In the Media – On Decluttering Friendships? Hit Refresh (UK Sun)
The Sun (logo)
Screenshot (The Sun)
August 7, 2016
An article in the UK Sun draws an analogy between decluttering your physical environment and decluttering friendships (or pruning your psychic environment, so to speak). The comparison is imperfect although it may be similar in some respects.
Every once in a while, it’s useful to clean out and rearrange your closet or drawers to set priorities and put things in order. It feels satisfying and makes your life easier. It can also be a significant time saver. Writer Kate Wills makes the point that it’s also likely to lower your level of stress.
In her article in The Sun, “Hit Refresh: Overwhelmed by Crammed Cupboards, Flaky Friends, and a Limp Love Life: Declutter Your Life,” Wills links together a curious combination of practical tips that range from decluttering your house to decluttering your friendships.
In the section on friendship, she quotes The Friendship Doctor:
“If you’ve taken stock and decided that a friendship has run its course, then let things drift apart naturally,” says Irene.
“If neither of you takes the initiative to get together then they should get the hint. But if that doesn’t work, you could ‘dilute’ the friendship by either not seeing each other as often, or for less time when you do get together, or meet in a group as opposed to one-on-one.”
Although imprecise, do you think pruning or decluttering is an apt concept as applied to friendships?
Click here to read the The Sun article in its entirety.
Category: IN THE MEDIA
I agree that de-friending seems to happen more or less naturally, usually with life circumstances like leaving the job, moving out of the area, etc. I don’t really like applying the term “de-cluttering” to people, though.
This is a great idea and usually happens naturally over time when one moves away,changes job, kids grow up and parents socialize less with their kids’friends’ families,a marriage dissolves, etc. In my late 50’s I can barely count friends even on one hand! I have now effectively become a loner even though I fantasize about being popular and having a nice circle of friends.The reality is very different.Truth be told, so many fell by the wayside because little kept us together and certainly in times of trouble I did not have their compassion or support,things evaporated pretty fast. I do not miss them,either! Even if I’d like to make new connections, at my age most are establisehd socially, financially, busy with their own spouses,grandkids, work etc. I can take a class or attend a lecture or activity for a hobby and have a nice time while there but never goes outside of the room.So be it.