The phrase “cluttered environment, cluttered mind” took on a whole new meaning once I became an entrepreneur.
It became abundantly clear that clutter–and holding on to things in general—was affecting me energetically.
I decided to create space, in order for new and exciting things to fill it. Now I suggest my clients do this too.
File what you can, put things in piles or do a combination of both.
When in doubt, throw it out.
Currently in my business, we’re looking into a storage unit, for items like signage that I don’t use all year round.
I also love to use the big eight-foot whiteboard in my office instead of having loose leaf paper lying around with all my different ideas and plans. (I used to have those everywhere.)
Office equipment can also be a clutter culprit. Can yours be upgraded or some thrown out?
In recent years I realized that I was holding onto some things that were taking up space like an old dingy fax machine I finally got rid of on Craigslist. (Donating is also an option.)
If you decide to replace items, get the best you can afford and get rid of what you’re not using. After all, the faster you can work and more efficient you can be, the more money you will make.
There’s also the matter of feeling like you’re out of sync a bit too. You want to grow a really successful business, yet you’ve got this old stuff taking up space, physically and energetically.
Take a look around your office or home or both, and size up your physical environment. What are you surrounded by? Is it time to clean up and make room for the new?
A great place to start is to go through your closet and get rid of what doesn’t fit the person you are becoming. Even if you typically work at home in yoga pants, upgrade to nicer pairs.
Finally, are there reminders of old bad things? I had pictures around of friends I didn’t talk to anymore. I had folders in my email for old projects that I really didn’t want to be reminded of.
One day I simply put some good music on and got to work with some garbage bags. I swapped out piles of junk with nice candles or silk flowers, because those items made me feel good to see and look at. I also did a thorough organization of my computer files.
The difference in my sense of well-being was immediate. I felt renewed, clear-headed and actually excited to get to work.
Try it for yourself and see.
What a great article! Being in the “home organizing” business for over 3+ years with 110 clients I have seen it all. The transformations of the individual and the space before and after has just been mind blowing! Declutter, Downsize, Donate is my motto!
Wow, good for you Jessica! It’s great to be able to help so many. Love the motto too. 🙂 Appreciate you stopping by!
Love that Terri! Dead stuff is such an appropriate way to put it. 😉 Thanks for the comment!
Hello, Christine. Wow, talk about a shot in the arm. Your article certainly does that. In my business I also help people with organizing and storage. I find that containers help a great deal over the long term with keeping areas organized. Because we’re all human and old habits tend to come back, containers help with having a place to gather things until you put them away where they belong. Otherwise, the mess is back within six months, unless you have super will power and self-discipline. I’m currently turning a guest room into a show room. I had no idea how much stuff I had in there. So your article inspired me and motivated me to keep on top of my project. It’s more overwhelming than I expected it to be. Thank you for your timely article. Take care. Happy Summer! Rosella Young, AA-1 Designs, Invest in your shelf!
So glad to have helped inspire you Rosella! Here’s to tackling that project with gusto. 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Great tip about using the whiteboard to jot things down. I tend to write things on post its and then they get lost easily because they scatter.
That really written very well and thanks for sharing your views.
Thanks Christine 🙂
Christine,
This is a great article, and it seems like you wrote it just for me! They call me the clutter king at my office, but no more! haha
Thanks,
Sid
Haha Sid, yes–time for a new moniker! 😉 Glad you enjoyed!
Clutter frustrates me. I cant even focus when my “area” is a mess.
Yes, great article and so true. I have just gone through a really busy time with my business and found it quite stressful – the desktop on my computer became covered with all sorts of stuff that I wanted to keep open and handy and as a result became very cluttered and messy. As a result I found it really stressful to look at and, after having more or less cleared it, binned a load of stuff and tidies other files into folders I am noticeably calmer and less stressed!
I personally can’t stand clutter and I’m unable to work until everything is clean. I don’t know how people can be productive in a cluttered office. Good advice.
Hey Christine, the very first line of this blogpost is touchy and awesome. Its also true and life goes in same way. We should start thinking and planning about how to make our life clutter free so that we all can have a business model that is growing like we planned. 🙂
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after reading through
some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways,
I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking
and checking back often!
I don’t like clutter. My motto is “If it hasn’t moved or been touched within the last 13 months, it belongs in the trash”.
As a professional organizer who specializes in residential organizing, I focus on helping busy moms and women with home-based businesses get and stay organized. I am passionate about helping women become empowered by getting organized. It truly is life changing. I love your blog and your personal experience with eliminating clutter in your life. After being in business for 11 years, I have seen, time and time again, how powerul getting organized can truly be. It affects every aspect of your life, both personally and professionally.
Great article and thank you for the reminder. I have seen such wonderful things happen after I got rid of clutter and shifted the energy in my home and office. It helped creativity soar and felt so much lighter.