clearing the clutter

For the longest time, I wanted to clean out my email account. There was mail to be filed, mail to be answered, mail to be deleted. Every time I tried to get a handle on it, it felt like the problem got worse instead of better. It was immensely frustrating.

One Saturday, I attended an Office Spa Day. During the event, I figured out my most bothersome organizational challenge and cleaned and cleared out two closets - including 12 months worth of shredding - in the process. I was so pleased. Later that weekend, without even thinking about it, I sat down at the computer and cleaned out my entire inbox. Somehow the physical clearing prompted another clearing.

Lately, my mind has been all a jumble. It felt like things were piling up. I tried to think of a blog post. I had nothing. There were lots of pieces of things, but it all felt useless. I tried to work on something for my business. I had nothing. It felt like my body was following my mind and growing sluggish and inactive.

It occurred to me that maybe I could look around and see if anything was piling up physically. It certainly couldn't hurt, right? I found my purse - which turned out to be full of receipts. (I hate when this happens, there is nothing I dislike more than a cluttered purse.) I found my laundry basket - which has been waiting for me to do a load of laundry for three weeks now. (I kept meaning to do one, but then would get sidetracked.) Last evening, I spent an hour cleaning out my purse and doing the laundry. Interestingly enough, my mind feels much more clear.

So who knows .. there may be something to this new idea of mine. At the very least, it may provide an incentive to clean more often.

Comments

[Tracy]

I saw something on a blog today about detoxing one's wardrobe too... I think spring is a good time for uncluttering, detoxing, reoganzing... it just feels natural, doesn't it? Very free-ing, very liberating physically & mentally. Hope the de-cluttering keeps your mind free, Elizabeth :o) Happy Day ((HUGS))

[Julie M.]

You are most definitely on to something. I notice the exact thing- when I know there's major clutter somewhere, even if I don't feel like tackling it, I feel foggy in other areas. It's so freeing and rejuvinating to get it organized!

This post fell on the perfect day for me- I'm feeling a bit "blah" but I'm reminded that if accomplish some clutter, I'll feel much more ambitious. Thank you.

[Josiane]

Interesting correlation... Even just noticing it was great, but it's even better that you tried it again, and found out that it still works!

[elizabeth @ the blue lotus]

@Josiane: I might not have noticed it, except I sat down with the intention of clearing out my email a few days prior - and had no luck at all.

@Julie: oh cool, someone else noticed the same thing! I hope the blah-ness moved on!

@Tracy: maybe that's why there is spring cleaning? (Though I tend to think that it's because the new light shows off all the dust that has accumulated during the winter. ;)