Clearing the Clutter: From Photos to Memories

We often think of clutter as physical items or energy that needs clearing from our homes and bodies. And, in a world where our phones are extensions of ourselves, we often overlook the digital clutter we carry every day. Digital clutter can be equally overwhelming, and those thousands of photos we store on our phones may be silently weighing us down.

Today, I’m inviting you to try something different: set aside some time to go through your old photos. Rather than quickly deleting them, take a moment to reflect on each one.

Here are some reflections I had recently when I took on this challenge and found an old external hard drive full of photos:

1. Body Comparisons Are Not Joy-Filled Memories
   I found plenty of “progress” photos of myself from years ago—pictures I took to compare my body over time. Looking back, these photos didn’t bring me any joy. They were just reminders of moments when I wasn’t fully embracing my body as it was. Now, I find more meaning in simply caring for my body every day. Releasing those old comparison photos has left me with a sense of freedom and gratitude for the present.

2. Letting Go of People Who Are No Longer Part of My Life
   There were plenty of photos of people who are no longer part of my life, some of whom I chose to let go of to make space for new, more meaningful connections. Deleting these photos felt symbolic, almost like a digital cleanse, letting me release the energy of those past relationships.

3. Holding Onto the Good Conversations
   Among the thousands of photos, I found screenshots of conversations with loved ones. My mom, who has since passed away, had some of the best, funniest text exchanges with me. Keeping those conversations allows me to reconnect with her humor and joy whenever I want to.

4. Food Memories Over Food Photos
   I realized that photos of food by themselves hold little value to me—unless they are tied to memories of cooking with friends or family. Keeping photos of shared meals has helped me cherish those experiences more deeply.

5. The Moments with Loved Ones Mean Everything
   The photos that matter the most to me are those of meaningful experiences with loved ones. Going forward, I want to capture even more of these moments.

By clearing out photos that no longer resonate, you’re creating space for meaningful memories to shine through. Take a few minutes today and look through your own photos. Notice what truly matters to you and let go of the rest. Your phone (and your heart) will feel lighter for it.