Digital Declutter

As digital clutter does not take up traditional physical space, some people tend to turn a blind eye or try to ignore it everytime they log on. However, similar to physical clutter, dealing with this matter can also produce cathartic effects.

Social media

Decide which form of social media works for your needs and preferences. If you only use social media to keep in contact with friends and family whom you don't see very regularly or for sharing photos and life events/news, then perhaps Facebook might be a good option for you.

Don't fall into the trap of signing up for every single option out there such as Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn etc.

Cull your 'friends' list periodically to only include the important people in your life. Delete those who create drama; those who only use social media to humble brag, those who just lurk etc.

Cull your followers or those you follow periodically. Apparently, Beyonce has millions of followers on Instagram, but does not follow anyone herself.

The Domestic Goblin has wide ranging interests when it comes to YouTube videos such as exercise, fragrance, food/cooking, interior design, skincare, fashion for short people, minimalism, hoof trimming etc. Whilst there is nothing wrong with having these interests, there is no need to follow five or more YouTubers talking about the same topic. Whilst some topics are for entertainment purposes or for knowledge, some interests can be expensive and it's best to reduce the amount of temptation where possible and to just subscribe to one channel. Easier said than done!

Keep the social media profile information you display to a minimum. True friends and family should already know your gender, marital status, date of birth and where you work. Do not display information that hackers can use.

For those who haven't succumbed to social media or have deleted their account many years ago, well done! Life is much simpler! 

Email inbox

Login and check your emails periodically for personal email accounts and every working day for work email accounts. 

Make sure to delete all emails that you have read and dealt with and are no longer worth keeping.

In a work situation, create folders within your inbox to help you file/move important emails.

Unsubscribe from unnecessary retail mailing lists, job searches, society newsletters etc. They just clog up your inbox.

Block spam or unsolicited emails.

If you have several personal email accounts and have accumulated thousands of emails for an account you no longer use, delete the account. Don't let this take up digital space.

This will be an ongoing maintenance task.

Online storage

The problem with online 'cloud' storage is that photos and electronic documents are saved/dumped there and sometimes forgotten about like some 'junk drawer'.

It makes sense to save photos that you love as well as emailing them to yourself as backup. Delete any duplicates.

An up to date CV, contact list/address book and copyright-protected work/articles are worth having on file.

Electronic copies of manuals, receipts and warranties for items/products you don't even have/own anymore needs to be deleted.

Smart phones and other electronic devices

This follows a similar concept to your email inbox and will be an ongoing maintenance task.

Photos

Many of us have taken photos of our meals, exhibits and random trees etc. Once these have been uploaded onto your preferred platform and documented, you should delete after there is no more purpose or reason for keeping it.

The same goes with photos when you can't remember why you took them in the first place.

WhatsApp messages/text messages 

Do you really need to keep individual message chains from more than a year ago? Do you really scroll back through all the messages?

Do you really need to be a member of so many group chats? If there are important, useful or interesting messages being exchanged almost daily or weekly, then keep them. Inactive group chats that were started months or years ago can be deleted.

Videos

Upload the videos onto your preferred platform then only back up onto online storage or email to self those containing people who are no longer with us or those important to us or events that needed to be documented. Delete the rest.

Contact list

Review and edit your contacts list annually. You will know who are the most important people in your life and those who you love and care about the most. Also there will be those who are useful to have such as your doctor, dentist etc. Your neighbour's dog walkers best friend might not be a necessity.

Phone apps

Assess the apps you have downloaded onto your smart phone. Do they still serve a function or are they just taking up space?

Downloading apps 'just in case' takes up unnecessary memory on your phone and the only sensible choice the Domestic Goblin can think of in this category is the torch/flashlight option or the map and this is providing you have enough data to use this when outside. Sometimes, data/roaming isn't working when you're on holiday or in the middle of nowhere. This is when the physical item becomes useful.

Streaming services

Ask yourself, do you really need to subscribe and pay for every single streaming service available to you? 

The Domestic Goblin knows someone who has Netflix, Disney Plus AND Amazon Prime and yet  sometimes find themselves not able to find anything they want to watch or in the mood for.

If you don't watch live TV and don't want to pay TV license fees just to watch BBC catch-up (for example) then streaming services are a good alternative but try to limit yourself to ONE.

