
The Simple Benefit of Decluttering Unhelpful Habits
Jan 26, 2025Read time: 3.5 minutes
Earlier this month, I received an email from a reader expressing how much one of my recent newsletters helped them by supplying the tool and roadmap to accomplish something they were after. In the same message, this person also shared how much they miss my YouTube videos before wishing me a happy week ahead.
Let’s talk about that.
Since posting my last YouTube video, I’ve been reflecting a ton—just silence and a bit of writing.
Looking back at the last several years, I think about the habits that have gotten me to this point, where I’m able to do what I’m doing full-time. Things like this don’t happen by accident, and they aren’t maintained by accident, either.
Good habits create good art.
Good habits support meaningful work.
Good habits build an intentional life.
If you watch self-help channels on YouTube, most of them tell you all the habits you must master to optimize your life and output so you can achieve XYZ.
And don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with mastering habits that will help you succeed. We all yearn to establish new, healthy, productive habits, like exercising, eating natural foods, or practicing our craft more regularly.
But how often do we consider examining and removing the habits that currently drive our days? How often do we pay close attention to and recognize the less helpful habits that run on autopilot, softly but powerfully undermining our progress?
I encourage you to consider this exercise for yourself because working through it has helped me a lot and given me a fresh outlook on my creative process.
So, whether personal, creative, or professional, we rely on habits to get us from one point to another. But these habits should come in and out of our lives like temporary collaborators—remaining as long as they serve the work and departing when they’re no longer beneficial.
Why Habits Are So Powerful
Each of us has automatic habits. We have habits in movement. Habits in speech, thought, and perception. Habits in being ourselves.
Some of them have been practiced every day since we were children, carving pathways into our brains that are tough to change.
Most of these habits control us, beyond our decisions, to the point they function autonomously and automatically.
Habits are powerful because they work silently in the background. They shape our days, our work, and even our relationships.
Think about it. From the moment you wake up, your habits start to kick in—whether that’s grabbing your phone, rushing to check emails, or defaulting to certain ways of thinking. These habits don’t always come with a conscious decision, but they influence everything we do.
Good habits help us stay on track, but bad habits—those sneaky little distractions—often steer us away from what truly matters.
Identifying the Habits That Don’t Serve You
The first step is simple: pay attention. You’d be surprised at how much insight you can gain just by observing your day-to-day. Ask yourself:
Which of these habits are helping me move toward my goals? Which ones are distracting me or draining my energy?
This process isn’t about judgment—it’s about awareness. We can’t fix what we don’t acknowledge.
I recommend jotting down your observations in a journal. You’ll be amazed at how revealing this simple practice can be. Soon, you’ll start seeing patterns—things you do on autopilot without thinking. Once you’ve identified the habits that aren’t serving you, it’s time to think about how you can begin to replace them.
On a personal note, this exercise of examining my habits has been eye-opening, especially as I reflect on my journey with the YouTube channel. Just as my habits around content creation have evolved, so too have my priorities and approach to what truly matters in my work.
It’s a constant process, and I want you to know that you can apply this same approach to whatever you’re working toward—whether it’s personal, creative, or professional.
What Nobody Tells You About Habits
Here’s the thing: habits shouldn’t be set in stone. They should be fluid, like temporary collaborators that come and go as needed.
Too often, we treat habits as permanent fixtures in our lives. The truth is, they should evolve with us. If a habit no longer serves your goals or purpose, it’s okay to let it go. And if something’s not working, you don’t have to keep pushing it—allow it to change or be replaced.
Habits that don’t evolve with you become burdens—so take the pressure off of needing to “perfect” them and allow them to shift as your needs do.
The Bottom Line
Decluttering unhelpful habits doesn’t mean you’ve somehow failed—it’s a sign of progress. It’s about taking small, intentional steps to clear the mental and emotional clutter that holds you back.
The benefits are huge. By removing distractions, you’ll have more mental space, more energy, and more clarity to focus on what truly matters. You’ll feel lighter, more in control, and more aligned with your values.
So, spend some time this week observing and reflecting—and identify one small habit to change.
Then, begin to explore new practices you can start engaging in.
See you next week.
Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help:
1. The Declutter Kit: The most straightforward way to approach decluttering. I share 8+ years of expertise, proven methods, and actionable strategies. This course will help you save time, conquer your clutter, and prioritize your values.
2. Get my Core Values Worksheet: Step-by-step guide to help you identify your values (free).
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