If you are a clutterbug, you know that it took some time for the clutter to accumulate. It didn’t happen overnight. And it didn’t happen haphazardly. It happened as a result of your thoughts and your habits.
Those “clutter” thoughts lead us to take “clutter-making” actions which turn into clutter habits. We need to change our old (bad) habits and replace them with new (good) habits. That’s easier said than done, you say.
Here’s a tip: Consciously change only one habit at a time. For example, perhaps you have an unused bed or chair that’s now piled up with clothes. You eye that bed with the thought “I need to clear this stuff off”. You move a few items. The next day, you come home, and without thinking about it, change your clothes and toss a shirt on top of all the other clothes on the bed.
Do you see that this is a HABIT, probably an unconscious habit? That’s all it is. No shame, no blame. So how can you change this habit to a new habit that prevents clutter? Try these steps:
1. Make a commitment to start a daily routine of changing ONE habit (example: throwing clothes on the bed) during the next two weeks.
Once you’ve identified one habit that contributes to clutter, then consciously figure out something you can do that will replace that habit. For example, instead of throwing your shirt on the bed, make a commitment to take the time to hang up the shirt.
2. Uncover your thoughts about that habit.
Once you have selected the habit you want to change, ask yourself what goes through your head when you are tossing the clothes on the bed. Perhaps your thought is: “I’m tired. I’ll hang it up later.” Or “I’ll clean this up Saturday.” Or “I don’t have time to hang it up now.” Whatever the thought, it is not serving you because it is resulting in a “bad” habit.
3. Create a new thought that will support a new, clutter-preventing habit. Repeat that thought over and over to yourself, and out loud.
For example, if you thought “I don’t have time, I’ll do it after dinner”. Change that thought to: “it only takes one minute to hang up and then I won’t have to think about it”. Write down your new thought about hanging up your clothes. Read it and repeat it out loud. It needs to get into your head and feel natural, and it needs to crowd out your old “bad” thought.
4. Try making a game of changing this one habit.
Make a checkmark on your calendar every time you hang up your clothes. Keep trying. You may forget, but that’s ok. It’s been a longtime habit, and it will take awhile to learn a new habit. The trick is to stay as conscious as you can and keep going. Don’t forget to reward yourself. Try not to buy something that might cause clutter ?
Once you master one new habit, then move on to some other habit you want to change. This method of changing is much easier and more rewarding than trying to make many changes at once. One success will encourage you to make other small changes, which will lead to less clutter, and less stress!
Copyright © 2006, by Patsy Murray and SimpleLife Organizers
Patsy Murray is a Professional Organizer and organizing coach working with clients in Watertown, Massachusetts and the greater Boston area. She organizes homes and home offices of people who feel overwhelmed by too many commitments and too much clutter. She helps them manage their time and simplify their lives so they can work more efficiently with more time to enjoy life. For free organizing tips, visit Patsy’s website, http://www.simplelifeorganizers.com
Tags: boston, Clutter, organize, simplify
Related Posts
-
Make Money
Partner links
-
RSS Reader
-
Directory
