side of the grass. She has taken up the mission to inspire and motivate her contemporaries with what she has found that has allowed her to age with elegance, vitality, and most of all, good humor!