We often feel overwhelmed not because we have too much to do, but because we keep holding on to goals and tasks that are no longer relevant. Outdated plans, habitual commitments, and endless “someday” ideas quietly consume our time and energy, leaving little space for what truly matters.
Decluttering your life isn’t only about organizing your home – it’s also about simplifying your goals, priorities, and daily responsibilities. In this article, you’ll learn how to declutter your tasks and life goals, reassess what deserves your attention, and consciously let go of what no longer serves you, making room for clarity, focus, and meaningful progress.
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Step 1: Make Two Lists – Your Goals and Your Tasks
Open a document or take a sheet of paper and write down all the life goals you consider important. This will be your first list, which you’ll continue working with.
Next, create a second list and include all the tasks and projects you are currently working on or planning to start in the future. This list should contain personal, life-related tasks only, not professional ones. If you want to analyze work-related processes, create a separate list for that.
Completing this list may take several sessions. You may remember tasks gradually and keep adding new ones over time.
The final list may surprise you – it often turns out much longer than expected. Along with daily responsibilities, it usually includes tasks from the “it would be nice to do someday” category. For example, you may have planned a medical check-up months ago but never followed through. Or you wanted to learn to play the guitar and even thought about finding a teacher, but never moved beyond the intention.
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Step 2: Reanalyze and Reprioritize Your Goals
Carefully review your list of goals and divide them into three categories:
Primary goals
These are the most important and relevant goals. If your time, energy, or resources are limited, these are the goals you will prioritize and refuse to give up.
Secondary goals
These goals matter, but less than the primary ones. If you have to choose, any goal in this category will always come after those in the first group.
Unimportant goals
These are goals you would pursue last — or may abandon entirely. They matter less than all other goals and are often the ones you didn’t immediately remember when making your list.
If it’s difficult to categorize larger goals, try a different approach. Write down all the benefits you expect from achieving each goal, including even small ones. Then pay attention to your emotional response. Which goals create excitement? Which ones promise genuine satisfaction and happiness? Let that guide your decisions.
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Step 3: Prioritize Your Current Tasks Using the ABCDE Method
Canadian entrepreneur and self-development expert Brian Tracy, in his book Eat That Frog!, suggests decluttering tasks using the ABCDE method. Take your list of current tasks and organize it into five categories.
A – Top-priority tasks
These tasks are essential for achieving your primary goals. Without them, progress is impossible.
For example, if your goal is to run 15 km in six months, regular training is non-negotiable. Skipping workouts makes the goal harder to reach, and stopping altogether means giving it up completely.
B – Important but not critical tasks
These tasks support both primary and secondary goals. They can be postponed temporarily, but abandoning them entirely may put your progress at risk.
For instance, a medical check-up can be done now or later, but if you’re preparing for intensive physical training, it’s wiser to complete it beforehand.
C – Tasks that don’t affect important goals
These tasks may bring pleasure but have little impact on your key objectives. Forgetting them won’t cause serious consequences.
For example, attending a concert might be enjoyable, but missing it won’t change your life.
D – Tasks that can be delegated
These tasks often take a lot of time but don’t require your personal involvement.
Unlike workouts or studying — which only you can do — grocery shopping or household errands can often be outsourced through delivery services or help from others.
E – Tasks you can easily let go of
These are tasks linked to goals that no longer evoke emotion or are done out of habit or obligation.
For example, walking 10,000 steps daily because you once heard it was necessary — even though you dislike walking and would prefer dancing at home — is a perfect candidate for elimination.
Step 4: Remove What No Longer Serves You
Start with category E. Delete or cross out tasks and pay close attention to how you feel. Relief is a strong sign you’ve made the right choice. If anxiety appears, undo the change and revisit it later — perhaps the task belongs in category C or B instead.
Next, decide how to delegate tasks from category D.
Then return to your list of goals and begin removing items from the “Unimportant” category. Follow the same emotional check-in process. If you feel light and relieved, trust your decision. If you feel tension or regret, restore the goal.
By the end of this process, both your list of long-term goals and your daily tasks will likely be much shorter and clearer. You may choose to add new, more aligned goals – or simply enjoy the extra mental space. These lists are flexible and can be updated anytime your priorities shift or new ideas emerge.