If you've known me for years you will know that I am some what of a wizard  when it comes to organization and systems.  I've always been like this ever since I was a little kid, and you know what?  This makes me happy.   My mind works a little differently.

I often think back to when I'd sit in my room and write as a little kid.  I'd have to clean my room and my desk first.  I guess I was doing my best to keep my energy high even as a kid and I still do the same to this very day.  

Every year around this time I go through a deeper cleansing and decluttering process.  Basically I look around my home and get rid of anything that's not coming with me into the new year.   Old clothes, furniture, towels, dishes...  Basically I get rid of anything that's been well used, worn and isn't a reflection of who I am right now and what I actually love and want to see.  What can I say?  I am always evolving and I like fresh and new things.  My happy place is also a clean home free of clutter and usually a trip to Home Sense for some new throw pillows because a woman can never have a enough of those right?  And fresh new bath towels in your closet?  Divine!

I refresh old worn out items and bring in new ones, but I don't just do this once a year.  I am constantly refreshing and updating my surroundings but right before the new year I do one big clean sweep and yup, I love it!

This past week was the one thing that often I don't want to do but absolutely feel incredible and so happy once it's done.  As a business owner it's absolutely necessary for my creative flow and process too!

Going through old pictures, and clearing out and deleting old files from my laptop, phone and business files is essential.  This way I can start the new year fresh with new energy.

This past week we also tackled old electronics, wires and random cables lying around the house too.  Don't even get me started on the cables and phone chargers!  Getting my husband to part with an old video game cable or wire that "he might need someday" is like asking him to give me his right leg.  

Every year I also take all of my favourite photos from the past year and put them into a photo book on January 1st.  That's been my tradition.  My old tradition for almost 15 years was a Big Mac super sized combo and a side of mac sauce from McDonalds.  My new tradition is I craft up a new vision for my life, get laser focused on what I intend to create for my life and then I lounge around being extremely grateful for my life all while putting all of my favourite memories into one little photo book.   (I might however bring the Big Mac tradition back.. I really loved that one too.)   Side note:  If you want to learn more about mastering your mindset, transforming your life, raising your own energy levels or manifesting and creating a life you truly love join Rise and Shine.

I've been doing photo books since 2015 and it's something I love and enjoy.  (Once it's complete).  The kids also love looking back on these little photo books or they love to show their friends when they come over because let's face it... Most people don't ever do anything with the photos and videos sitting on their phone.  Think about all that wasted time and energy for what?  Clutter, distraction, a slow operating system, and added stress of things or memories left unfinished.

So I've always been intentional with my digital stuff.  It's a very strategic system I have in place that I maintain all year long so that at the end of the year it's somewhat easy.  Plus I only take pictures of the things I actually want to capture.  I don't have 10,000 pictures or random videos or screen shots on my phone of things I'll never look at or need or watch ever again.  I capture only the best of what I want to remember and aim to stay in the present moment as much as possible especially on vacations, at events or with my kids, and then I wipe my phone and clear it so I can start the new year fresh!

This also includes deleting apps, notes, social media accounts, and emails.  Operation Inbox zero and a happy, calm, organized, simplified, and peaceful life!

Organizing your digital clutter is no different than keeping on top of things like your laundry, cleaning, car maintenance, business receipts, or taxes.  When you maintain it on the regular, it's never overwhelming or stressful and doesn't actually take a lot of time or money because you've got a system or a process that allows your life to be easier and way more effective. 

So why is digital decluttering a big deal?  Well it's a lot deeper and more spiritual than most people think!

We often think clutter refers only to the things that we can touch like furniture, closets, or piles of mail laying around on the counter.  But one of the heaviest forms of clutter isn’t what you can see in your home, but it's what stored quietly in your devices.

Your phone, computer desktop, and old hard drives can hold years of unprocessed memories, decisions you haven’t made yet, wasted time, and unfinished energetic loops that might be keeping you stuck in the past or overloaded with stress, guilt, regret, and overwhelm.  Even though you can’t see it, your mind feels it every time you open your laptop or scroll through your photos on your phone.

Today, more than ever, digital clutter is mental clutter.  And clearing it?  It feels like a breath of fresh air for your soul.

1. Digital Clutter Drains You More Than You Realize

Every time you swipe past thousands of photos, old screenshots, deleted ideas, or projects you no longer care about, your mind gets hit with tiny micro-stressors.

Your brain subconsciously thinks:

• Do I need this?

• Should I organize this?

• What if I need this later?

• Why haven’t I dealt with this yet?

