Decluttering Life's Messes
I used to yell at my 12-year old son for the clutter he would leave all over our house. No matter what room it was, we would always be able to tell that he had been there because of the trail of stuff he would leave behind—cleats in the living room, math homework in the mudroom, neon-colored shoelaces on the coffee table. It used to infuriate me, until one day I realized that there was one other person in our family that created even more clutter than he did…me.
I never thought of myself as disorganized because I always knew where something was and rarely lost anything. But as I scanned the house one day, I noticed that every single room had clusters of items that I had left behind. Sometimes it was “neat clutter,” for example, a stack of orderly books on the floor or a basket of carefully folded laundry in the hall (for those of you who argue that clean laundry should never be considered a sign of disorganization, did I mention that it stays there for an average of four days?) Usually though, my piles are messier and hastily thrown together – with endless receipts that need to be scanned, bank statements that need to be filed, old clothes that need to be donated or new ones that need to be returned.
While my son’s clutter tends to be the result of forgetfulness, mine is usually due to distraction, interruption and a case of “too much to do.” Whatever the reason, the good news is that, as a life coach, I have picked up a few tips from my Martha Beck Life Coach Training that have helped me tackle the process of de-cluttering, or at least put life’s little messes in perspective:
1. Batch It – Whether de-cluttering or tackling some other grandiose goal, sometimes we have a tendency to bite off more than we can chew. ‘Batching’ a project by dividing it into very small, manageable steps such as cleaning out only one drawer or making just one trip to the donation center has helped me feel less overwhelmed and more motivated to start.
2. Better it – Try “bettering” a project so that what you normally might dread becomes something to look forward to. If I am clearing out the garage, I put some music on or invite friends over to help. If sorting the mail in the evening, I make my favorite cup of tea or pour myself a glass of wine to lighten the mood and keep procrastination at bay.
3. Barter it – If you really are having trouble, Martha Beck also suggests “bartering” difficult tasks by paying someone else to do them or trading services. Don’t feel guilty about this. Your time is more efficiently spent doing something that comes more naturally and easier to you rather than dragging your feet on something someone else can do better and faster.
4. Bag it – Does that pile really have to be moved? Or is it perfectly fine where it is? Sometimes we need to make peace with our inner messy child and be okay with the clutter around our work or personal spaces. While I don’t recommend this as an option for your 12-year old, I’ve found that choosing to “bag” or abandon certain tasks can be incredibly freeing. Once I realize that I have a choice, I immediately find myself becoming more relaxed and energetic– and ironically, this often becomes the exact motivation I need to complete the project in the end.
I never thought of myself as disorganized because I always knew where something was and rarely lost anything. But as I scanned the house one day, I noticed that every single room had clusters of items that I had left behind. Sometimes it was “neat clutter,” for example, a stack of orderly books on the floor or a basket of carefully folded laundry in the hall (for those of you who argue that clean laundry should never be considered a sign of disorganization, did I mention that it stays there for an average of four days?) Usually though, my piles are messier and hastily thrown together – with endless receipts that need to be scanned, bank statements that need to be filed, old clothes that need to be donated or new ones that need to be returned.
While my son’s clutter tends to be the result of forgetfulness, mine is usually due to distraction, interruption and a case of “too much to do.” Whatever the reason, the good news is that, as a life coach, I have picked up a few tips from my Martha Beck Life Coach Training that have helped me tackle the process of de-cluttering, or at least put life’s little messes in perspective:
1. Batch It – Whether de-cluttering or tackling some other grandiose goal, sometimes we have a tendency to bite off more than we can chew. ‘Batching’ a project by dividing it into very small, manageable steps such as cleaning out only one drawer or making just one trip to the donation center has helped me feel less overwhelmed and more motivated to start.
2. Better it – Try “bettering” a project so that what you normally might dread becomes something to look forward to. If I am clearing out the garage, I put some music on or invite friends over to help. If sorting the mail in the evening, I make my favorite cup of tea or pour myself a glass of wine to lighten the mood and keep procrastination at bay.
3. Barter it – If you really are having trouble, Martha Beck also suggests “bartering” difficult tasks by paying someone else to do them or trading services. Don’t feel guilty about this. Your time is more efficiently spent doing something that comes more naturally and easier to you rather than dragging your feet on something someone else can do better and faster.
4. Bag it – Does that pile really have to be moved? Or is it perfectly fine where it is? Sometimes we need to make peace with our inner messy child and be okay with the clutter around our work or personal spaces. While I don’t recommend this as an option for your 12-year old, I’ve found that choosing to “bag” or abandon certain tasks can be incredibly freeing. Once I realize that I have a choice, I immediately find myself becoming more relaxed and energetic– and ironically, this often becomes the exact motivation I need to complete the project in the end.