Decluttering Requires Action
20,000-plus emails.
That’s what the the little red oval on my email app on my phone told me.
20,000 PLUS. And growing every day.
A red oval. Mocking me - telling me that I could NEVER get it cleaned up.
That’s a lot of unread emails. Why on earth didn’t I just DEAL with it? Was there any chance I was EVER going to read all of those messages? Some of them were over a year old. Did I TRULY believe there was anything that old that I was actually going to read NOW?
Chances are, if they were important, that person had already gotten ahold of me again. Right?
Every time I thought about cleaning out the messages, I felt overwhelmed. Stressed. It was easier to ignore it than to take action. I mean, just shut the lid of the laptop….turn off notifications on my phone. Ignore it. Maybe it will go away. Truth: it wasn’t going to just go away. It REQUIRED action.
Is it any different than cleaning out the proverbial junk drawer? That dresser drawer that will no longer close? The shoe rack? The spice rack? The pantry? Your earrings (okay, that one might just be me, but still….).
The point is - most of us have an area that needs to be cleaned out. Or multiple areas.
And we convince ourselves that just ignoring it will somehow make it better. We convince ourselves it isn’t THAT important.
Brace yourselves. It IS that important.
You see, you may THINK you are ignoring the situation. But the truth is, your brain knows what is going on. You can shut the notifications off, close the drawer or closet, walk away. But the chaos still exists whether you can see it or not. Your brain knows the chaos exists. And it stays in an anxious mode, an unproductive, uncreative, stressed mode.
Clearing clutter, whether it’s virtual or physical has positive consequences on your body - both physically and emotionally.
Choose ONE area and then break it down into daily goals. For example, instead of cleaning the entire dresser, choose one drawer. Set a timer for 10 minutes...or 20 or 30. You choose. Toss what you no longer use (or donate when applicable). Think of it this way - you are blessing others with the things you no longer need. And it may be JUST what they needed. You are spreading joy!
Chances are, once the timer rings, you are going to be so fired up, you will want to keep going. That’s what happened with me with the inbox. Once I deleted 100 emails, I went for 1000. And once I deleted 1000, I went for 10,000. And before I knew it, the inbox was down to 13. THIRTEEN messages that I actually wanted to keep.
I have done this with my pantry. Shoes. My closet and dresser. And yes, earrings. I got rid of a lot of items - donated, gave away, blessed others with things I could no longer use. How I ended up with 55 t-shirts is a mystery to me, but sharing them felt amazing. Clean space feels amazing. Clutter messes with your head and keeps you stuck.
Some benefits of decluttering:
It might just help you control your eating. Seriously. All those unread emails, stacks of paper and clothes and earrings are causing undo stress. And the stress can very easily bring on overeating. Have you ever sat down at a table to eat and you are surrounded by clutter? I have. And I find myself eating quickly, too much, and craving junk. A peaceful, clean atmosphere brings peace. And that peace can bring a by-product of healthier (and slower!) eating.
You will rest better when you go to bed. Let’s go back to your brain. It KNOWS that the pile of books is in the corner. It knows your clothes are scattered everywhere. It knows that your dresser drawers are a disaster. It knows you have 20,000 emails waiting to be acknowledged. And that internal chaos affects your sleep. Clean it up and you may find yourself resting more deeply.
Better decision making. Annoyance of the clutter will wear down your ability to make decisions. Clutter brings stress. Stress brings an inability to make clear decisions. Clear the clutter, clear your mind. Truth.
How about this one. Being on time! Clutter means searching for things like car keys, shoes, your computer bag, you name it. Clear the clutter, choose organization, and you always know where those things are. Which, in turn, helps you to be on time. Test it!
One more. Safety. All that clutter can be a physical danger. I used to see people with mail and papers all over the floor - at their feet. Just one mis-step and their feet would go flying on the papers that would slide across the floor - leaving the person sprawling on the floor. Sounds like broken bones just waiting to happen. Or how about walking across a messy bedroom to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Clutter causes tripping hazards. Clean it up and claim your safety.
I promise that CLEARING the clutter (not just rearranging it into folders or bins) brings such an incredible sense of peace. When I cleaned out the emails, I felt like I just climbed the highest mountain. It was - exhilarating. It will for you, too. Clean it up. Claim the peace.
Oh - and my new plan. Twice a day I check emails. I immediately clear out what can go and answer what must be answered. 30 minutes a day. Tops. Boom. And no more taunting, red oval mocking me.
When I purchase new clothes, something must leave from the dresser/closet.
Same with earrings.
It’s saving me money, time, and stress.
Take action. Declutter.
It is worth it.
YOU are worth it.
It’s never too late.
Life is Short. Choose Wisely.