A few weeks ago, I enrolled in a program for entrepreneurs. The first two weeks of this program are about decluttering your life–your physical space , including files, closets, and drawers, and your mental space, including negative beliefs and information overload. The premise is that by decluttering the things you don’t need or that don’t serve you anymore, you make room for better things in your life.

As I’ve been working through this program, it feels great to give away old clothes, clean my office space, and make room for a calmer and cleaner environment. The program facilitator also has us creating an “Upgrade Plan,” identifying incremental changes to upgrade our life. These don’t have to be big changes–one of the things I upgraded are my pens! I had a bunch of old pens that I’ve collected (and were free) over the years, and they just don’t write as well as a nice, smooth Bic Atlantis.

In the past I felt guilty buying pens when I have so many free ones, but I decided this was a small upgrade. I spent less than $10 to upgrade something I use every day. It’s a small change, and it feels better and reduces the frustration I feel when I find a pen that doesn’t work or write well. I also got rid of the old workout clothes I don’t use and that were taking up a lot of shelf space (because I convinced myself I might need them one day), and replaced them with new running shorts and shirts.

This program is really about upgrading your life so you can let go of all the old “stuff” to create space and time, reduce stress, and really be able to live and work at your best.

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