VOW to Clear a Certain Percentage or Amount
VOW is an acronym for
- Visualize
- Orally Commit
- Work through the obstacles
Let’s explore this concept as it relates to your decluttering and destressing, although it is a strategy you can apply in many other situations, as well. (Be sure to access previous articles in this series, too.)
You may be someone who has a wall (or several walls) of books in your home or office. You know perfectly well that it is time to move some of them out. You may want to make room for more books, make room for other items, or to create open space, which is a superb reason.
You could VOW to get rid of 2 books every day for 100 days.
- First, visualize what it would look like to get rid of 200 books. Just see the spaciousness of your bookshelves when that comes to pass.
- Then, orally commit to doing so. You could tell a colleague, your students, someone in your family, or your coach. You need to say it out loud to hear yourself making the commitment.
- Lastly, work through the obstacles. Obstacles that could present themselves to you include these, although you are likely able to think of many others:
- The question: “Where would I find the time to get rid of two every day;”
- The fear that as soon as you get rid of a book, you’ll wish you had it;
- The worry that other items on those shelves will fall down if you start taking out books;
- and so forth.
I have the strong feeling that once you name these obstacles, you can work through them. If not, put the obstacle in the comments and we'll try to help you!
A second VOW involves acknowledging the research that indicates that 80-90% of what is in the average professional's file cabinet will never be used again. Therefore, you could safely VOW to recycle or shred at least 50% of what is in your file cabinet.
A third example of a VOW you could make is eliminating two linear feet’s worth of clothing that is currently hanging in your closet. Measure the width of your closet with everything hanging up in there (and it may be that you have a situation where nothing would fall even if it weren’t on a hanger because so much is actually jammed on the clothes rod). Whatever the situation, you VOW that you will give away enough items from that closet that two linear feet of the closet rod are now wide open.
Human beings love measurable goals. Use that proclivity to your advantage by VOWing to get rid of a particular number or percentage of something as you decrease clutter and decrease your stress.
Take a few moments and test out the structure below to clarify your thinking about your VOW. Use this tip to make a noticeable and measurable reduction in your clutter and your stress.
My vow is to eliminate (think in terms of percentages, numbers, or other measurable amounts):
Visualize
- I see
Orally Commit
- I am going to tell ______________ via ________ (phone, email, face to face, other) by _______ (date).
Work through the obstacles (list the obstacles you envision on a nearby piece of paper – and see if they don’t just melt away as you write them; for those that don’t, think through solutions. You’re good at that!)
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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