Declutter Your Life: Traveling Light Into 2026

I recently texted a friend of mine asking what she does with all the unsolicited mail she receives. I get tons of letters every time I go to the mailbox, credit card companies urging us to sign up for “no-interest” offers and insurance ads promising the world. Most times, I pack all these letters somewhere to deal with “later.” They pile up quietly until I need something important — then I find myself sorting through stacks of envelopes trying to locate that one piece of mail that actually matters.

My friend replied, “I have a drawer in my kitchen where I keep the mails I need.”

That line struck me…..   “the mails I need.”

So simple, yet so powerful.

The Mail We Don’t Need

Many of us live just like that — not necessarily with piles of mail, but with cluttered spaces in other areas of our lives. It could be our closets, bathrooms, garages, or even our phones filled with duplicate photos and unnecessary screenshots.

We have 73 days left until 2026. Maybe it’s time to start clearing out the things that no longer serve us,  not just to make space in our homes, but to make peace in our hearts.

Decluttering Your Space and Blessing Others

For parents who are sure they’re done having kids, maybe this is the time to let go of those strollers, car seats, or baby clothes sitting in the attic, basements or garage. Christmas is around the corner, and many families would be overjoyed to receive what’s collecting dust in your home. Reach out online or through word of mouth to see who might need them.

Ladies, let’s be honest, if we open our closets right now, most of us will find at least two dresses with the tags still on them. We’ve had them for years, waiting for “the right moment.” Maybe the right moment is now — not to wear them, but to give them away.

Living a minimalist life doesn’t mean living without beauty. It means living with intention.

Decluttering Your Well-Being

It’s not just about physical stuff either. Over a year ago, I ordered a pricey international set of facial and body products. The ads were convincing, and I was excited. But when I finally started using them, my skin reacted terribly — I broke out so much that I was scared.

Eventually, I stopped, let my face rest, and returned to my old, trusted products. During a recent bathroom cleanup, I looked at those fancy bottles and said to myself, “This has to go.” They smelled good, yes — and they were expensive — but they no longer served me. I needed the peace, not the clutter.

Maybe your version of that “expensive set” is something different — holding on to an ex’s belongings, keeping old photos that reopen wounds, or staying subscribed to TV plans that keep you up all night. Whatever it is, it’s okay to let go.

The Biblical Perspective: God and Simplicity

The Bible often calls us to live lightly — to travel through life unburdened.

• Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to “lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles.”
  Decluttering isn’t just physical; it’s spiritual. It’s about releasing what weighs down your heart and home.
  
• Matthew 6:19-21 teaches us not to store up treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, but to store treasures in heaven.
  Every time you give away what you no longer need, you make room — not just in your home, but in your heart — for what truly matters.
  
• 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
  God is a God of order. When your surroundings reflect order and peace, your mind and spirit often follow suit.
  

Decluttering is a form of worship — it’s choosing peace over chaos, simplicity over excess, and stewardship over waste. It helps us focus on the Giver rather than the gifts.

Traveling Light Into 2026

As we prepare for a new year, let’s commit to traveling light.
Let’s free our homes, hearts, and minds from the things that weigh us down.

If you want to start small, begin with your mailbox. Visit www.optoutprescreen.com to permanently stop receiving pre-screened credit card and insurance offers. It might take a little time before you notice the change, but it’s one small step toward peace and simplicity.

Less junk mail. Less clutter.
More room for what truly matters.

Let’s enter 2026 lighter — in spirit, space, and soul.

 Reflection Prompt:

What’s one area in your life; physical, emotional, or spiritual that needs decluttering today? Ask God to show you what to release and what to hold on to.