Begin by Clearing Clutter When You Are Feeling Overwhelmed

After being away from home for fifty-one out of the last ninety days, to say I’m a bit discombobulated is an understatement. We’ve been home for three days and I’m still feeling edgy and irritable. It’s hard to know where to begin to get back on schedule. Yet the answer is simple: begin by clearing clutter!

I’m not suddenly bored or restless now that we’re home for a spell. I’m not complaining about all the beautiful places we’ve been or the amazing souls I’ve spent time with away from home. I not ready to put away my walking shoes and suitcases forever. I still love every aspect of my life and the lifestyle we have cultivated over the last few years.

What’s stressing me out is the clutter.

Granted, a guest could walk into our home and I wouldn’t be embarrassed. We’ve unpacked and after nine loads of laundry and a trip to the dry cleaners, there’s no Mt. Washmore to tackle. But, baby, oh, baby, I dread opening the pantry. Nothing is in order and I seem to have over-stocked up on tomatoes yet have no spaghetti or beans. My closet is a hodgepodge of winter and summer clothes as we traveled to warm places and I haven’t “flipped” my closet yet.

And to be honest, I’m kind of afraid to open that closet near the laundry room. It became a catch-all for re-usable and paper bags, delicates that need to hang-dry (lingerie and swimsuits), extra hangers, and all the other stuff that’s usually stored there, like garbage bags and extra cleaning supplies.

As of yesterday, I could have included my office in this list, but I spent a huge chunk of time getting bills paid, papers filed, my calendar in order, and organizing my workspace again. Not only did I manage some administrative tasks, I cleaned my office, too. Because I need a clean and tidy office to support me and my coaching practice by being a sanctuary.

Most of us work best when our environment is neat and orderly.

I know that no matter how much someone says they can think better in a messy space, anything out of place pulls our focus away from important things – like quality time with our loved ones, creative time, and being able to relax.

My instinct is to toss all my responsibilities aside, pull everything out of the pantry and that closet by the laundry room and methodically get those spaces organized. But let’s be real – as tempting as that is, it isn’t practical. One – because I have other pressing things on my schedule. Two – because that pulling out everything and then putting it back process usually leads to feeling worn out and exhausted about half-way through the project.

So, what am I going to do to get those spaces back in order and clutter free? Take one tiny area at a time.

Keeping things neat and tidy doesn’t come easily to me. I’m forever leaving shoes by the door and a stack of things on the staircase ledge so that I can take it on my next trip downstairs. Even when my closet is at its most organized, there’s always that day that I’m tired when I put the laundry away or continue to pull out clothes that should go to Goodwill.

But I know that I am happier when my world is orderly. I know that I am better able to serve people when my surroundings are serene.

I know that clearing out things that no longer belong opens up that space for thinking, dreaming, and new shoes.

People ask me all the time why I run my Clutter Busting course three times a year. This is why.

We can get our world in perfect order, then something shifts and we find ourselves a little less organized. Life happens: we get sick, we travel. A loved one comes for a visit, or needs us. A project demands the bulk of our time.

If you are feeling frustrated or edgy, clear your desk or your kitchen counters. Stop draining your energy every morning by getting your closet cleared of excess and your bathroom cleared of clutter. Approach the daily task of feeding yourself and nourishing your family with love instead of frustration by cleaning your fridge and organizing your pantry.

It’s time to stack the deck in your favor. Begin by clearing clutter. Then you can organize your spaces and polish your surfaces.