It might last only a second each time, but multiplied by hundreds of files, it becomes overwhelm.  Decluttering deletes the noise.  Suddenly everything feels lighter, faster, easier.

2. Clearing Your Phone Photos Creates Emotional Space

Your photo gallery is a timeline of your life. It holds:

• Moments you’ve outgrown

• Memories that no longer serve you

• Screenshots from a version of yourself you’ve moved past

• Duplicate photos you never meant to keep

Letting go of the excess allows you to truly appreciate the special moments that remain.

When you delete old photos, it’s not just making storage space…

It’s making emotional space for the person you’re becoming.

3. Deleting Old Files = Reclaiming Mental Bandwidth

Old PDFs, half-finished projects, downloads you forgot about or random documents from five years ago can all be deleted. 

You may not think about them, but they take up:

• visual space

• mental space

• energetic space

A clean desktop or organized folder structure creates clarity.  Your mind works better when your digital environment matches the order you want in your life.  Digital clarity creates mental clarity.

4. Clearing Your Computer Workspace Improves Focus

When your workspace is cluttered, tabs everywhere, icons scattered, windows layered you’re constantly switching tasks microseconds at a time and everything takes longer for you to find.  

Decluttering your workspace:

• Improves focus

• Makes you more productive

• Eliminates digital procrastination

• Reduces decision fatigue

It’s like giving your mind permission to exhale.

5. Deleting Old Videos Frees Emotional Real Estate

Videos hold energy.  Some are joyful, some are heavy, some are just old versions of you that might make you feel sad.  Releasing them doesn’t erase the memory, it simply releases the attachment.  When you remove what no longer matches your current chapter or your new identity, you create room for the experiences that do.

6. Disposing of Old Electronics Releases Stagnant Energy

Old phones, computers, cords, chargers, cameras, broken tablets.  These items carry more than dust. They hold:

• Old identities

• Past seasons of life

• Unfinished ideas

• Energetic stagnation

Decluttering old electronics symbolizes a powerful message to the universe:  “I’m making room for what’s next.”  There is something incredibly empowering about letting go of devices and tools that belonged to a past version of you.

7. Decluttering Creates Momentum and Renewed Motivation

Once you clear digital clutter, something shifts inside you.

You feel:

• lighter

• clearer

• more open

• more decisive

• more organized

• more capable

Decluttering one area creates momentum in others:

• Your home becomes tidier

• Your schedule becomes clearer

• Your goals become sharper

• Your energy becomes more focused

Digital clarity ripples into every area of your life.

8. You Deserve a Digital Space That Supports Your Future, Not Your Past

Think of your digital world as the environment your future self lives in.

Ask yourself:

• Do these files represent who I am now?

• Does this workspace help me think clearly?

• Do these photos bring me joy?

• Does this device still serve me?

If the answer is no, it’s time to release.  Your digital environment should reflect:

• who you are

• what you value

• where you’re going

Not the clutter of old versions of you.

The Relief Is Instant

The moment you delete something you no longer need, you feel it.  It's like a  tiny but powerful rush of relief and liberation.  Multiply that by hundreds or thousands of items, and it becomes a transformation.  Decluttering is not just cleaning.  It’s reclaiming your energy.  It’s choosing clarity.  It’s signalling to the universe that you’re ready to receive more without the weight of what no longer serves you.

Ready to Feel That Relief?

Start small.  Start by clearing off your desktop or delete 100 photos.  Organize one folder or toss one old device.  Just be sure to wipe it, smash it, or factory reset it before you get rid of it.  You can even drop off old devices to some stores for disposal.  Just call and ask!  Even the dump has an electronics bin.  You’ll feel the shift immediately.  Decluttering is a gift you give yourself.  A gift of clarity, a gift of peace, a gift of space for the life you’re calling in next.

As for things you think you want to keep?  Well there's a really good chance you're not ever going to go back and look at them on the regular, but you can grab yourself an external hard drive, transfer what you think you will need or want to that hard drive, and then factory reset your laptop or device.  Then if you want you can put what you really need back onto your desktop.

