How to Avoid becoming Burdened by Unnecessary Things

There's a lot of pressure to be everything to everyone. We often think of clutter as being physical—a jam-packed closet or an overflowing bookshelf—but clutter can also take the form of thoughts and feelings. When we get burdened by our stuff, we feel weighed down by it and unable to move forward in our lives. This is different than a healthy feeling of being overwhelmed by something new, like taking on too many responsibilities at once or a stressful situation at work.

It feels like we're supposed to be super-capable, and we're supposed to be able to do everything at once without getting exhausted or stressed out. But the truth is that you can't be everything for everyone all the time—and that's okay!

We all have limits, and those limits define us as individuals. You can't possibly be all things for all people, but if you try, it will likely lead to stress and burnout. So if you want to avoid feeling overburdened by life's demands, remember: it's okay not to be Super Man or Wonder Woman!

It can be tempting to over-commit yourself, but if you do this consistently it can lead to burnout and stress. When this happens, it becomes much harder for you to stay motivated at work and at home.

Here are some tips for avoiding unnecessary things:

Tip #1: Set Your Boundaries Even When People Don’t Understand Why

Setting boundaries is a healthy way to take care of yourself. It's also a great way to show other people that you respect them and value their time. But it's not always easy—especially when the people around you don't understand what you're doing.

There's nothing wrong with setting boundaries and asking for what you need! People who don't understand that aren't respecting your boundaries—they're disrespecting your basic humanity by not acknowledging that you have needs too.

When they push back, remind yourself that you are making the choices that make sense for YOU! You know what your limits are, and they are important to honor.

Tip #2: Break Your Bad Habits

We all have bad habits—some are more obvious than others. Take, for example, the shop-a-holic who compulsively buys clothes and accessories she doesn't need. Or the pack rat who can't bear to part with anything—not even that old dresser she never uses.

Bad habits can be tricky because they're not always as easy to spot as one might think. Maybe you're a procrastinator who puts off important decisions until it's too late. Or maybe you've got a problem saying no when it comes to helping others out of obligation.

Whatever your bad habit may be, it's time to break free from it and replace it with something healthy and productive! Do this by focusing on stopping bad habits and replacing them with healthy ones that help avoid becoming burdened by unnecessary things.

 Tip #3: Delegate and Ask for Help

You can’t do it all, and you shouldn’t want to. Part of overwhelm and feeling burdened comes from failing to share the load. Avoid being a martyr and failing to get support. Be willing and able to delegate or ask for help.

When you delegate, make sure that you are clear on what the task is and what it entails. Be specific about your expectations, so there is no room for misunderstanding. Have a follow-up plan in place if they are unable to complete the task as expected.

If you need someone else’s help with something, then ask them nicely! When asking for help, be specific about what you need from them so they can focus on those tasks specifically instead of trying to guess at what else might be needed as well (which can lead them getting overwhelmed).

Tip 4#: Donate or Give Away Stuff You No Longer Use

Donating or gifting items can be a great way to declutter your space and provide someone else with something they can use. This can be as easy as giving some clothes that don't fit anymore to a family member or friend, or donating old books that you no longer read to a local library. You could also offer some of your unused kitchen appliances to a family member who is just starting out in their own place.

The act of giving can help you feel less burdened and more at peace with your life. It may also make you feel good about yourself and your belongings, because helping someone else makes them happier than having more stuff for yourself!

Tip 5#: Create a 'No List''

In a world where our schedules are constantly changing, it can be hard to keep up with all the commitments, obligations, and expectations we face.

Create a list of commitments and expectations that you would like to avoid in the future. Also, write down why you don't want to take on these responsibilities. Keep this list handy so you can refer back to it when you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. An example could be: commitments past 9:00 p.m., because they prevent me from getting enough sleep for the next day and make it harder for me to accomplish my goals at work.

Tip 6#: Give yourself the 3rd degree

Before making a purchase or saying yes to a commitment, ask yourself a series of questions such as- do I realistically have time for this? Will this item add to my burden? Will saying yes make life easier or harder? If the answer is no, then don’t do it!

Be mindful of how you say ‘yes’ to commitments and purchases. We often say ‘yes’ when we don’t really mean it because it seems easier than having the conversation about why we don’t have time or resources for something. Be honest with yourself about whether or not something will fit into your current schedule, budget and lifestyle.

If you can’t say ‘no’ now but know that your life will be easier in the long run if you say no now, then set up a reminder for yourself so that you can come back later when things are less busy and make an informed decision about whether or not it still makes sense for you at this time.