Clutter is one of the greatest thieves of clarity, focus, energy, and productivity. Clutter has a tendency to creep up on us. Letting go of things that no longer serve us is one of the healthiest things we can do for our mind, body, and soul. It also creates a fresh start for your new self-care journey. Clearing clutter empties the mental space in the mind and emotions and impacts you physically; having clutter drains you psychologically.
Researchers show that if you are feeling stuck in some area of your life, start clearing clutter and notice how your mental clarity improves and your momentum starts to build. Here are some considerations to make when you start clearing the clutter and prepare for a crystal-clear self-care commitment.
Always remember, to take care of yourself. and your self-care needs because your whole self is important.
Items you no longer use~ Are you holding on to things you don’t use? Of course you are. Look around your home, office and car. What could you give away or throw away? Many people hold onto things out of fear that they will need them in the future. Perhaps it’s a fear of not having enough. Don’t allow fear to cause you to stay in a cluttered environment that drains you. Release items when you no longer need them or use them.
Projects you are procrastinating on doing or completing~ You may not think of it as clutter, but that old to do list that keeps rolling over in your head every day is clutter for your brain. Either drop the projects ,complete them now, or give yourself a new and reasonable deadlines, then store them out of site until you can focus on them. If they stay stored out of site for a specified period of time, without you needing or wanting to look at them, toss them out. You gave the item enough time and now it needs to go.
Too much stuff in too little space~ If you are one of the many who overstuffs your space, it is time to make room in your environment. From your desk at work to your bathroom counters, overcrowding your space can leave you feeling mentally overcrowded. When you make space in your environment, you make room for more of what you want in your life.
Mess, junk, and stuff that is in disarray~ When things are completely out of order, it is more difficult to plan, strategize, think, or take action effectively. Before ending your day, take five minutes to put things in order-at work, home and in your car- so that you can start fresh the next day. Make this a healthy habit and muster the discipline to maintain it.
Things you don’t like~ Is there anything in your car, home or office that you simply don’t like? Your environment should inspire you, not depress, frustrate or irritate you. Make sure your environment are filled with the sites, scents and sounds you love most. Create the desire feelings you want to have when you are in your space.
Set a goal to spend some time decluttering. Schedule, prioritize and start in the areas where you spend most of your time. Be gentle with yourself, some of your physical clutter may be linked to deep beliefs about yourself and your stuff. As you do your clearing and get to items you are not sure whether to release, notice how you feel in your body when you hold those items in your hand. If the items make you feel low energy and has a negative memory attached to it, trust your intuition and release that item. If it connects you to something positive, make a choice to keep it but find a place for it that feels organized.
Once you bagged and boxed everything you are ready to donate or toss, move those items out of your life as soon as possible so you can reclaim your space without any negative energy clinging to you.
