Do you want to feel free of clutter in your life?

Can you imagine feeling free from clutter in your life?

Clutter is toxic and does more harm to our emotional, mental and physical wellbeing than we realise.

The negative effects of clutter in our life include: 

• Poor health and dietary habits
• Low self-esteem that can lead to feeling depressed
• Loss of productivity and profitability
• A negative impact on close relationships
• Loss of precious time, space and energy that prevents us from enjoying life.
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So what can you do to create the freedom you long to feel?

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For some of us, clutter may be that pile of paperwork in the office or at home that just seems to grow all on its own.  It may be cupboards of clothes we haven't worn in years, or laundry that's piled high in a basket that you haven't seen empty in months.  Or perhaps it's the kitchen cupboard that's so full of plastic containers that you couldn't possibly use in one week.  Maybe you are an 'ornament queen' or a 'shed junky', or perhaps a hobbyist who cannot bear to part with your favs because you might use them one day.  Whatever the vice, clutter can whittle away at our physical and mental health, drain our energy and be a downer on our enjoyment in life.

So how do we get clutter in the first place?

Clutter is what happens when we procrastinate.  It can occur in many areas of our life  (home, work, health, relationships, finances) and shows up where we are avoiding taking care of the priorities, either due to fear, feelings of being overwhelmed, or we believe we don't have the skills to deal with it.  Though we may use the excuse we are time poor, it's usually a cover-up for 'not dealing with stuff' or making it a priority. 

So what happens when we don't deal with it?

Procrastination can lead to poor health which may show up as headaches, irritability, stomach issues, and muscle aches and pains due to stress.  On an emotional and mental level it can indirectly lead to poor self esteem and low energy, and can negatively impact our relationships. It can breed a lack of peace in our mind, and absorb unnecessary energy as we persistently ignore it.  In the workplace it can result in a loss of productivity and profitability.  At home, the burden of clutter creates an unhealthy living environment and negative energy referred to as bad feng-shui.

When we don't deal with clutter, the discomfort and the negative impact just grows.  It doesn;t disappear like we hope it will.  Imagine your life is like a garden, capable of bearing beautiful flowers and wonderful fruits to enjoy.  However, if you choose to ignore tending to the garden, in time it will grow weeds.  When we ignore the weeds, they eventually choke out all the good stuff in the garden. The weeds take over and they remove good nutrients from the soil.  The longer they are left there, the more difficult and time consuming it is to remove them and clean up the mess.  

Clutter that grows infects us like a dis-ease.  It becomes more difficult to see clearly what we value and where we are headed, so so we can't perform at our best. When we remove the weeds and put the nutrients back into the soil, the fruits are prolific and we reap the benefits.

Physical clutter can lead to mental clutter.  Putting off what needs attending to can create mental stress.  The benefits of feeling free and clear of the clutter in our life far outweighs the amount of energy it takes to ignore, avoid, or pretend it's not there.   Procrastination takes up mental time, space and energy that could otherwise be spent enjoying life.

So the best way to deal with clutter is ......to deal with the clutter!  

Get started on one corner that needs attention - whether it's the physical clutter in your life, or the wasteful negative mental clutter that you spend too much time churning over in your mind.   Life is precious.  Don't waste time and energy on clutter that has no value and limits your joy in life.

• If it's overwhelming getting to the task, ask for help, especially from someone who is good at dealing with clutter (ie: someone who is organised and has great energy).  
• Don't delay or make excuses.
• Make a list of priorities and set some targets to achieve.  
• Ensure your goals are realistic, and 
• Give yourself a timeframe to work towards.  

The benefits of no clutter will give you...

• Freedom in your life to do what you really enjoy and value
• Increased energy and happiness
• Improved relationships 
• Clarity and peace of mind
• Better physical and mental health, and
• Improved performance in the workplace, and therefore increased productivity and profitability

Being free of clutter gives you more of what you really want in life!

Rebecca Gabrielle

www.livingwithspice.com.au