Clutter Busting Coach

...clearing clutter from your mind, body and space

Curating Your Life: The Experience

by

I posed in my last few posts the idea of shifting perspective when you are decluttering.

The idea sprung from my recent donation of craft supplies to a Craft Swap. Clearing out unused and unwanted scrapbook and craft supplies was a positive experience for me knowing that others who craft would potentially find a use for them instead of them sitting in storage and taking up space.
So, this past week I shorted through my seasonal decorations and moved some of those gently used items to another purpose as a donation for an upcoming church event.

And, while I still like the items donated, I reviewed if I had at all used them in the last year or more or would I likely use them for the next holiday. I pondered if my style and décor changed. I asked myself, if they still fit into my vision for this upcoming holiday season. If any of the answers was no, I gladly moved them on for a good purpose.

What items do you have in your home that could bring joy to someone else or be used for a good cause?

Curating Your Life (Stuff)

by

I posed the question in my last post about changing your perspective about decluttering. Instead of making decisions to let things go, what if you made choices based on keeping items that would support the life you want?

This could be equally challenging, yet I propose that by changing perspective from loss to gain, decision-making becomes easier and a more positive experience. What if you started curating your things for the life you currently have or desire versus the past?

So, schedule your next decluttering session with the intention of making positive choices for yourself. That’s my goal for this week. I’ll let you know how it went. Will you share your experience with me as well?

Perspective on Decluttering

by

Decluttering can be tough. Keeping in mind the reason for decluttering can be helpful and, yet, one may still struggle with letting go of things.

Reasons for not letting go include:

  • “Just in case”
  • Status symbol
  • Security
  • Inherited “clutteritis”
  • A belief that more is better
  • Using clutter to suppress emotions
  • Territorialism
  • Identity

Do any of these sound like the reasons you have clutter? You may even have other reasons for keeping clutter around you. What if we changed our perspective and decided to keep ONLY what currently serves the life you want for yourself?

Take Inventory

by

Are you feeling stuck? Is there are a lot on your list, but you are not getting to some the items? Are you feeling unproductive or overwhelmed? Is it time to take inventory of all your ‘to dos’?

Take a quick inventory now. On a piece of paper (or do this electronically) create three columns: like, dislike and neutral. Then thinking about a typical week or even your last week, list all the activities or tasks under one of the three categories. Now for items listed under dislike ask yourself: “Is this a must do item?” If the answer is yes, then determine how you can make a change so it more satisfying or agreeable.

Here are some ideas:

  • Change your thinking about the task so you can view it as something positive.
  • Express gratitude for the task and the work.
  • Determine if this is a task that could be delegated to someone else that is better at it or likes it better than you do and then do that.
  • Break the task into smaller parts and do one thing.
  • Do the worst first.

An inventory of your tasks (especially if you are stuck or overwhelmed) can help improve mood and productivity.