Are you plagued by clutter in your personal or professional life? Is there someone in your family or your work who is? Based on my experience, the answer is probably "Yes!"
As a professional organizing consultant for more than 20 years, I have discovered that eight out of ten people are bogged down in life with physical clutter somewhere in their lives. Ironically, most of them suffer in silence. In many cases, you would never know it just by seeing them, or even working with them, because they are frequently some of the smartest and most successful people in the world. In far more cases than most people believe, the clutter actually drives them to do or not to do the very things they want most or want not to do. In some cases, it causes emotional paralysis, even mental illness. The only thing stronger that their desire to get of the clutter is their desire to hang on to it, and a vicious cycle results.
My consulting business has been built on the concept "Clutter is Postponed Decisions?." In the beginning, I was referring to the physical clutter that plagues so many people in our increasingly materialist society. When I began to explore this issue, it became evident that the physical clutter was an outgrowth of another kind of clutter: emotional clutter ? internal beliefs that control our behavior and our results.
If I just get organized, I will be able to do it all. I, or someone else I know, might need it someday If I keep it long enough, I can justify the fact that I bought it. I can't get rid of it because someone else gave it to me.
You can keep everything you want if you are willing to pay the price: time, space, money, and energy.
It suddenly occurred to me that decision-making about our emotional environment is just as important as decision-making about our physical environment. Deciding what thoughts to keep determine whether we just "keep on keeping on" or learn from our experiences, move on to even better things, and help others to learn by our example.
I once interviewed an extremely talented and prolific painter in her home studio. It was filled with beautiful paintings. "Do you ever like something you create so much that you can't let go of it," I asked. "On, no," she immediately responded. "I have to. Otherwise nothing new would come."
? Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.productiveenvironment.com
maide service in Lincolnshire ..After a long winter, this is the time of year... Read More
Often we are in overwhelm because we are holding too... Read More
Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At... Read More
Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More
I recently read an article that had some interesting but... Read More
I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More
Getting and staying organized is critical to achieving your goals.... Read More
A daily journal will save you time, reduce stress and... Read More
Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More
The true definition of an organization is one that is... Read More
Questions come my way all the time regarding my God-given... Read More
If you look at any major organisation, there is this... Read More
Paper1. You may already be in the habit of filing... Read More
Have you ever heard that having a cluttered home can... Read More
Recently, in an online group, we talked about "balance" and... Read More
I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More
I've noticed that in the two years since the major... Read More
Staying organized can be a constant battle. The following organizing... Read More
1. THE LOVE IT OR LOSE IT PRINCIPLE: Every item... Read More
Coping with clutter is rarely easy. There's more involved than... Read More
I gathered some things you can do this spring while... Read More
Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just... Read More
In your quest to get 'up and running' so to... Read More
Some people seem to be born organized. You probably remember... Read More
Clothes. Check. School supplies. Check. No doubt you've got to... Read More
cleaning lady near Deerfield ..I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More
"The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More
What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More
1) It's easy to have a good clear out: Not... Read More
Getting and staying organized is critical to achieving your goals.... Read More
A daily journal will save you time, reduce stress and... Read More
After a long winter, this is the time of year... Read More
Getting organized is hard. If it weren't, we wouldn't put... Read More
What's an item that can help you organize every room... Read More
Spring is here and the garage door is open. This... Read More
Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have... Read More
Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More
Your closet is often the first thing you see in... Read More
One of the most basic ways to find papers when... Read More
So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More
The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I... Read More
The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your... Read More
I recently read an article that had some interesting but... Read More
Many people have a huge challenge coping with the incoming... Read More
The store reminded me of a well-worn slipper ? tattered... Read More
The true definition of an organization is one that is... Read More
Paper1. You may already be in the habit of filing... Read More
Use these 35 sanity savers this year to help you... Read More
Have you ever heard that having a cluttered home can... Read More
3-Step Clean Sweep Program 1 -... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |