The state of your external surroundings often reflects your internal state of mind. Research has shown that excessive physical clutter can lead to increased stress and anxiety, while an organized environment can promote a sense of calm and mental clarity. Think about how you feel when you are surrounded by excessive physical clutter and how you feel when everything is in its place. Most people feel like their minds are clearer in an organized environment. This is because physical clutter tends to clutter the mind.
So, if you want to be more effective in accomplishing your goals, it’s better to declutter your physical space first. This will create room for new ideas and opportunities to enter your life and help you transition into the new life you’re trying to make. It’s a powerful step that gives you control over your environment and your life. Three significant areas in your life may need some decluttering.
Clearing area number one is your environment.
Your work environment can help or hinder your progress. Take a moment to reflect on your immediate surroundings and identify areas that require decluttering. Try this approach.
1. Your workspace should be neat and ordered, with a cleared desk free of paper piles, store receipts and bills. This will help you concentrate better and find things quickly.
2. Things on the floor—If books, magazines, or papers are scattered on the floor, organize them by placing them on bookshelves, filing them, or discarding any unnecessary items.
3. Your bookshelves – An organized bookshelf with books, photos, and other objects neatly arranged is pleasing to the eye and makes finding items more accessible.
4. Review your electronic subscriptions – Unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters and apps to avoid unnecessary charges.
5. Pay close attention to your email inbox – Carefully review all unread emails and delete messages older than two weeks. Unsubscribe from unwanted mailing lists.
Clearing area number two is your schedule
Although you may plan to work online or in person, there are only so many hours in a day. To ensure you are productive and focused, you can begin to declutter your schedule.
1. Start by looking at your calendar for the upcoming month. How do the next seven days look? What about the following seven days after that? If you feel overwhelmed looking at the whole month, consider which activities you can decline or cancel. Consider re-evaluating the significance of events that you attend out of obligation.
2. Consider delegating weekly chores – Sometimes, asking family members or close friends to help with little things adds extra time during the day.
3. Schedule a non-negotiable day and time – To achieve your goal, it’s crucial to dedicate time and effort towards it consistently. One way to do this is to choose specific days and times during the week when you focus solely on working towards your goal. Determine how many days and how much time you’ll need, and then schedule those slots on your calendar for several weeks in advance. It’s important to treat these slots as non-negotiable and stick to them as much as possible. Over time, this habit will become powerful and help you achieve your goal.
4. Prioritize where you focus your energy – Have you ever felt frustrated with someone in your life? Perhaps, there is one particular person who you wish would act or think differently. It’s essential to recognize that you can’t control or change others, only yourself. Take a moment to consider what you need to feel calm, less anxious, and at peace. By doing so, you can release the energy and time you are investing in trying to change somebody else. It may seem like you are giving up, but in reality, you allow them to change and grow at their own pace. Remember, the most significant change starts with you.
Clearing area number three is money
Suppose you are considering returning to school to change your career, quitting your current job to start your own business, or just planning to retire early. In that case, it is essential to ask yourself if you are developing the habits of someone financially free. The value you place on your finances today will shape the habits that will follow you into your new life, whether you want to earn more money or learn to live with less. There are five simple and practical ways to evaluate the time and value you dedicate to your relationship with money.
1. Follow up on the money owed to you – Create a comprehensive list of all the individuals and companies that owe you money, and record the amount owed next to their name. Remember to follow up with each of them to recover the outstanding amounts. It’s common to overlook refunds or credits from returned items, canceled subscriptions, or even personal loans that we lend to friends and family. Ensure that you have received payment for all the outstanding funds.
2. Gather all gift cards and gift certificates—It’s a good idea to search your desk drawers, car glove compartments, or any other places where you might have kept them. Make sure to check their expiration dates and use them before they expire. You can either redeem them for something you need or treat yourself to something you want.
3. Embark on a treasure hunt for loose change—Gather all the loose change you can find and exchange it for larger bills. Give yourself a week to spend the money on something that contributes to your goal.
4. Review your credit statements—Review your recurring charges and cancel any unnecessary subscriptions or services. This includes free trial subscriptions that have become permanent charges.
5. Take a look at the contents of your wallet, both inside and out – First, clear out all old receipts and business cards. If your wallet looks worn out, could you replace it with a newer one? The things we see every day can affect our mood and perspective.
If you need to declutter in all four areas, I encourage you to pick the one that seems the most difficult to declutter first. Sometimes, the most powerful personal breakthroughs come from accomplishing difficult and challenging tasks. You can tackle that one first; the rest will be much easier and quicker.
The three areas of decluttering your space are part of the 90-Day Habit Changing Program.
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