by Penny Dablin

Clearing the clutter has been a recurring theme with several of my coaching clients recently so I thought I would share some of the ideas we have discussed with you all.

Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make a decision to clear it and then take action. Without action, the decision is meaningless. Without the right decision any action is undirected.

Physical clutter is the debris that is strewn around your home and work environment: papers and files in piles on the desk and floor, dirty clothes, washing up, unopened mail, half finished projects, etc., etc.

Dont be overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, break it down. Decide to deal with one room at a time or with one type of clutter at a time. Set aside some time to start, just half an hour initially will get you moving without seeming overwhelming. Set a timer and work at clearing the clutter until the timer goes off. Then you can give yourself a small reward like a cup of tea before tackling another 30 minutes worth of clearing up. Or leave it for today and do another 30 minutes tomorrow. Remember you are in charge here, not the clutter.

And then there is mental clutter: trying to remember everything – appointments, making phone calls, picking up the dry cleaning, and so on. Here the answer is even more simple – write it down! Not on scraps of paper to add to the physical clutter but in a diary or planner. Get your life organised and develop a habit of always noting everything down in your diary or planner as it arrives in your life. Then develop a habit of checking the week ahead every morning. Keep your mind free for useful creative thought that moves you forward with your life and your projects.

Most importantly, remember to reward yourself for taking action on the clutter in your life. Knowing there is a reward at the end makes the clearing up much less irksome. And cultivate a tidiness habit – get into the habit of putting things away after you’ve used them rather than leaving them around to mount up and you’ll never need to do a major clear up again.

As you clear the clutter from your life you will find you have more energy, more time and more space. And that will enable you to move forward with any stuck projects or new challenges.

Get more out of your life by clearing your clutter.