Decreasing Clutter and Chaos

Clutter

To run in disorder; to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness

Chaos

A state of utter confusion; a confused mass or mixture

Do you ever feel there is just too much stuff in your life?

Do you feel disorganized or overwhelmed or that you could be more effective than you are?

Well, you are not alone.

Clutter creates chaos, which leads to confusion.

How did Marie Kondo (world-renowned expert of organizing and decluttering) not only become a best-selling author, but also have one of the top Netflix shows late last year?

We are a society of collecting and hoarding stuff! There are TV shows for hoarding and thousands of storage lockers that have been abandoned.

The point is that in every case, the expert recommends “decluttering.” Once the chaos is reduced, our home, office, business and life takes on new appeal.

Why don’t people tidy up? Maybe they don’t acknowledge that clutter reduces enjoyment and effectiveness.

You might argue that clutter does not have a negative effect on you, but let me challenge that thought.

Imagine you are going to see your doctor, dentist or medical specialist. His or her office is clean but cluttered with files and instruments that reflect a state of general chaos. What is your confidence level for that professional? Not very high, right?

Or you are flying away on vacation and notice the pilot is dressed shabbily and his or her papers are in disarray. Do you feel confident he or she will be a good pilot?

In the outside world, order is viewed as a sign of competence, so you need to establish this expectation of order in yourself. Being organized will make you feel more together and capable.

Now comes your challenge.

How can you declutter your life?

Here are some ideas and personal examples to get you started:

• We moved the CRG office last year. Before we moved, we were brutal in the purging of old papers, files, books, etc. We got rid of old chairs, computer parts that were stuffed in drawers, files with no current purpose and old inventory that would never be sold.
• During a recent vacation, when purchasing new attire, I recalled the words of another organizational specialist. His decluttering rule is do not bring anything into your living space until you remove something first. There will be some exceptions, but what about all those clothes you have not worn for years? Others in need could use them more than your closet.
• Marie Kondo has individuals take every piece of clothing and put it in a pile on their bed or the middle of a room. Then, one by one, they identify the clothing that brings them joy or happiness and let the other pieces go.
• If you have a storage unit or area, when was the last time you looked at what is in there? If something does not have a current application, get rid of it! Garages can quickly become dump sites.
• Our neighbor’s front yard was totally overgrown. He recently decided to move and to prep the house for selling. He had a professional remove the overgrowth. It is now an entirely different house. But the question remains, why do you have to decide to move before you take such actions?
• Let go of the past to allow the future into your life. Several years ago, I had placed some of my college t-shirts and jackets in storage. I have had to struggle with myself to let them go. Quite frankly, when I am 80, who will want them? I never looked at them unless I was reloading storage boxes.
• I am working on getting Brenda, my wife, to let go of some of her teaching files. I have yet to be successful; somehow, she feels she might in the future need her prep work for Grades 3 to 7 from 12 years ago. Can anyone relate?
• How about magazines that are six months old or older? Create a file for storing pages of articles you will need for a project—otherwise, get rid of them. In the online world, storage is virtual.
• Do you have old books about topics where new information now makes the books’ information outdated, like computers or health? Do you really need a 20-year-old book on Windows 95?
• Some of the best examples are the craft projects you started a decade ago and remain untouched. Dump them; they clutter your mind as well as your space.
• Look at some people’s cars! How do they even get into them with all the stuff growing inside?

What’s the other side of the chaos coin? Remove all obligations or responsibilities that contribute to confusion or mental clutter for you.

So, what about you?

• Do you have personal or professional space that needs to be decluttered?
• Have you cluttered your life with more obligations than you feel comfortable handling? I have learned how to say No to multiple volunteer opportunities so I can focus on a couple and do them well—without contributing overwhelming stress to my life.

Here is my specific recommendation: Complete CRG’s Stress Indicator and Health Planner (SIHP) to better establish your stress levels in five critical areas in your life:

• Personal Distress
• Interpersonal Stress Assessment
• Wellness Assessment
• Time-Stress Assessment
• Occupational Stress Assessment

Though it won’t tell you what you need to declutter, SIHP will confirm your level of stress and where chaos is contributing to your stress levels.

Other CRG resources to consider:

• The Quest For Purpose
• Personal Style Indicator
• Self-Worth Inventory
• Values Preference Indicator

This Week's Action Steps

Decreasing Clutter and Chaos

1. How cluttered is your personal space? Does it contribute to chaos or calmness?
2. What specific personal spaces can you declutter? List them now.
3. What are some of the personal benefits of reducing your personal space chaos?
4. What do you have or own that you need to let go? (old clothes, collections, etc.)
5. Do you have a work or professional space? If so, how does it look to others?
6. What improvements can you make in your professional space to increase your effectiveness?
7. If you feel so overwhelmed that you don’t know where to start, break the process into small pieces. For many people, chaos was years-in-the-making, so give yourself time to declutter.
8. Ask a friend or an organizational professional to help. There is obviously a market for decluttering because plenty of professionals organize space for a living. If you need help, please get it.
9. Let go of the past. Dump unused or unneeded items.
10. Here is a specific recommendation: Complete CRG’s Stress Indicator and Health Planner to better establish your stress levels in five critical areas in your life.
11. Another CRG resource to consider is my book, The Quest For Purpose—a roadmap to confirm what is most important to you in all areas of your life.
12. The following CRG resources will provide additional information to help you know yourself and feel comfortable with the person you are:

• Personal Style Indicator
• Self-Worth Inventory
• Values Preference Indicator

13. Do not underestimate the benefit of decluttering and reducing the chaos in your life. When I loaded two bags full of my old clothes and took a trunk full of odds and ends from our garage, I was euphoric! Don’t delay. Start right now!

Until next time,

keep Living On Purpose!

Ken Keis

For information on CRG resources, please visit https://www.crgleader.com.

About the Author:

Dr. Ken Keis, is a foremost global authority on behavioral assessment strategies and processes, and an expert in leadership, purpose, and wellness. He has authored over 4 million words of content, including 500 articles, 4 books, and a dozen assessments to help others realize their full potential.

President and CEO of Consulting Resource Group International (CRG), Dr. Keis has worked with many high-profile companies, associations, and industry groups. In the past 30 years, Ken has conducted more than 3,000 presentations and 10,000 hours of coaching and consulting. He is a highly sought-after author, speaker, trainer, media guest and also host of The Secrets of Success Podcast with Dr. Ken Keis.

His latest books, Why Aren’t You More Like Me?, Deliberate Leadership, and The Quest For Purpose!

To learn more on how Ken or CRG can serve you go to www.kenkeis.com and www.crgleader.com .