As for when it's hard to release and let go of something?  You will know and feel when it's time to part ways and let go of something.  Even something like an old picture of a friend that's no longer in your life, or an old text message from a loved one that has since crossed over to the other side.  That can be painful and sad.  It can bring up many emotions and many feelings but processing everything and allowing yourself to go through this process is what your soul ultimately is needing and wanting for optimal health and happiness.  If you need a little help call upon your higher power and internal guidance system to help you with difficult decisions and when in doubt, simply leave it be.  You can ask that part of yourself to help you make the right decision.  You can help that part of yourself to help you to let go.  You can ask that part of yourself to help you make peace with a situation or a person and return back only to the good memories you shared together and kep those in yoru heart instead.  Also know that when it comes to letting things go you might need to shed some tears and honour that part of your life and season.  Allow the tears to come and flow and allow grace to wash over you.  Allow yourself to feel what you must feel and allow your body and spirit to work it's magic.  Listen to the whispers of your heart and have the courage to listen.  We have to let go in order for new things to come into our life and always trust, know and believe that all of your steps are being ordered and you will always make the right and best decision and that by letting go and moving forward you are choosing to live in love and rest in peace.

As for family photos and videos on your devices?  Limit yourself to 10-20 of your favourite pictures each month and put those into an album or photo book.  Shutterly is amazing and they even have done for you services.  Upload your pictures and let them create the book in the next 24 hours!  8x8 books are a perfect size.  Not too big, and not too small either.  If there is a particular video that you love, then you can either transfer the video to a hard drive or USB key or keep it on your device to go back and look at if it brings you joy.  I have a few I keep on my phone just because they make me smile and fill my heart with so much love.  If you really love a picture, go out and buy a beautiful new picture frame and display it in your home.  Obviously find a system and do something that feels good to you but always remember, in 2, 5, or 20 years if it's stored electronically or digitally there's a really good chance you'll never be able to access these again because of technology changes, so get used to letting things go!

Ready for a brand new fresh start right now?  Well being a free spirit is also an option.  Let me remind you that one day you will die and none of this will even matter.  Let me remind you that you can't take stuff with you to the grave.  Let me also remind you that if you don't do this yourself and handle your own affairs (and clutter) like a responsible grown adult, you'll leave that extra work, stress, and burden for your kids.. and trust me they don't want that because they will have their own life, their own family, and their own responsibilities to take care of.  You can also choose to do what I've also done in my life which simply was to say ..."Fuck it All"   You can choose to let it all go, delete it, donate it, order a large dump bin, get rid of all your shit, walk away from it all completely, and just move forward and go and enjoy your fucking life.  Stuff is just stuff and it can easily be replaced but it's what you carry with you in your heart that truly matters most. It's what you carry with you in your heart that is eternal.    

Make it on ongoing practice or clearing the clutter.  Standing at line at a store waiting?  Waiting for your kids to wrap up practice while you sit in the car?  Don't scroll your phone and do nothing.  Maximize this little pocket of time and go through some old pictures or emails and delete, delete, delete, the be sure to delete the deleted!  Often times when I'm travelling as a passenger while my husband is driving or I'm on an airplane I'll use this pocket of time to declutter my electronics!  You could also set up a specific day like some people do.  Every Friday, or at the end of your work day allocate an extra 5 minutes to organize your desktop, delete anything you don't need, delete some old pictures of the kids that you have duplicates of, and delete your cookies or browsing history.  Maintenance and staying on top of things makes it so much easier.  Make it a goal to get your inbox at zero and your desktop organized by the end of every Friday afternoon.  Super fun, relaxing, and efficient right?  Oh, and while you're at it start unsubscribing from as many emails as you can that you no longer need to receive emails from.  You can even create a new "special" email address just for shopping!  This is what I have done so that I can keep my online shopping and receipts separate from everything else and my life truly has become so much easier and frees up way more time and energy too.  

So there you have it. 

The past is gone, and in order to move forward you must focus all of your energy on building the new, not being tied to the past because it's what you do in the present moment that counts the most.  Ultimately at the end of the day you can set up your life up and create anything you want.  Just do what works best for you.  

When we clean out our world, we leave room for our lives to change, expand, and grow. We are no longer weighed down with the objects from the past and we then make space for the new, both emotionally and physically speaking.  You have the power and freedom to choose what comes into your new world from here on out so stay calm, stay focused, breathe, and take it one baby step at a time. 

Do you have a digital organizing system or decluttering process that works for you?  If so, I'd love to hear what you personally do!  Email [email protected] with the key word DIGITAL DECLUTTERING and tell me your process and any tips you have! 

Do you have someone in your life that want's more calm and peace in their life?  Share this with someone you love!  ;)

xo

Lindsay

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Additional Reads:

Wake Up and Live - 101 Days of Deep Inner Work to Transform Your Life

Rise and Shine - 101 Days to a Happier You

Taking Your Personal Power Back - 101 Days of Relentless Action Forward

High Level Leadership - Levelling Up to Meet Your Highest Self