“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” -Unknown
Research in Positive psychology suggests that a cluttered life makes us feel restless, frustrated, and stressed out. Finding it is difficult to focus and to be productive. In an environment that is filled with clutter signals our brains that our work is never done.
- Clutter generates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized, I should be able to do this”).
- Clutter is a distraction and causes us to lose focus constantly, making it more difficult to relax and achieve other important tasks at hand.
- Clutter frustrates us especially when we can’t find something.
- Clutter hinders creativity and problem solving; it bombards our minds with excessive stimuli that aren’t necessary or important.
Some thoughts that prevent us from de-cluttering are; the task seems too daunting, we would rather do something else, we’re afraid to toss out something we think we may need later be it valuable or not; or the fear of letting go.
However, most commonly experienced is an emotional trigger that connects a stored memory to an item; a piece of jewelry no longer worn, a thoughtful or pricey gift we can’t let go of; an article of clothing we haven’t worn in years, hoping the that style will come back, or thinking we would lose enough weight to fit back into it someday.
Here are some tips to eliminate procrastination, frustration, and to clear your head.
You will feel great after you toss out your junk…remember it’s not your child, a person, or a pet. It just stuff that a burdened mind unnecessarily holds on to. It’s the rope around the ankle that we can’t see because we refuse to look at it yet we still feel the tug. It reminds us often that “I gotta clean out that ____”. So I say to all of you and to myself “just do it”. Here are simple some ways to get started; I’ve used them myself.
Tips to Quickly De-Clutter:
Start Small:
- Clean out one dresser drawer daily or every other day until all drawers in the room are complete. Breathe!
- Then…clean out your bathroom drawers or cabinet daily or every other day. Breathe!
- Then…clean out your kitchen drawers daily or every other day. Breathe!
- Then…clean out your smallest closet, and then move to the next closet on another day. Breathe!
- Then…your work office, or home office, garage, car, etc.
While doing the above have boxes or trash bags handy to get rid of the stuff holding you back. Remember, the point is to get rid of things either by giving it to charity or to another, or throwing out unneeded items. I find the quickest way is to donate to a charity that will come and pick up items; clothing, furniture, etc., either large or small. Another great give away is to use www.FreeCycle.org, this is a community of thousands that give and take unwanted items for free. It’s easy and all done on the internet via emails.
So, I say start small to build your momentum. Ask for help or hire a professional; they have many helpful tips and ideas. The main thing is to start and keep the process moving. Soon you will tackle larger projects. Soon your mind will clear. Soon you will feel lighter with each task you overcome. Remember to just do it, and know that emotions will get in the way. Yet knowing that helps you to know you can allow yourself to feel it. It helps to remember that you are doing nothing, absolutely nothing wrong. You will persist. And, oh yes, remind yourself the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.
Blessings for a clearer 2014…and don’t sweat the small stuff. Just get rid of it. Complete. Breathe!