Our environments are often full of distractions. Our phones, emails, piles of unfinished work, notes, and reminders of things we need to do can all be distractions and create stress. Often there is so much stuff in our environment that we barely notice what’s there. That’s why decluttering our space can be a great place to jumpstart Spring cleaning activities. Removing items from our homes and workplaces that are no longer needed can improve focus, boost productivity, and reduce stress. An organized and beautiful environment leads to more spaciousness in our minds.
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Where and How to Start?
If you are like me, there are so many areas to tackle that it’s hard to decide where to start. This often leads to procrastination and waiting for the perfect time to begin, which never arrives. You don’t have to let the thought of decluttering your whole house or workplace overwhelm you. Small things can make a big difference and motivate you to keep going. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
Try cleaning a single surface like your desktop, nightstand, or bathroom counter.
With the season changes, maybe you can start by putting away the winter clutter, such as bulky coats, scarfs, and boots in your entryway.
Toss expired products that are cluttering up your bathroom or medicine cabinet.
Take a few minutes to dust or vacuum the most seen corners or crevices of your home.
Add something to an often-seen area like a houseplant, fresh flowers, or a scented candle.
What Area Bothers You the Most?
If you need a little more help in getting started, consider the following:
Reflect on where you spend a lot of time or an area that is a source of frustration in your daily life.
Once you have that area in mind:
Consider, is there something specific about that area that needs your attention the most?
Check in with how you feel about that area. Do you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or even embarrassed? How long has it been this way? Was there a time when that area gave you joy?
Tip! Engage Your Senses
Before you begin decluttering, consider adding a different dimension. That is, don’t just go mindlessly through the motions of cleaning, but do so mindfully. One way to do this is to engage your senses.
Our senses are our window to the external world. We experience life through our senses. Yet during our everyday routines, we are often locked in our thoughts, blocking what is happening around us. By learning to be more present, we can use our senses to fully engage in what we are doing, as well as take a mental break no matter where we are. Want to learn more? At the end of this blog is a brief exercise to help you practice using all of your senses.
It’s Time to Declutter!
Ok, it’s time to act. Here’s a great way to tackle your spring decluttering now that you’ve selected your area of focus.
Scan the area, focusing on those items that are no longer needed or are adding clutter to your environment.
Next, take a moment to visualize what type of environment would help you feel calm and productive. Take a few cleansing breaths and intend to create an environment that will support you.
Now, get out the camera and take a few photos of the area before you make changes.
As you look at the photos, compare your memory of this area to the pictures you took.
What did you see in the photo that you never noticed before or have overlooked? What surprised you?
Again, visualize what that area would look like to feel calm and productive when you are there.
Now, do just one thing right now. Maybe something as simple as throwing out all the empty or old items in your medicine cabinet or wiping down the items you use most.
You may find that it only takes a few minutes, and you don’t want to stop there! Before you know it, you have a clean, organized space that fits your life right now.
This exercise is not just an example of how to see clutter. It’s also a metaphor for seeing the world selectively and leaving out important details. For example, you may have noticed things in the photo that you missed when you scanned the environment. That is not uncommon. Our attention is selective, and it automatically adjusts so that we no longer see the environment as it is. You may have been surprised about how much you missed – even when paying attention. What we often overlook in our environment is how important our environment is in promoting positive emotions and our enjoyment of life. How will you gain more positivity today?