Clutter Busting Coach

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

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Paper Clutter Challenge Check in

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For the month of May, I challenged myself and you to do a Paper Purge.

Have you joined me? If not, it is not too late. If you have, what insights have you gained?

One of the ways that I am getting rid of paper is to stop it in the first place or handle it as it comes in. Here are some of the tips that I have employed this past week:

  • Handle mail as soon as it comes in: toss, recycle, shred, scan or place in an action folder (requests for donations).
  • Stop tearing out recipes from magazines and take a photo of the recipe. Suggestion: If you do not use it in a month, delete it from your phone.
  • Schedule a day and/or time to file the small numbers of paper you intend to keep for records (only save records), scan (if you did not do it when you handled the paper) and shred.

By not having a few “working” piles of paper in my visual sight this week, I have gained some space and freedom.

I am excited to create more space this coming week.

Integrity Check in

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Happy May! Another month and another chapter. An opportunity to bloom where your or planted or move you roots.

As Jim Rohn says, “If you don’t like where you are, move! You are not a tree.”  I love that quote. It reminds me that I have choices and that it is up to me to take action. That is what a new month also does for me… It helps me acknowledge the possibilities of what is yet to come.

In an article posted by Live Your True Story four simple habits were shared for living with integrity.  There were two that stood out for me which are making better choices and keeping your agreements.

I have no issue with keeping promises made to others, but I have always struggled with keeping promises to myself. This is especially true when it is about self-care and commitments that I have made to live a healthier life.

As for choices, it is always easier to make the choice in the moment for instant pleasure versus pausing to consider the long-term outcome of that choice. An example is choosing not to exercise today for any number of reasons or overindulging (substances, food, screen time, etc.).

So, I said that each month this year would have a theme around integrity. For me, this month it is focusing on keeping my commitment to myself by making better choices that support my agreements.

Also, this month I mentioned a paper purge challenge to start today. I must be honest that I got a bit of a head start last month when we had an opportunity to take part in a free shred event. And while a lot of decisions were made that allowed a big purge of financial papers, there is still more to do related to all the career and reference material I have on hand.

Join me this month in purging papers and getting control of paper clutter. And while we are at it lets commit to keeping agreements to ourselves.

Paper Purge Challenge….May  2021 

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Earlier this year I offered up a 40 Day Declutter Challenge. Did you participate? I again learned lessons during my annual 40 Day Purge.

I was so motivated about the space I was able to free up during that time, that I am starting a Paper Purge Challenge for the month of May.

I decided on this Challenge because it works so well for me to have a target period of time for a commitment. And I also realized that sometimes by challenging ourselves with small tasks, we can be motivated to move outside of our comfort zone.

So, starting next Saturday, May 1, I will begin my paper purge. Will you join me?

Not sure where to start, view some of my previous posts on dealing with paper piles, creating your filing system and the care and feeding of your paper piles.

Need additional support, learn how coaching can help.

A Case for Conquering Paper Clutter

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I find myself every year around the tax deadline (I still think April 15 even though this year the deadline was extended) thinking about and dealing with paper.

The challenge with paper is that there is a lot of it and it requires a lot of decisions. Each piece of paper requires a choice.

While the pandemic has caused more of us to be virtual and more electronic, there still is a lot of paper to deal with from junk mail to filing. Many of us end up with paper clutter because, as previously mentioned, we delay decision making.

Think about your paper and how it serves you. Paper is either a reference or a record. And I will also acknowledge that it can be a memory too (special birthday card or acceptance letter for example).

One way to stop paper clutter before it starts is to stop it before it enters your house. Another way is to handle it as soon as it enters your home. While another way is to determine which papers you need really keep and then handle them immediately by filing them.

Commit to conquering you paper clutter today. Start with this year’s tax documentation and determine what you need to keep a hard copy of and what can be kept electronically and then shred the rest. Starting with this current paper pile can start you on the path

Deal with the Dreaded Task

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Have you ever procrastinated in starting a “dreaded” task? Do you have one right now that you should be tackling?

Maybe that is why you are having to deal with clutter because clutter is the result of delayed decisions. Yes. Clutter can be overwhelming. Yes. Decision making can cause anxiety. And yes, you can have clutter for many more reasons.

But let us focus on handling dreaded tasks here.

If you are avoiding dealing with your clutter, why? What are your thoughts about the clutter or the task? Why do you dread that task? Does it scare you? Do you think you will not be successful? Do you think it will take too much time? Or maybe you are afraid of the change on the other side? There are probably many other reasons that you could have for not handling your stuff.

You can start by building on past situations where you just tackled a dreaded task and ended up feeling invigorated at its completion and wondering why it took you so long. Can you think of one of those? I can.  Think about the feeling you had when you were done.

When we tackle a dreaded task, afterwards we often wonder why it took us so long to handle the task. What one dreaded, but small task can you handle today to get you started. To get the energy flowing in a positive way.  If you can remove an obstacle or two that is getting in your way….in the way of clearing your clutter, you may be surprised at how freeing it can be.

What one small, dreaded task, even if it is not dealing with clutter, can you do today? Just do it and be amazed at the energy and growth that can be opened for you.