Fall has arrived here in the Bay Area — the kids are settled into their school routines, there's a slight chill in the morning and evening air, and the gusty and dry conditions mean higher risk of fire – all reminders that change is in the air. Driving around this past weekend, I noticed trees full of flaming red leaves and piles of fallen leaves on the sidewalks and streets. Just as trees shed their leaves to prepare for winter, we too can benefit from releasing whatever is weighing us down to make room for growth and renewal. While saying good-bye to things may bring up feelings of loss, decluttering and being intentional about what you keep has the liberating effect of lightening your load.

What can you shed from your life?

One way to embrace this seasonal shedding is to start with the most obvious: physical clutter in your living or working space. I’m switching over to cool weather clothing and buying some new items. As I do this, I’m donating and recycling items that are worn out, no longer fit, or that I no longer love. My husband and I went through a huge drawer packed with manuals for various household electronics and appliances and recycled most of them. These days you can easily find PDF manuals and troubleshooting solutions online. I’ve also been giving away miscellaneous items on my local Buy Nothing group, which is a great way to connect with my community and reduce waste. 

But this practice of letting go isn’t limited to physical clutter. It’s also a good time to reflect on the activities, habits, and commitments that fill your time — especially when they cease to bring you joy or serve a useful purpose. It’s easy to continue these commitments indefinitely, so it’s important to periodically reassess their value in your life. Perhaps they no longer align with your current priorities. Decluttering your time enables increased productivity, reduced stress, and improved mental clarity.

I keep my evenings and weekends pretty free these days so I have time to relax or participate in more spontaneous activities, but I find it helpful to conduct periodic audits of my calendar at work. I look for any recurring meetings that I can eliminate or attend less often. Take an honest look at your calendar and to-do list. What commitments can you delegate, eliminate, or reschedule to free up more time and energy for what truly matters? While you’re at it, reduce your digital noise by unsubscribing from email lists and turning off those annoying app notifications!

In addition to physical clutter and time-consuming commitments, it's important to release the negative thoughts and emotions that can weigh on us. These mental burdens can hinder our productivity, drain our energy, and prevent us from fully enjoying our lives.

What about the hurts you are carrying from the past? Are you weighed down by self-doubt? Simply noticing the negative thoughts and emotions as they occur is a good starting point. Then, visualize yourself letting them go. Imagine you are throwing them in the garbage, setting them afloat to dissolve into thin air, or piling them up to set on fire! Techniques like mindfulness or journaling also help to release negative feelings and create space for positive emotions.

Finally, it’s important to consider letting go of unhealthy relationships that may be draining your energy and happiness. If a relationship is toxic or unfulfilling, can you still improve it? If it’s consistently causing you stress, anxiety, or resentment, it may be time to let go. This might mean shedding unrealistic expectations,  spending less time together, or simply letting the relationship run its course.

Benefits of letting go

By releasing the things in your life that you no longer need or want, you create space for yourself to have a life with greater focus and clarity. You’ll find yourself with greater freedom to be intentional as you choose what occupies your space, time, and mind. Reducing clutter of all kinds reduces the stress in your life and makes room for peace and happiness.

It can be difficult to let go of something that once meant a lot to you, so remember this tip from Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: before you release something, express your gratitude for its service and for enhancing your life. It once served a valuable purpose in your life and letting it go does not change that. Then, enjoy the space you have created for yourself to discover new possibilities.