Decluttering. A slightly strange word, with a strange sound, yet another Englishism that has appeared in our vocabulary. What does it mean? The most essential meaning is to get rid of what clutters, what is superfluous. But in reality it is a term with many more facets and implications, ranging from simply tidying up the house to being a real philosophy of life aimed at the essentials . So it is worth exploring this new concept and understanding if it is something that can benefit our days.
How should this getting rid of what clutters us be interpreted? How to judge whether something is superfluous or not? Where should decluttering be applied?
WHAT IS BULKY
Think of a giant box placed in the middle of the living room, between the door and the sofa: it is bulky, it does not allow you to move fluidly and easily, it prevents passage, entry and exit from the room. Thus, thoughts that continually torment the mind and prevent us from concentrating on the here and now, or from sleeping, can be cumbersome . It can be cumbersome to have to stay late at work , preventing you from going out with friends or doing some sport. It's also cluttered to have all those old clothes that leave no room in the wardrobe for new things.
THE SUPERFLUENT
The golden rule to understand whether we need something or not is to ask ourselves this question: have I used this thing in the last year? If the answer is no , then it has a good chance of being considered superfluous. The hardest part of getting rid of that t-shirt that reminds you of that wonderful concert, the hat you took on that fantastic trip or the little horse from when you were little, is overcoming the emotional connection you have with these things. But this is precisely the point: to show ourselves that we have the strength and the intention to break this bond and move forward.
WHEN AND WHERE IS DECLUTTERING DONE?
In every aspect of our lives. From rearranging a room in the house that has been used for years as storage, to reorganizing the wardrobe, to changing certain aspects of one's life. Such as going to bed early to avoid being too tired in the morning (preventing you from living the days with energy and concentration) to eliminating unhealthy foods from your diet (which prevent you from being fit and feeling well). The purpose of this process or philosophy is to lighten ourselves, to let go of what is not useful and what limits us, in order to be free and happy without being burdened by too much and what is not necessary .
DECLUTTERING OF TOXINS
The body also needs to get rid of what clutters it, what it doesn't need and what prevents it from functioning well. Toxins. These molecules have different origins: air pollution, food, water, cigarette smoke, the use of medicines. They also tend to accumulate in the body , especially in tissues such as the liver, the nervous system and under the skin. When systems are overloaded, they struggle to be efficient, processes and functions slow down: this is where symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, low quality of sleep, poor digestion and joint pain appear.
How do you declutter toxins? Following a healthy and varied diet is the first step, focusing on vegetables, legumes, fruit, wholemeal flours and drinking lots of water or herbal teas. Furthermore, we can give a little big help to our body, in particular to the intestine , liver and kidneys , with the intake of phytotherapeutic compounds with specific medicinal plants useful for this purpose.
FROM DECLUTTERING TO PURIFICATION
Green walnut husk and Artemisia are very effective for purifying the intestine, because they not only help it get rid of toxins, but also promote its functions, such as digestion, absorption and intestinal movements. Cloves enhance the action of these two plants, also promoting the elimination of gases. To support the well-being of the skin, Burdock and fumaria are the recommended plants: with their dermopathic properties they help improve the composition and appearance of the skin.
The main organ responsible for purifying the body is certainly the liver. All the metabolism processes of exogenous molecules take place in it which, if they become toxins, are labeled to be eliminated through urine or feces. A perfect efficiency of the liver to keep the body clean is therefore essential. Milk thistle is the plant that is most associated with this organ, as it promotes its function in a global and balanced way. Combreto, helichrysum italic and lime modulate liver activity and support digestive processes.
The kidneys, considered by Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to be the seat of the vital fire, are a powerful filter that allows the blood to be purified from what clutters and is not necessary , to then put it back into circulation light and clean. Goldenrod, bearberry, birch and hawkweed allow better drainage of body fluids, promoting the elimination of toxins through diuresis. They act on the kidneys improving their filtering capacity.
And this is how we lighten up, get rid of the superfluous and improve. The rationale behind decluttering goes far beyond simple order and cleanliness. Following this thought, applying it daily in the various aspects of life, has the aim of leading us towards a sense of freedom and happiness.