Simplicity in Action: Sandra’s Story
Editor’s Note: This is a post in the series, Simplicity in Action. If you’d like to submit your story of how simplicity has worked in your life, please read more here. You can write about anything from decluttering a junk drawer to simplifying your diet. Let your small and big changes inspire others.
Sandra
When it comes to simplicity, my weak spot is paper and digital clutter. My solution: a box. I call my method: “the one-step approach to decluttering fast.”
Demolishing Paper Clutter
One day, I was so fed up with all the paper cluttering my office that I grabbed an empty box. In a swoosh, I swept all the notes, mail, scraps, newspaper articles, magazines, widgets, and other miscellaneous off the shelves and small desktop into the open container.
Yes! I did keep an eye out for the important items, separating out bills and other essentials. I pulled a circular file close and trashed the obviously superfluous pieces right away. I didn’t dilly-dally. It all happened fast.
Larger items – like notebooks and books – were tucked into alignment on the backend of the shelves. I cleaned off the surfaces with a damp cloth.
Voila! In about 15-minutes I had a completely uncluttered, clean space. What a noticeable sense of relief! Why had I waited so long?
Design consultant and author Cathleen McCandlees says:
“From years of experience, I’ve learned that any time a client mentions words like ‘stagnant,’ ‘lethargic’ or ‘stuck,’ there’s almost always a clutter issue.”
Does that ring true for you? I “know” there’s a subtle but pervasive sense of heaviness hanging about a cluttered atmosphere and that it adversely affects my energy. But, I usually don’t “get it” until the disarray has dissolved. Thus, the tendency to let it be.
When the clutter is cleared, the resulting sensation is no less than sublime. A sense of openness appears in which productivity flourishes and new opportunities suddenly emerge. I need to actively remember this uplifting feeling to fuel a regular decluttering regime.
Later, I took time to sort through the box, file essential items in folders, and trash even more. What was left has proven to be the perfect place for a kitty to rest.
Cutting through Desktop Disarray
The same phenomena occurs on my desktop landscape. One after the other, files and photos mindlessly pile up. Again, the “empty box” method comes to the rescue, but this time it takes four boxes. Traditionally called “folders”, these four sit on my desktop: Personal, Blogging, Online Courses, Writing and Editing.
Whenever I can’t see the forest for the trees, I spend 5 minutes moving files into these folders. Now, I’m not claiming the interior of these folders would ever receive the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. But, it doesn’t matter because I can find almost any file I need through the beauty of “search”.
The Email Bugaboo
Yes, the beautiful box is the answer to email too. 945 emails in my inbox? No problem. Just “select all” and move them over to a box labeled “Archive” and they’ve vanished into thin air! I can easily access them as needed, but have a clear inbox to try again to get my clutter habit under control
Does it seem I lack the discipline required to forgo clutter in the first place? I suspect this chaotic tendency stems from an age-old deceptive message telling my brain I need to stay “busy” with “important stuff” and don’t have time to create a conducive workspace. Unhelpful habits are often more deeply rooted than we might think. But, just understanding this brings more self-compassion into the scene and gives me courage to experiment with clear and clean.
The clutter habit may be strong, but I’m not giving up yet! I’ve decided to set a timer and playfully declutter 15 minutes each day. And, when worse comes to worse, there’s always the marvelous empty box. A sure-fire way to restore my inner and outer peace.
Read more from Sandra on simple wisdom for a happy life at Always Well Within or connect with her on Google+.
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11 Responses to “Simplicity in Action: Sandra’s Story”
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This totally spoke to me:“From years of experience, I’ve learned that any time a client mentions words like ‘stagnant,’ ‘lethargic’ or ‘stuck,’ there’s almost always a clutter issue.”
When my office is in disarray, I just can’t concentrate. Seems like nothing can get done!
Hi Iveth,
Yes, doesn’t it seem like clutter affects us profoundly? Thanks for point that out!
Sandra, come here! I want to waltz with you. I had this someone-was-sitting-on-my-chest-with-a-ton-of-iron feeling last week and did exactly that. The one box approach for snail mail works perfectly for me. I stick the stuff that needs action in a pretty letter holder.
Half the time, the big obstacle is simply attending to it, have you noticed? I did the same as you did with my inbox – after setting filters – much easier to search.
Great post. But clutter is a big demon and it is a good thing we can demolish it!
Thank you! Love, Vidya
I would love to waltz with you, Vidya. It seems like we are already dancing! Yes, I find attending to clutter challenging as well, but I am going to persist as I see how profoundly it affects me and how time wasting it can be. I wish us both luck getting the demolishing habit down. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Sandra, the big box strategy is just great! It’s a very simple way of doing something about the clutter, as we tend to procrastinate towards more complicated strategies. And I use the exact same strategy for my e-mail clutter ;P Great post!
Thanks, Mopsa! I love having your validation for these simple methods. Whatever works, right!
Synchronicity is at work. Following my computer woes I tackled my overflowing email boxes and jettisoned over 100 emails in each email account into files I titled Oops!
Should anyone who emailed me second another email wondering why I did not respond to the first one I can fish the original out but if they don’t … oh, well.
I keep my desktop and working space tidy but I do have another clutter area tucked away. This weekend I will be de-cluttering my computer documents and purging – yes, deleting 100′s of PDFs files I have hoarded. Though hey are available online just seconds away I have been foolishly clinging to them.
I’m raising a cyber-toast to you for keeping it simple and encouraging others to do the same.
timethief,
Your Oops! file made me smile. I love being in the same flow with you. The more we clear, the lighter we get. Thank you for the toast. I applaud your efforts in return!