Musings | Clutter
“Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.”
We generally associate clutter with things we can see: piles of paper, overflowing closets, unorganized garages. In other words, stuff and stuff and stuff. But clutter can also be things we can’t see. We can have clutter in our email (digital clutter), clutter in our mind (mental clutter), and even emotional clutter. All of this can leave us feeling overwhelmed, maybe even paralyzed, and perhaps slightly embarrassed. It is more common than you may think, and there are several ways you can confront the clutter in your life.
We are often guilty of trying to cram as much detail as possible into one page. So, today, we are trying the less is more approach to decrease the clutter for all of us. We will simply outline five ways you may experience clutter (courtesy of a great article from IDEAS.TED.COM) and then provide resources for you to explore this construct in more depth on your own.
Types of Clutter
Physical clutter is stuff. Things we can see at our desks, in our closets, in the garage, in the junk drawer, on the table.
Digital clutter is represented by files you save but never use (or don’t delete when they are no longer needed), the hundreds of emails sitting in your inbox (sometimes being on subscriber lists are the worst!)
Mental clutter is the noise in your head: your to-do list, your worries, your ruminations about your day.
Emotional clutter is the less-than-ideal thought patterns you may not even be aware are operating. The stories you tell yourself about what you can or can’t do.
Spiritual clutter is a lack of forgiveness (for yourself or others) or a lack of peace.
What To Do About It
Decide to do something about it. Then approach it in small pieces (one room at a time, one email address at a time, one issue at a time).
Be kind but be honest. Try not to feel guilty about getting rid of something that was expensive or that someone gave you.
Apply the 90/90 Rule: have you used it in 90 days? Will you use it in 90 days? If no, then consider getting rid of it.
To learn more about clutter and strategies to deal with it, check out the links below: