Set Aside Time to Declutter & Destress
Although there are myriad definitions for clutter, two of my favorites are:
“dandruff on the shoulders of a room” ~Christopher Lowell
Barbara Hemphill, the queen of organizers, has the most brilliant definition ever:
“Clutter is postponed decisions.”
Think about the power of Hemphill's definition. Does it change your perspective? Look around your home, car, garage, office, kitchen, life, to-do list(s), etc. Are you able to see the clutter differently now? And see it for what it is?
Now, on to tip #1 of 12 in this article series.
When it is time to do some serious de-cluttering, which will provide the resultant de-stressing, you want and need to set aside time. You could decide to set aside time
- all at once,
- at certain times each week, or
- at designated times each day.
It doesn’t matter which one you choose, but this is the first idea to put into place when you are ready to decrease clutter and decrease stress.
In many instances, setting aside an entire day is the smartest. If you know that you really want to make significant progress, then determine a full day (or more) where you will be completely focused on clearing out the chaos.
Another option is that you set aside a certain time every week. For example, you could take two hours every Friday morning, first thing when you get to the office (assuming you are getting to a separate space that is your office) until your decluttering/destressing project is finished.
Note: It is NOT a good idea to set aside time late in the day unless that is when you are most energized. Making the decisions necessary to declutter requires a fair amount of energy and focus. Thus, for most people, trying to declutter late on Fridays or in the evenings is not optimal.
Maybe you will find it’s best if you set aside a portion of time every day. You could take 30 minutes of what is designated as your “lunch hour” to focus on one drawer, one shelf, two files, or whatever you can get to within those 30 minutes.
"If you look at your entire house as one unit of junk, you'll never do anything because the job is too overwhelming. Take it one drawer at a time." ~Janet Luhrs
Please SCHEDULE the time for your decluttering. Waiting for time and space on your calendar to just open up…is delusional. I think you know that.
So, when are YOU going to set aside time to focus? Scope out that time now and put it in your planner.
You are investing in your personal and professional well-being when you declutter and destress. The ROI (Return on Investment) is significant. I promise.
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About Meggin McIntosh
I’m a former university professor and administrator and am currently a coach, author, and workshop leader. People just like you, i.e., people who are overwhelmed and would prefer to be overjoyed instead, are the people I’m fortunate enough to attract and work with. I am thankful every day. https://meggin.com