Decluttering In Midlife: 2 Powerful Ways To Find Freedom

Declutter To Reinvent: Cat Coluccio

What Happens When You Carry Hidden Clutter?

Physical and mental clutter take their toll, but they’re not the only weights we carry in midlife. Two of the heaviest—and most overlooked—are digital and emotional clutter.

2 Types Of Decluttering In Midlife That Quietly Drain Your Energy:

1. The Digital Overwhelm (Digital Clutter)

Quick question: How many unread emails are in your inbox right now? If the number makes you wince, you’re in good company.

We live in a world where we’re expected to be reachable 24/7, where every website wants our email address, and where our phones ping at us constantly. It’s no wonder we feel frazzled.

Here’s something that changed my life: I started treating my email like physical mail. Most of it is junk, some of it needs immediate attention, and some can wait. I don’t feel guilty about deleting newsletters I never read (even if they seemed interesting when I signed up). You wouldn’t keep every piece of physical mail that came to your house, right?

2. The Invisible Weight (Emotional Clutter)

This one’s the hardest to talk about, but it might be the most important.

Maybe you’re carrying around guilt from a parenting mistake you made years ago. Or resentment toward a family member who never apologizes. Or regret about a career choice that seemed right at the time but led you somewhere you didn’t want to be.

These emotional weights are sneaky. You might not even realize how much energy they’re consuming until you start to release them.

I’m not saying you need to forgive and forget everything (some things don’t deserve forgiveness). But consider this: holding onto anger is like gripping a hot coal. You’re the one getting burned.

Your Real-Life, Start-Tomorrow Action Plan:

Forget those overwhelming “declutter your entire life in a weekend” challenges. That’s not real life. Real life is messy and busy, and you probably have about 15 minutes of free time on a good day.

In Part 1 of this series, we began with Week 1: tackling physical clutter and mental overload. Now let’s continue with the next stages of Cat’s plan.

Week 2: Clear Your Mental and Digital Space:

• Day 8: Do that brain dump I mentioned. Everything that’s been cycling through your mind—get it on paper.
• Day 9: From that brain dump, circle the three things that actually matter this week. The rest can wait.
• Day 10: Spend 20 minutes unsubscribing from email lists. Be ruthless. If you haven’t opened an email from them in months, let it go.
• Day 11: Create three folders in your email: “Need to Act,” “Maybe Later,” and “Archive.” Sort 50 emails. That’s it, just 50.
• Day 12: Turn off three notifications on your phone. You don’t need to know immediately every time someone likes your Instagram post.

Week 3: The Heart Work:

• Day 15: Write about one regret you’re ready to release. You don’t have to share it with anyone. Sometimes just acknowledging it is enough.
• Day 16: Think of someone you need to forgive, maybe even yourself. You don’t have to call them or write a letter. Just sit with the possibility of letting that anger go.
• Day 17: Identify one relationship that consistently drains you. You don’t have to cut them off, but consider what boundary you could set to protect your energy.
• Day 21: Do something that brings you pure joy. Something just for you.

What’s Waiting On The Other Side:

Here’s what I want you to imagine:

You wake up on a Saturday morning, and instead of feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list, you feel… calm. Your space is organized but lived-in. Your mind is clear. You have energy for the things and people that actually matter to you.

That friend who only calls when she needs something? You’ve kindly but firmly set boundaries, and now your friendships are with people who truly see and value you.

That closet that used to mock you every morning? Now it’s filled only with clothes that fit, that you love, and that make you feel like yourself.

Your phone? It serves you instead of demanding your constant attention.

This isn’t fantasy land. This is what becomes possible when you create space in your life.

The Real Talk: Why This Matters More in Midlife:

We don’t have unlimited time anymore. I know that’s not comfortable to think about, but it’s true. Every year becomes more precious, every moment more valuable.

Spending your energy managing things you don’t need, thinking thoughts that don’t serve you, or maintaining relationships that drain you—that’s time you can’t get back.

But here’s the beautiful part: once you let go of what doesn’t serve you, you create space for what does. New adventures. Deeper relationships. Work that fulfils you. Hobbies you’ve always wanted to try.

Midlife isn’t about shrinking down or settling. It’s about becoming the most intentional version of yourself.

Your First Step Starts Right Now:

So here’s my question for you: What’s one thing you could let go of today?

Maybe it’s that pile of magazines on your coffee table. Maybe it’s saying yes to that committee you don’t actually want to be on. Maybe it’s the voice in your head that keeps replaying that embarrassing thing you said three years ago.

Pick one thing. Start there.

Because the truth is, you don’t need to be perfect at this. You just need to begin.

And when you do, you’ll discover something amazing: letting go isn’t about losing something. It’s about finding yourself again.

Did you enjoy this article? Become a Kuel Life Member today to support our Community. Sign-up for our Sunday newsletter and get your content delivered straight to your inbox.

About the Author: