It’s hard to introduce new items, ideas, people, or skills into your life if you don’t have space for them. Our lives are too cluttered and overflowing with things, obligations, and people that don’t provide enough value to be worth the time and space they require.

Adding more to your life requires making space. That space can be physical or psychological.

To have a bigger life, it’s also necessary to make room.

1. Decide what you want. This is an important first step for many things in life. Whether you’re looking for your perfect partner or a new car, it’s important to know what you want to have any hope of finding it. The details matter.

2. What’s in the way? Think about what you want and consider the obstacles to acquiring or achieving it. Do you need more room in your garage? More free time? Fewer distractions? Your waistline?

3. Clear out the physical barriers. Perhaps you need to make room in your closet for a new wardrobe. Or you need to build a shed for that magnificent riding lawn mower you’ve been eyeing for years. Maybe you’re over the weight limit to go skydiving. You might live in the wrong place to climb mountains daily.

4. Clear out the psychological barriers. Are you brave enough? Are you knowledgeable enough? Is your attitude in the way? Are you lacking in hope or optimism?

5. Free up your time. One area in which we could all use a little more breathing room is time, especially free time.