Clutter: Winning the Battle With Clutter

Clutter: Winning the Battle With Clutter

Clutter - stashed, stacked, strewn. I frequently come back to this topic because it’s like the Lochness Monster - it may disappear for a time in our lives, but it seems to creep up on us until it rears its ugly head again! Let’s do battle!

Right now on my front porch is a pile of bags and boxes full of shoes, purses, kitchen stuff, grooming products, lamps, an old VCR, tape players, and other perfectly good things that we just aren't using anymore. All this perfectly good stuff is going to a new home (courtesy of a great charity organization) where it will be put to good use, instead of sitting in our basement or in the back of the closet. Does this feel great? You bet!!

Why does it feel so good to get rid of the clutter in your life? When your life (or your closet) is so crammed with "stuff" that it's overflowing, there's no margin, no space for something new and wonderful to come into your life. If you are feeling stuck – start clearing the decks!

If you go into an office or come home to a cluttered, crowded, disorganized space, you don't have the chance to fully recharge your batteries. That is sapping your energy. Most of us have become masters of disguise, too, keeping our clutter well- hidden behind closet

doors, in bottom drawers, in the basement. But, you KNOW it's there, and it has the same effect.

"At some level of awareness, you become the caretaker for every scrap of stuff you keep. Don't kid yourself: You are devoting a proportional amount of psychological energy to every object in your domain whether or not you are aware of it from moment to moment." – Jeff Campbell, Clutter Control

OK, so you're convinced. Now what?

Set aside one segment of time – an evening, a Saturday morning, an hour here and there – and devote it to cleaning just one area of your home. It could be one drawer, your desk, your pantry, your medicine cabinet, one section of your closet. If you are a professional pack rat, here are some tips for you:

1. DO ask yourself: "When was the last time I used this item?" If you can't remember – then toss it (or donate it). If you haven't used it in 6 months – toss it.

2. DON'T ask yourself these questions: "Is this useful?" or "Might I use this someday?" Obviously, the answer would be "yes", and you'll keep collecting clutter on top of clutter, and never get rid of anything.

3. Invite a friend over to help. Not another packrat or collector, but someone who is not attached to your junk and will find it easier to be objective about tossing stuff out.

4. Start appreciating the value and beauty of empty space! You've all seen those "clean sweep" shows on TV. You know how thrilled those people are when they see their newly reorganized space - complete with clean, white space on the walls, in the cabinets, and on the closet racks.

Every client I have worked with finds this victory over the battle with clutter to be one of their most helpful and rewarding accomplishments. Their lives improve, they get unstuck, they become more productive and disciplined in other areas of their lives – they are basically happier, freer, more energetic people.

Once you've done it, keep on doing it. Make this a lifestyle habit. There are many books and websites out there on clearing clutter and getting organized. If you just can't do it on your own, get a buddy who wants to take on this task in their own life. Commit to each other.

Get started today, and have your first victory celebration as you begin to win the battle with clutter!

Edi Sowers of LifeHouse Coaching is a Life Strategy and Business Coach who works with professional women who work from home and face the challenge of balancing their professional and personal priorities. Visit her at http://www.lifehousecoaching.com to receive her free weekly articles in “Blueprints for a Dream Life.”

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