【My English Journal②】Getting rid of unused stuff

Recently, I found myself getting into organizing all the stuff around us. Reducing possessions leads to an effective life because if you have limited options, you do not need to spend time ruminating on which one to choose. This simplification can help you focus your time and energy on more significant activities and goals. Once you let go of the items you thought were essential for your life, you can easily realize that you can live a normal, even less stressful, life without them. Try to reduce whatever has not been used for a long time. By doing this, I noticed that household chores became fewer, and our space for kids to play freely seemed more spacious.

For example, I posted a baby chair and a book rack, both of which I bought for my kids, on the flea market for sale. These items had not been used for a while but always occupied a corner of my room. The baby chair was something we used when the kids were younger, but now it just collected dust. The book rack, though initially intended to encourage reading, became more of a storage space for unused books and toys. Clearing these out not only freed up physical space but also created a more open and welcoming environment for my family. Although I never had any desire to be a minimalist, living with items that are under your control can provide you with a positive mindset. I will continue to get rid of any unused items to maintain a clutter-free living space.

Another thing I realized was how to manage relationships with digital documents. Nowadays, we tend to write everything on devices, from schedules to study notes, because it is convenient to record various aspects of our lives. However, this convenience can lead to digital clutter. Human beings often choose the easiest method to complete tasks, and for me, this means taking notes on Notion whenever I encounter new vocabulary. At the end of the day, I often find myself searching for the notes I took on Notion or looking for other files I stored on my laptop or iPad. This can be frustrating and time-consuming.

To address this, developing a good habit of sorting out digital documents based on categories or genres is crucial. Establishing a daily routine to organize these documents can help avoid procrastination and ensure that tasks do not get pushed to the next day. For example, I now allocate 15 minutes at the end of each day to review and categorize my notes and files. This small but consistent effort prevents the buildup of digital clutter. If I do not organize them every day, once the files pile up, it becomes a daunting task to tidy them up. Regular maintenance of digital documents can lead to a more streamlined and efficient workflow, reducing stress and improving productivity.