I believe that time is a gift from the Lord. Therefore, as women – and sisters in Christ – our aim should be to steer and steward our time well. However, when it comes to managing our time, there is a common challenge we all face: the abundance of clutter in our lives.

Consider these statistics from a New York Times writer: “The average home in America has roughly three hundred thousand items in it – from plates, to pillows, to pictures.” Because of this overwhelming abundance of items in our lives, an author for Life Storage Blog reports that “the number of storage units is on the rise across the country, because consumers are continuing to buy, buy, buy and store, store, store. In fact, there are 88.6 square miles of self-storage facilities in America, which is almost three times the size of Manhattan, New York!”

Why do we have so much clutter?

One reason is because we are inundated with decisions almost every second of every day. There is such a thing as decision fatigue, and it often leads to paralysis of analysis. The upside of this challenge is that we have so many wonderful choices to choose from. The downside is that we are constantly bombarded with tiny decisions throughout the day. Too many choices result in the acquisition of too much clutter.

A second reason we have so much clutter is twofold: shopping is more convenient that ever, and items are more affordable than ever. It’s easy to get a good deal almost anywhere we shop. I am completely guilty of this deal-hunting mentality because I, too, like a good deal. And yes, I’m talking about the Target one-dollar section, Costco bulk items, and Amazon one-click shopping – options which make it way too easy to accumulate more than we need, and in less time as well. We can have something delivered to our doorstep in the blink of only two days, thanks to Amazon’s two-day shipping policy! We no longer have to trudge to the store to hunt for deals; the deals are coming to us. But are they good deals?

The issue is that clutter is not just physical; there can also be mental and emotional clutter, and they are just as difficult to manage as physical clutter. I’m guessing you, like me, are probably weighed down by physical, mental, or emotional clutter – or maybe a combination of all three. One of the best things to do in order to rein in the burden of clutter and lighten our load is to clear as much of the clutter out of our lives as is possible.

By working through our excess clutter, whether physical, mental, or emotional, we are freeing up our time to be more present and more available.

In my book, Take Back Your Time, I share how to regulate between your essentials and non-essentials and how to determine your top priorities. As you address the clutter in your life, be confident in letting go of those things that you don’t need, use, or want. By clearing clutter, you will create margin – which will then help you to better steer and steward your time. Choose well, my sisters, choose well.

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Morgan Tyree is a professional organizer (chaos controller), writer (list lover), and exercise enthusiast (fitness fanatic). To keep up with her, visit her on her site morganizewithme.com. Her mission is to share tried and true techniques that she hopes will encourage her readers and clients as they focus on their health and homes. Check out her upcoming book, join one of her challenges, listen to her podcast, and be sure to check out her shop, full of fabulous organizing printables!