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Dear Friends and Clients,

In a bookstore recently I spotted a title I just had to buy: “Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?” The author is professional organizer Peter Walsh, whose cover photo I recognized from TLC’s clutter-clearing reality TV show, “Clean Sweep.”

In the show, Walsh helps people whose lives are in chaos because of the massive messes that dominate their homes. I was drawn to his book because it’s based on Walsh’s observation that when his clients reduce clutter many of them report losing weight at the same time.

I have long been fascinated by the observation that when we reduce clutter we often stimulate other positive changes in our lives. Walsh’s explanation of this phenomenon is that if you clear out junk you’ll also clear out patterns of thought and behavior that prevent you from living the life you want.

I agree that getting rid of baggage is an effective way to stimulate a cycle of change. And in this issue I’ll talk about clutter-clearing strategies that may go beyond normal ideas about Spring cleaning.

Warm wishes,
Bev

Want To Make Some Changes?
Take Spring Cleaning
To a Higher Level

April 1st, 2008 * Number 79

If you want to create change in your career, or your life, a powerful way to get started can be to look around for ways to get rid of clutter. One reason that de-cluttering is such a powerful stimulus of change is that when you get rid of excess stuff you are forced to examine your priorities and think about how you really want to operate.

At work, for example, you can’t clear away outdated files and unnecessary papers without first thinking about your current needs and future goals. When you toss out junk you tend to reconsider tired ideas and the same old ways of working.

If you become lighter in one aspect of your life, other areas may also feel lighter, cleaner and more focused. The power of de-cluttering doesn’t flow only from the act of tossing out physical stuff. If you’re ready to start your Spring cleaning, consider re-examining more than the items that make your closets bulge. If you want to enjoy the burst of energy that comes from removing unwanted junk, consider some broader and deeper strategies:

Why did you keep it? Sometimes we hold on to clothes and other things because we don’t want to let go of past years when we actually wore or used them. Memorabilia can make our life richer, but if we devote too much time or space to caring for stuff we used in earlier days we may not have room to fully invest in the present. Holding on to things because they served us in the past can block us from fully enjoying the current time. So ask yourself why you are keeping various items. And if the answer is because they were useful in the past, consider letting them go now.
What are your goals? As you start to think about what to let go, think about what you want to achieve and consider what you want your life to look like. Then when you start to clear things out, consider parting with anything that is inconsistent with your vision and objectives. For example, if you envision yourself eating in more healthy ways, go through your kitchen cabinets and pitch any foods that don’t support your new eating habits.
Is it in the way? Some of the items in our stacks of stuff may have value. But ask whether their usefulness is outweighed by the annoyance of having them take up space. If your reading pile is taking up your workspace, for example, ask whether those possible nuggets of information are enough to justify the inconvenience of not being able to spread out current projects.
Would it help somebody else? Are you holding on to things just because you might have a use for them someday? Some stuff that you might be able to put to use at a future time could be of immediate value to another person. Consider passing on things that you aren’t currently using or enjoying. Whether you give them to charity or to young friends starting out, what you get back may be better than the questionable value of potentially useful items.
Is it time to change some habits? While you are thinking about shedding junk, ask whether some aspect of your behavior no longer serves you well. Do you have habits that you would like to shed? Do you have work processes that seem tiresome or unproductive? Examine the routines that tend to shape your days, and consider whether your Spring cleaning should extend to letting go of patterns and practices that aren’t moving you toward your goals.
Is it time to forgive and forget? Sometimes we’re held back by old grudges and resentments. As time goes by, we may carry around a growing list of sore feelings and disappointments. We all experience unfair treatment and bad breaks, but what can set apart the winners from the losers is the ease with which we let go of the bad stuff. Sure, some things in your life weren’t fair. But is it time to accept the reality, give up the sore feelings, and just move on?

Want to Learn More About Enriching Your Work Life? For reviews of helpful books and an extensive archive of Bev’s newsletters go to Bev’s Website. In addition to providing executive coaching, Bev is available to speak to your group about a broad range of issues related to productivity and leadership. Visit her website at www.ClearWaysConsulting.com or email to Bev directly. Bev is associated with Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates.

Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life is published on the first and third Tuesday of each month by Beverly E. Jones of ClearWays Consulting, LLC. Bev is a lawyer and former executive who now coaches accomplished executives and other professionals to bring new direction, energy and enjoyment to their work lives.

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