In the recent webinar, “Top-Down and Bottom-Up: How to Get Your Life and Business Under Control” (download recording here), one of the first steps was to reduce clutter. This is important for several reasons:
- To have clear space in which to work and think
- To focus on the project, task or client that is present
- To be present with the project, task or client – or family member!
Clutter is the remainder and reminder of decisions unmade. The stack of mail is a stack of decisions not yet made. Toss, tend or file. The stack of papers represents unmade decisions about what is relevant and important. Toss, tend or file. The winter clothes, the charity solicitation, the party invitation are all undecided, not sure, and to be determined. Non-ideal clients, the negative friend, the hurtful family member – transfer, toss or tend.
The more decisions we leave unmade, the more the possibilities clutter our mind. Should I do this or should I do that? What might be the outcome if I choose this? What will be the outcome if I don’t decide?
Decision-making gets easier when we have established priorities. Prior means first, as in what comes first. When the party invitation falls on our son’s soccer practice night, we know our decision. When we have clarified the causes we support, tossing the envelope or writing the check is automatic. When we know the clients we serve best, who value and appreciate our work, we know who to invite in and whom to gently move on.
Priorities come more easily when we have the end in mind, when we know what we want our lives and businesses to look like, also known as our vision. But if we can’t see the garden for the weeds, we have to do some weeding first.
Start! Start with something like the mail. Check it daily when you are home. As you pick up each piece, decide. Do I toss this? Do I file this? Do I tend to it? Consider your children’s school projects. Will this have meaning beyond tomorrow? Is it needed for a final grade? Do I take a photo and let the physical project fuel the recycle bin? How about your reading stack? Do I need the article for an immediate project or to share with a client? Can I get a copy online? Do I need it easily referenced?
Asking these simple questions will reduce clutter by forcing you to make decisions about what is important and what is not. About what is replicable and what is retrievable. About what is necessary and what is nuisance. Then you will have that which is not replaceable or retrievable…your precious time.