Copyright to J.Chan aka The Domestic Goblin

A Guide to CHANge - v1

Preface:

This concise guide is ideal for:

• People who need to edit their belongings before they move into a new home
• People who are downsizing
• People who live on their own
• People who live in small spaces

Introduction:

When I have lived in a small space with a partner or lived on my own, my belongings were always stored in certain rooms e.g. clothes were in the bedroom; books/DVDs were in the living area. Perhaps people who live in larger spaces have the luxury of several rooms to store their clothes and shoes.

This is probably why I can edit both by category and by room, as they are mostly related.

When editing, remember to sort using three piles:

• Keep
• Chuck
• Charity

I would have included a 'sell online' pile, but experience tells me that it gives someone an extra excuse to hold onto something a while longer with the promise to sell them but sometimes that doesn't happen, so we need to be ruthless and take a trip to the charity shop or recycling centre, or a trip to the bin.

If a friend would benefit from your items, all the better.

Communal Items - (things that visitors might see when they are in your home)

Living Room area

Personally, books, DVDs and CDs are most straightforward to deal with. Evaluate which aspect(s) you enjoy most out of the three - some people love electronic devices for books, digital music services and/or online subscriptions for films/TV programmes as opposed to an actual book or CD.

I opted to only keep the books and DVDs that I loved/editions that are hard to find and gave the rest to a friend and to charity. Since I hadn't listened to my existing music for at least a decade, I decided to give my entire collection to charity and to take advantage of music apps on my smart phone rather than reminisce about my sixth-form and university days.

Technology

I made a conscious choice not to own a television set and I don't watch live programmes.

One laptop, one smart phone and perhaps a portable DVD player or projector is enough to live with provided you have broadband internet.

Kitchen area

Most items in the kitchen are functional, however, you can transform an everyday item such as cutlery into a version you love. For example, instead of buying the cheapest cutlery set you can find, opt for a good quality set (such as 18/10 stainless steel) that won't buckle under use and also looks desirable. 

Basic items that I have personally found great satisfaction searching for a version that is pleasing to the eye and of good quality:

• Kettle, toaster, saucepans, frying pans
• Oven trays, colander, measuring jug, scales
• Mini whisk, tongs, spatula/ladle, masher, can opener, vegetable peeler, grater/cheese slicer
• Cutlery -  table knife, table spoon, table fork, teaspoon (two of each per person)
• Saute pan with lid, steamer, chopsticks (depending on the type of food you like to cook)
• Chopping board, chopping knives (one for hard food and one for softer food)
• Dinner plate, side plate, soup bowl, pasta bowl (two of each per person)
• Storage boxes of various sizes for leftovers etc (maximum four)
• Tea towels
• Mugs and tumblers

Food/drink items:

I shouldn't have to tell you what food and drink to store in your own kitchen as this will depend on your dietary requirements and preferences. However, be mindful of the size of your kitchen and remember not to overfill cupboards, fridges and shelves with ten of the same thing - two is plenty. Also don't feel the need to have every herb, spice and condiment that Nigella Lawson has - only keep the ones you actually use. At the time of writing this, we are not in danger of a third world war, so there is no need to stock up so excessively. 

Bathroom area

The same principle applies, find a version that is either good quality or pleasing to the eye:

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash
• Face cloth, bath towel, hand towel
• Cleanser, face and body moisturiser, skin barrier product, treatment, stick deodorant, sunscreen 
• Cotton buds, wet wipes, small bin, toilet roll, laundry basket
• Body wash/bubble bath, shampoo, exfoliating glove

Personal Items - (things that visitors don't need to see)

With regards to clothes, shoes, coats, underwear, nightwear, scarves, gloves and jewellery; I am going to paraphrase Genevieve Antoine Dariaux (author of A Guide to Elegance): "Replace your penchant for quantity with a quest for quality. Possess a single perfect ensemble for each of the different occasions in your life (discarding only when worn-out or outmoded). You might find that, not only is your elegance increased, but also the enjoyment and even the confidence that you get from your clothes and accessories."

Remember: Keep, chuck or charity.

Makeup

Do not be tempted to recreate eyeshadow palettes, lipstick or blusher hoards that certain online makeup addicts do. Hygiene is very important. Chuck anything that has gone past the 'period after opening' guideline; smells or looks different to how it should be.

