Last week, many of you listened in to the free teleclass I hosted on the topic of decluttering. Fellow coach Sue Rasmussen and I had a fantastic response with 100+ people registering and lots of very enthusiastic comments. If you missed the class, you have until this weekend to sign up to receive the free audio recording.
There was also a very interesting and pervasive obstacle which emerged: “My life is too cluttered to have time to listen to the call, let alone actually declutter!” Most of us are only too familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed, of having too many juggling balls up in the air at one point. It feels like a Catch 22: we don’t have the time to take action that we suspect would open up more time. We may say to ourselves with firm resolve that we must ‘make’ time or ‘find’ time to declutter.
If we’re being really truthful with language, however, we can see that it is not possible to either ‘make’ or ‘find’ time; the only flexibility we have is how we allocate it. We say “yes” to one thing which means “no” to another. We say “no” to something which means “yes” to something else.
So why would we choose not to allocate time to decluttering? Here’s one big reason: Because there are stories which live in each and every possession of ours – stories we are reluctant to let go of. The pile of clothes reminds you of the reality that you’re no longer a size ten. Your files full of dusty papers remind you of projects you haven’t seen through. Your grandmother’s ornaments remind you that someone you love is no longer with you, and the children’s toys in the attic remind you that your little ones have flown the nest. And so given the finite nature of time, and given that it’s all about choosing how you allocate that time, it’s no surprise that our first choice would NOT be to allocate time to something potentially painful or uncomfortable.
So should we just not do it? What payoff could possibly make it worth delving into the potential pain of those stories?
“Lots and lots of peace and calm”, says Karen, who’s just gutted her entire house to make way for relocation to California. “I’ve been able to look at old memories in a different light, to examine them and let them go physically so I can now laugh at them rather than feel sadness”. Joey, a Sustainability Masters student, has found: “It makes you feel mentally freer – it liberates you. Also, that stuff might be of use to someone else”. Having recently cleared out four big bags of clothes, Sam – a busy teacher – says she feels uplifted by the big gap in her wardrobe: “I feel less clogged up and less dictated to by my stories. It also feels good to know a charity will be making money out of those items. What I particularly like is that my brain is so full with work demands… but I’m in control here. I can go into my wardrobe and make decisions in a way I can’t in my job”.
Peace, feeling in charge, calm, letting go, more space and freedom. Perhaps worth taking a deep breath and delving in….?
When you decide to allocate time to decluttering, you’ll want to be happy with the end result – and also enjoy the process. Find someone to work with you who can be firm and ask the right questions at the right time AND who gives you space and time to reflect and reminisce without feeling guilty or rushed. Together, you want to be compassionate with the stories which bubble up, instead of judging them.
No suitable declutter buddy jumping to mind? Read on for support options…
The World Needs Your Passion, So…
1) To receive a free audio recording of the teleclass, click here > > Listen to the end of the class for details of Sue’s ‘Streamline Your Success’ programme and how that can support you.
2) If you’re already having coaching with me, or are thinking about it, then ask to dedicate a session to one area of clutter in your life. This might be physical clutter; it might be time clutter or mental clutter. We’ll explore the stories which emerge so that we can move you into more space, more peace and more freedom.
If you’re not yet receiving coaching support and would like to book a session now, click here > > and then click through on the yellow ‘Buy Now’ button. Alternatively, click here > > to book a consultation to discuss longer-term coaching support.
3) Leave a comment on this blog post, letting us know about your experiences with decluttering. What’s it been like to confront old memories and painful stories? What do you find hardest to let go – and easiest? What do you think is stopping you from addressing the clutter in your life right now?
© Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2010
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Hi Corrina,
Great post and my number one reason for not de-cluttering tends to be that it’s too big a job and I haven’t got the time or energy right now. So I’ve recently taken to doing 5 mins here and there. In fact, it only takes about 1 minute to clear my desk into something more manageable and clean looking and that instantly makes me feel better and clears my mind.
As for clearing out my wardrobe, I’m raising £2500 for Guide Dogs for the Blind as part of a charity event I’m doing so there is a big incentive to get it cleared ready for a car boot sale. Again, I have broken it down into manageable chunks… spending 5-10 mins maximum at a time and putting the things to go in one area.
Now instead of looking at a stack of clothes that I don’t want to wear, I only see the ones I do want to wear and that really is worth taking the few minutes here and there that I’ve done.
Right off to do another 5 mins of clearing out now!
Jude – Bite-sized decluttering, thank you for sharing that as a strategy. I can feel the impact of that on both your wardrobe and the charity; that’s a lot of money you’re aiming for and I know how much you support that cause – go you!
I’m curious: How do 5-10 minute bursts work out in terms of addressing the stories behind the clutter?
Corrina´s last blog ..I Feel Too Cluttered To Declutter!
very inspiring. nice post!
Joane Reid´s last blog ..Pelman Day TWENTY-SEVEN: Conscious vs. Subconscious
Thanks for another great post Corrina!
De-cluttering various things this month has literally booted me into a whole new phase of my life.
It started off small: taking a load of bottles etc to the recycling center, de-cluttering a well-used room, and then (at last) my wardrobe (where I have managed to ditch so many un-supportive attitudes about my self worth)…and now other bigger things in my life are getting de-cluttered and improved.
Truly powerful stuff!
Can’t wait to listen to the audio!
Johanna @www.miss-best.com´s last blog ..Blueberry Ice Dream
Joane – Glad you were inspired, and thanks for joining us here!
Johanna – I think you’ll enjoy the audio – I’d heard her do one similar before but it gave me an extra boost. Fantastic to hear about your experiences – “ditching unsupportive attitudes about my self-worth” – I feel like whooping and celebrating that with you, sister!
