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Coaching Tip: Handle Your Clutter. Part 1
Published on 7 Dec 2008 at 1:17 pm.
6 Comments.
Filed under Attraction,Business Development,Coaching Tips,Personal Development Strategies,Silly musings and chuckles.
Talking about clutter is a big topic because it’s not limited to just physical accumulation stacks of papers and magazines. Clutter is often defined as unfinished, unresolved, unused, broken, disorganized, or tolerated. So for tips on this topic, I’m going to break it down into a few tips.
Why focus on clutter? Clutter is an energy zapper and affects your focus, peace of mind, productivity, and abundance. Yup, you heard me – clutter affects your money flow.
When your life is filled with so much “stuff” there is no room to receive the flow of all the gifts, blessings, and abundance the Universe wishes to bestow upon you
There’s a bunch of reality shows on the topics of “getting organized” that deal with physical clutter. On one show the home was so loaded with stuff, the family had to make a path through different rooms to get through the house. Their clutter had become so massive they needed professional help to learn how to organize and set up systems to manage their stuff. The before and after was amazing.
When things begin to pile up, it’s not unusual to become overwhelmed at where to begin. Breaking things into smaller tasks helps to make things more manageable so you can shift into action.
Do you have stacks of papers, newspapers, correspondence, and magazines that have piled up? Do you tell yourself you’ll get to it? I have used the phrase, “I’ll just put it here for the time being” when I’m not ready or available to do something with it. Or, I’m not sure what to do with the material. I admit I have a small space on my dining room table with some papers that have been sitting there for a while That I have looked at a few times and haven’t completely handled. After awhile, I just start tossing things out because I don’t want to look at it anymore!
Have you heard of the one-touch rule with papers? You look at something once and deal with it by taking action and then dump it.
So, if you have paper clutter that is piling up, choose to handle it today. Chunk it down by scheduling 20-30 minutes per day to declutter when your energy and focus is high. Consider taking one stack at a time, a section of your files, a portion of a room or desk to complete. You’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish in short focused periods of time. The morning is a great time to start your day completing a task before you get on email or focus on your business.
For example: If you haven’t looked read that business subscription or magazine and it’s been sitting there for a while, get honest. What is the likelihood you will actually read it now? If you say yes, schedule that into your 20-30 minutes. If you say no, dump it. Perhaps it’s time to cancel that subscription or newsletter? (Not mine of course!)
Do you need additional file cabinets for your important paper? How about upgrading your filing system? Is there anything you need to purchase to help you stay more organized with your papers? Do you need to delegate some of your paperwork to someone else like a bookkeeper? Then do it! (Be sure to have a cross-cut paper shredder for any important documents!)
Not only will you free up space, you will also find you are feeling lighter and more energized. Make this a daily habit so you can stay on top of your papers. If you’ve been feeling stuck and unmotivated, you might find decluttering gets you moving. I have!
Stay tuned for the next clutter tip!
Cheers,
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Davina on 8 Dec 2008 at 3:28 am: 1
Hi Lorraine. At this moment, there is a scattered mess of papers on my kitchen table. It usually takes a couple of weeks before these messes accumulate, and then a few days of me staring at them unfavourably. And all it takes is one piece of paper to start attracting the rest!
I’ve gotten real good though at discarding old magazines and papers that I haven’t yet read. You’re right, if I haven’t read them after a few weeks, then truth is I’m probably not that interested.
Dora Zdanis on 8 Dec 2008 at 9:43 am: 2
Hello Lorraine!
It’s been so long since I’ve communicated with you. Finally, our travel has ended for the year. This article on ‘clutter’ in so timely, thank you. For months I have been deciding our home needs a complete cleaning or I should say, clearing. No, we don’t have paths in each room to get around, but the clutter of unwanted ‘stuff’, unorganized living is around me in very single room of our home. Just yesterday, I sat down and made a plan to begin, so far, nothing has happened, but I’m on my way as soon as this message is sent. I believe 100% when you say in your article that “Clutter is an energy zapper and affects your focus, peace of mind, productivity, and abundance. Yup, you heard me – clutter affects your money flow.” Thank you for your message. I will STOP procrastinating today! I look forward to sending an updated message about how wonderful I feel after accomplishing this un-cluttering task that has indeed been overwhelming me for some time.
Happy Holidays!
lorraine on 8 Dec 2008 at 4:48 pm: 3
Great to hear from you Dora!
Happy Holidays!!!
Good for you in addressing the clutter. Take it in pieces and wait til you see how much energy you free up in addition to space! You will probably notice and shift in self-esteem too.
I look forward to your update!
Hugs,
Lorraine
lorraine on 8 Dec 2008 at 4:51 pm: 4
I know the feeling Davina
I too watch how things begin to accumulate and then the piles start to form.
To met it’s a boundary worth setting and maintaining.
So, you go girl in tackling those papers!
Cheers,
Lorraine
Ruth on 6 Jan 2009 at 11:17 pm: 5
I finally started clearing out all the papers and research that I’ve collected over the years. It’s amazing how much I’ve hung on to on the off chance I might get back to it one day! Have you read Your Spacious Self by Stephanie Bennett Vogt? It really helped me work through the whole process and out of all the books I’ve read on clearing clutter and getting organized, it’s hands down the best so far.
lorraine on 7 Jan 2009 at 8:23 am: 6
Good for you in clearing out the clutter Ruth
Amazing how much accumulates over time!. Thanks for sharing the book. I’m unfamiliar with it and I’ll keep it in mind.
Have a great day
Lorraine