For the past several days since I’ve returned from a trip with some fitness colleagues, I’ve been on a major mission to de-clutter my life. Feeling a need to focus on a few current projects and increase my productivity, I’ve become obsessed with pairing everything down and organizing like crazy. I go through these spurts every now and then, but now it’s like I’ve become a maniac with minimalising every single thing in my life from my computer to my workplace (locker etc.) to my home and vehicle.
Though I’ve never been one to accumulate a bunch of chotskys (knick knacks) or expensive toys, I do have a tendency to become my alter ego (“Jammo Woman”) every now and then. And various appearances of “Jammo Woman” can lead to unnecessary clutter and disorganization. I also have sporadic bouts of this hoarding mentality (“I better save that I might need it later”) that also leads to an abundance of stuff you just don’t need!
So is there a correlation to being surrounded with clutter and having a fat butt? You might have heard of the TV guru, organizational expert Peter Walsh who recently wrote a book "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?". In that he claims there’s a connection. He says that: “What happens is that once you physically open someone’s space, it really removes a lot of distractions. When you help them focus on what’s important in their lives . . . what flows back into that space is a sense of calm and peace and harmony and focus and motivation. They’re able to focus far more clearly on their relationships, their spiritual lives, and their work. And what I think generally happens is people are able to make much healthier choices in the very broader sense.” I believe he’s spot on. I can’t tell you how much better I feel as I go through each area of my life and get rid of the crap. Its like 20 tons have been lifted off of my shoulders and I’m now free to focus and “get er done” as they say down here in TX.
If your living or work spaces have accumulated some unnecessary items – things that you don’t truly need – I encourage you to think about going on a cleaning and donating field day (or week) of your own.
There are actually a number of published studies that demonstrate a strong link between a buildup of clutter and risk of developing a variety of health challenges.
A resistance to de-cluttering is usually called "hoarding" in medical literature, and my understanding is that this is a real clinical condition that can really decrease the quality of life for the hoarder, and for those who live with the hoarder.
Here are a few tips, if you’re serious about de-cluttering:
Use four separate bags or boxes to categorize the following groups of items:
1. To donate to a local goodwill or salvation army store.
2. To donate to a local public library.
3. To recycle.
4. To throw out with the garbage or to take to the dump.
When sorting through your stuff, if you’re not sure if an item should go or stay, ask yourself if you’ve used it within the past six months. If the answer is no, get rid of it! Let go and make more space to breathe and enjoy a clutter-free life.
Beyond the feelings of freedom and peace that come with de-cluttering is the relief of knowing that should you move in the near future, you’ll be way ahead of the game.
If this post inspires you to turn your living or work spaces into clean, open areas that are free from unnecessary junk, or if you have any tips or experiences on de-cluttering, please share them in the comment section below.