Corrina´s last blog ..I Feel Too Cluttered To Declutter!
Thanks Corrina!
Li’l Miss Feng Shui here lightly scanned your post, with an ‘I’m soo decluttered already I don’t think this is relevant’ air (but I read it anyway as I LOVE your posts
Two minutes later in walked my web-dude only to announce that my mailbox was about to run out of capacity because it’s too… ‘CLUTTERED’! Take that for an instant rebuke of smugness! I then proceeded to re-read your post (attentively this time!) and spent the next hour deleting the past year’s (or more!) emails, unreads and spams. The peace that came when I saw my inbox as ’0′ unread was remarkable. I hadn’t realised that clutter was affecting me every time I opened my inbox. Bless you and your blog power!
Natalie x
Natalie Fee´s last blog ..Four Ways to Fly When You’re Falling
Thanks for the on-the-mark post – as always!
The picture you chose pretty much sums up how I feel about clutter and de-cluttering! Despair!
And my attitude is definitely that I never have enough time because it’s such an insurmountable task and I really feel I should be doing something else (like revision for impending exams) instead.
But, I love the idea of short bursts of sorting out – I shall try doing that today in my breaks.
And I can’t wait for when I really DO have the time (post-exams) to properly listen to that audio with my partner and completely re-invent our space. I can feel the relief already!
xxx
Natalie – Big smiles from over here
Yes I was also Ms Super-Smug “I don’t have clutter, it’s all my partner’s” and actually as Sue says on that teleclass, we only generally deal with the tip of the iceberg. It’s actually the stuff below the surface which we don’t label as ‘clutter’ that we REALLY need to let go of because that’s what’s most profoundly holding us back. Thanks so much for sharing your story; I’d be curious to hear if other interesting opportunities or results come in to you, now that you’ve made space…
VeganChu – Yeah, apt picture huh? That painful ostrich stance – “If I don’t look, I just won’t see it”. And yet clutter has a huge impact energetically so we can’t help but see it in terms of how we feel and how we’re able to respond to life. How did it go with short bursts in your breaks? Could actually have the added bonus of providing relief from monotonous revision….? I can feel your excitement about a big post-exam space clear – aaaahhhh
Corrina´s last blog ..I Feel Too Cluttered To Declutter!
Corrina! Bless you!
I finally gave in to the denial that I needed to declutter but just kept putting it off. I listened to the audio and it helped to kick-start me. My biggest thing was actually making more clutter so that it would take longer to declutter, then I could hold onto not moving forward just a little while longer lol! (I know, bad logic) So right now I’m going to tackle the pile of ironing (my wardrobe is bare!) and then move on from there.
I have been given lots of opportunities recently but none have stuck, so once I start ‘Operation Declutter’ we’ll see how this unfolds
Thank you!
Corinne – Cool name
Fantastic that the audio offered a kickstart – it had that impact on me too! Ah yes we do have very clever strategies for staying where we are; it seems so much more comfortable here. Do keep us updated on Operation Declutter – I wonder whether giving it that title actually helps, makes it more compelling….?
If you want extra help with decluttering, you might like some coaching sessions – and there’s a special offer on at the moment. Check out: http://youinspireme.co.uk/special-offers or simply click the ‘Special Offers’ section in the menu bar above.
Corrina´s last blog ..I Feel Too Cluttered To Declutter!
Oh the joys of decluttering! I enjoy it so much I have made it my business. Not choosing to make the time to sort things out is high on the list of why we get cluttered up but so is the ostrich approach. It is possible to actually blank out the accumulating mess so you simply don’t see it even though it steadily encroaches on your living and thinking space. I belong to APDO the association of professional declutterers and organisers,check out their website,
http://www.apdo-uk.co.uk . We believe in physically helping people to overcome their inertia and get the job done. It is amazing how much can be accomplished when a couple of you work together. As with so many things it is getting started that is the problem. Booking some one to come and help can be the kick start you need.
In my own case I cleared out the excess thick winter socks from my underwear drawer yesterday. It is so much easier to find what I need and the thick socks will swop places with the summer ones next autumn. Why didn’t I do that years ago?
The modern way of life means we are constantly filling our homes with stuff – it has to be culled every so often or we will simply drown in it. I love the idea of just 10 minutes stints of clearing – bite sized chunks – works every time.
Oh, the ostrich-stance!! So painful, and yet so easy to get into!
I’ve been ostriching about both clutter (of all types) and finances for too many years to count – far too often, it feels like “One step forward and two steps back”!
I’m getting a lot of good in-sight-formation from Sue’s site already! Thank you for that connection.
Re: your question to Jude(1), I use “bite-sized decluttering” (when I remember to!). It actually makes it easier to deal with the stories-in-your-stuff, because not so many of them come up, all at once.
Your insightful comments at Mark Silver’s Heart of Business blog are what led me here ~ but I’ll be back!
Bright Blessings! Karen
Karen J´s last blog ..5555
Chris – I’m so happy you’ve jumped in here! To have turned your passion into a business – makes my heart sing
Thanks for the link to your association; it is transformative to hire someone to assist you – you then have person-power and time set aside to actually make it happen.
For others of you reading, Chris is helping bring my Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word workshop to Devon this summer. See: http://youinspireme.co.uk/workshops/fail-is-not-a-four-letter-word/ and if it speaks to you, book your place at the super earlybird price.
Karen – Welcome – and delighted you’ve come via Mark. Yes sometimes when there are sooo many stories which come up, they just hit us like those tennis ball machines, pounding out too quickly for us to deal with them. One small area at a time, one story at a time certainly feels more manageable. When you read this comment, let it be the trigger to release yourself from the ostrich stance… Go do a little bite-size decluttering RIGHT NOW!
Corrina´s last blog ..I Feel Too Cluttered To Declutter!