I used to have an eyeshadow obsession and when I realised this, I decided to control and edit my entire makeup collection to the bare minimum/essentials and gave away any unused/unopened items:

• 1 x liquid foundation or 1 x mineral powder foundation
• 1 x under-eye shadow concealer
• 1 x eye shadow primer or face primer
• 1 x retractable eyeliner in your favourite neutral colour
• 1 x set of neutral eyeshadows, 1 x set of special occasion eyeshadows
• 1 x loose powder
• 1 x blusher of your favourite colour
• 3 x lipsticks in your favourite colours
• 1 x brow product
• Makeup brushes: eyeshadow, kabuki or stippling, crease/blending, blusher, angled liner

Fragrance

Store in original box/packaging if possible and in a cool, dark and dry place away from direct heat or sunlight. Try to limit your collection to no more than two bottles at a time or four maximum. I understand this can be difficult for fellow perfume lovers - the key is to find non-headache-inducing fragrances that can be used any season, day or night - more difficult in practice, but believe me, it can be done! 

Miscellaneous 

Cleaning products

Vacumn cleaner, floor wipes, vinegar for descaling kettles, sink unblocker, multi-surface spray, washing up liquid, laundry liquid, sponges, dusters, toilet cleaner, stain remover, all purpose cloths, bin liners.

Documents to keep

• Valid: Passport, drivers license, credit/debit cards, membership cards
• Academic qualifications/training certificates
• Greeting cards and letters that still makes you smile when you look at them or read them
• Important documents regarding current contracts, ownership or insurance

Shredding

Shred greeting cards and letters that have served its purpose; do not mean anything to you anymore or those that evoke unhappy memories or negative thoughts.

Utility bills and bank/credit card statements with no payment disputes and more than three months old, can be shredded. If you do not have internet banking, perhaps wait 12 months before shredding bank statements.

Receipts for items that have been consumed or used satisfactorily, can be shredded. 

Work

I can only comment on an office work environment where I have had the luxury of my own desk and also where I've had to hot-desk whilst both adhering to clear desk policies.

Your own desk 

Ninety percent of the items on your work desk and inside your under desk storage drawers should either be items that you need to use daily or periodically and/or something that will help you carry out your job effectively and efficiently. For example, policies and procedures; list of current tasks; corporate information within easy reach; useful names and contact details.

Ten percent can be reserved for items that humanise a work desk such as potted plants; stoneware mugs for tea/coffee; glassware for water.

In the past I have kept/inherited items from my predecessors and these can take time to decipher if it needs to be kept. 


Filing Cabinets

The philosophy to adopt when decluttering paper files at work is to determine what you need to keep, shred and/or scan & save.

Printouts of email conversations can be shredded.

Information superseded by more updated information online can be shredded.

Keep any information that is needed for evidence, records, archival reasons that cannot be scanned easily  or will lose its value if only a scanned copy is saved e.g. rare photos with no negatives.

Information/itinerary of field trips that took place ten years ago can be shredded if this is a trip that happens annually.

Scan & save as back up or alternative to keeping a hard copy.

Check what items need to be kept indefinitely or can it be scanned & saved?


Stationery cupboards

Perhaps the most satisfying work space to declutter and tidy.

Keep similar items together on the same shelf.

Discard anything that is dried up, damaged and can no longer serve its purpose.

Keep envelopes of the same size together to make it easier for others to locate the right one.


Hot-desking

You need to be able to store all your work items in a small sized box that can fit inside your locker when your working day has come to an end and be easily taken out at the start of your day. 

Hot-desking will mean no plants, no photos, no desk calendars, it should be 99% work items/documents. A water bottle is acceptable.

Everything else should be stored in the team areas or communal cupboards. Make use of your electronic calendar instead of a paper diary.


Remember

When there are no further professional reasons for keeping certain information or electronic files, you can shred them or delete them. Documents that are not in line with the General Data Protection Regulations need to be shredded/deleted. If in doubt, store/move to archive folder and check with your data protection champion.


Conclusion

Every possession should serve a purpose or bring you joy. Let go of things that do not add value to your life.



Copyright to J.Chan aka Domestic Goblin