Did you know that organizing your life is one of the kindest acts of self- care there is?
Think about it. When things are organized, you spend less time looking for things, reduce overwhelm, set a good example for your children, feel more in control and in balance with what matters to you.
When we are organized, our homes, offices and schedules reflect and encourage who we are, what we want and where we are going.
For most women, the three biggest obstacles to an organized environment and schedule are: clutter (paper and email), planning and follow-through. Both a disorganized environment – physical clutter – and a disorganized schedule—overly packed, haphazard, limited in space or hours—rob you of your energy and increase stress and overwhelm.
A good way to start being organized is with your space and environment. When clearing away clutter in your environment, often there is also the unexpected effect of clearing away emotional clutter too, that may be holding you back from achieving your health goals and reaching success.
Below are 5 questions to create space and free yourself from clutter in your environment.
1. What’s working? It’s helpful to know what’s not “broken” so that you don’t spend time fixing it. Also, a little “good news” is nice to hear.
2. What’s not working? Take a big picture approach here. It takes forever to get things done, because I can’t easily find what I need, so I work a lot of overtime.
3. What items are most essential to you? What information do you need to have at hand?
What I observed works best is to follow this simple yet powerful laser-focused approach to processing paperwork—and electronic communication—so that it doesn’t build up:
• Toss it. (Delete, if electronic.)
• Refer it. (Forward.)
• Act on it personally.
• File it. (Archive.)
4. Why do you want to get organized? These are the benefits you will derive from an organized environment. Less stress and anxiety, more time and energy to share with family and friends.
5. What’s causing the problems? Some of the most common sources of clutter: inconvenient or insufficient storage, no designated “home” for things, perception of not enough time to get or stay organized.
The next step is to strategize how to approach the things that are not working and their underlying problems.
For many women, the biggest problem lies in maintaining an organization system. To arrive at any kind of a sustaining system, it’s important to understand and work with obstacles to a clutter-free environment.
The most common obstacles that come up for women include:
Need for accumulation. Women who need to keep a lot of everything around them may be filled with anxiety and dread at the idea of getting rid of things.
Unclear goals and priorities. Organizing is about defining what’s important and setting up a system to reflect that.
Fear of success/fear of failure. Disorganization may be a convenient way to hold back.
Need to retreat. Clutter can be a protective shield to keep others at a safe distance.
Fear of losing creativity. A common myth is that creative, “right-brained” people need to work in chaos to produce high-quality work.
Need for distraction. Clutter can provide a convenient excuse to avoid uncomfortable issues or unwanted tasks.
Sentimental attachment. Infusing objects with personality, emotions and meaning (“That vase will be sad if I throw it out.”) usually results in living with an enormous amount of clutter.
Need for perfection. Often, women won’t deal with clutter until it can be done perfectly. Translation: It will never get done.
Identifying these obstacles can help you create an effective, lasting solution to clutter and free you from stress and overwhelm so you have more energy to achieve what you truly want.
There are many simple ways to create a clutter free environment. It takes persistence and support from someone to encourage you to keep with it.
That’s why I’m creating the Spring Clean Your Life Coaching Program coming out in May.
Affirm to yourself:
” I am organized and productive. I am energetic, and I enjoy getting my life in order.”
No Excuse Action Step:
List the biggest obstacle that gets in your way to a clutter free environment and begin today to take steps to eliminate it.
Remember, I am here for you, to support and believe in you.
I would love to hear about how you create space and free yourself from clutter in your environment.
Leave us a comment below and share on fabcebook.
Shann
22 Jul 2015Thanks Love! I am always amazed by how much better I feel when I clean up the clutter and dump the junk. Great advice!
Marissa
22 Jul 2015Thank you! You did a great job of defining simply how to create more organisation with paperwork. I will begin using these 4 tips right now! Toss it. Refer it. Act on it. File it. Awesome! We have so much paperwork around the house and it is going to be great to have to choose one of these options without leeway for ‘leave it on the kitchen counter’ or ‘stick it in the top drawer’. Lol! Thanks again, great tips :) Marissa xo
Pamela
22 Jul 2015Thank you Josee! I love your 5 questions. I’m ready to let go of some things and your post has given me some fresh ideas on how to get organized and create space. I have it bookmarked! :)
Peggy
22 Jul 2015Less stuff = less stress, less worry, more freedom, and more abundance. Both my husband and I are all about creating memories rather than accumulating stuff.
Natasha
22 Jul 2015Thanks for the lovely reminder. Just had a conversation of all the “things” I am trying to find new homes for.
Puja Madan
22 Jul 2015LOVE this. I use de-cluttering with my clients all the time as a way to clear up their life and thoughts. Recently the book ‘The life-changing magic of cleaning up’ came my way and it has enhanced this work in my personal life too. I love how you’ve come up with a list of obstacles. Very useful. Love xo
Theresa
22 Jul 2015I do consider myself pretty darn organized, but I do have those days where suddenly there’s all this “stuff” that’s accumulated (usually on the kitchen table). Even though it’s confined to a small area, it still bothers me. Once it’s straightened up, I feel so much better! Clutter affects us, no matter if on a small or large scale.
Thanks for the tips!
Robyn
22 Jul 2015Thanks Josee .. I am pretty good with keeping things clutter free, I get a bit cluttered emotionally as my partner doesn’t find this important!!!
Tina Games
23 Jul 2015I love this blog post, Josee! ~ And it’s quite timely, given all the decluttering I’ve been doing recently – on so many levels! ~ Your five questions are extremely helpful. And being a person who believes that everything has a “home” – I have great appreciation for question number five. :-)