I don’t think most of us give much consideration to our environment. I don’t mean “the environment” with the green and tree-hugger movement, I won’t go there today. I mean our personal living and working environment. For some of us, that is essentially the same location with different assigned rooms or areas. But for others, you have an off-site office or space where you do the majority of your work. Either way, you can make improvements to the area you have, ideally separating your work area from home areas as much as possible (for me, upstairs is plenty – no need to drive anywhere!). I recommend this for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that creative work energy switch you will activate when you enter that place.
I used to live in a cluttered and disoriented space. My office was a wreck, with papers stacked- in case I needed them and to “remind me.” I would just keep stacking. I bought some really nice office furniture and still ended up stacking papers all over it. I never realized how that affected me until I unloaded all that yuck by creating a beautiful office space.
Looking at all of those undone tasks, even though my conscious mind had long since blurred it out, was draining my energy and creativity and focus. Having a useful, convenient, efficient and aesthetically pleasing space makes a huge difference in so many areas of our lives and our work is a major one. The clutter monster is something that happens so slowly and subtly that we don’t notice the steady and increasing drain it is putting on us.
Of course, it can be overwhelming to think of getting things in order. Especially if it has been many years since you have dealt with the piles. It doesn’t have to be. Choose your thoughts and choose to look at it as a gift you are giving yourself. Do one small area at a time to completion, even if that is one drawer or one section of one drawer. Then move to the next, put it on the calendar and do a little each day. Reward yourself for the progress you are making and celebrate. Or call a friend who is great at this. You likely already have one. Get some professional assistance. Let it be you, though, not your organizer’s idea of you. Bring in things that move and inspire you. That is the lovingME way. You will find a new spring in your step and a new wave of energy that will surprise you.
