There are many different forms of clutter that can contribute to our lives feeling stretched too thin. Clutter can be visible or invisible. And while clutter is not always avoidable, it is manageable.
Clutter comes in many forms. It can be physical, mental, or emotional. Each of these manifestations of clutter can impact your time and how you spend it. And when you decrease your clutter you’ll naturally increase your available time.
In my new book, Take Back Your Time, I provide some questions for you to consider when it comes to identifying the clutter you may be experiencing in your life. These questions will help you discover which steps to take in an effort to create a more clutter-free calendar.
Physical Clutter
I often find that our storage areas become our catchall spots, and I find myself feeling stressed whenever I have to walk through these areas or search for something. As you look around your home—possibly all three hundred thousand items (more or less)—look for patterns of clutter that are negatively impacting your time. Identify those things that are just taking up space, then answer the following questions:
- When was the last time you actually used __________ (fill in the blank)? If you have a hard time answering this ques- tion, you may have answered your decluttering question right off the bat! In general, don’t keep things that you don’t use at least once a year.
- Where will you really use this “someday”? Often you hold on to something because you think you’ll need it some- day. Ask yourself honestly if you will really use this item in the future. If the answer is no, don’t keep it.
- What is the cost of your time to keep this item? Every single item you own requires something from you. Question if the value of keeping the item exceeds the cost of keep- ing it. Consider all the demands that your physical things (storage, maintenance, etc.) require of you.24Morgan Tyree, Take Back Your Time
Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2019. Used by permission.
Mental Clutter
I regularly struggle with debilitating migraines, so I know all too well how mental clutter can increase stress. I intentionally work to minimize how much time I spend worrying and fret- ting about my life, whether it’s mom guilt or work demands. It definitely takes effort not to worry, but the payoff—fewer migraines—is always worth it.
- What do you tend to worry about? If you are prone to worry and stress about life, this is naturally causing you internal chaos and adding to your mental clutter. You
are likely focusing on things that are out of your control. Work to worry less and pour into those things that you dohave some control over. - In what areas do you experience feelings of shame and guilt?Be careful not to let these feelings crush and consume you. Press into them, identify them, and seek to forgive yourself (and others). Holding on to these feelings will increase your mental clutter and decrease your mental capacity.
- When do you engage in negative self-talk? What you tell yourself is often what you end up believing about your- self. Choosing to highlight your negative attributes rather than your positive ones is pointless. A critical spirit can keep you stuck. Determine to look at yourself through a positive lens, spotlighting your best traits.
Emotional Clutter
Parenting teenagers has added to my emotional clutter! Not that I’m complaining. (Well, maybe a little.) One of the best ways I am able to manage the emotional clutter that comes from parenting three teenagers is to ensure that I keep my own emotional cup full. By finding ways to recharge and refill, I am able to meet the relational needs in my life and decrease the effects of emotional clutter.
- What relationships are causing you more chaos than calm?Seek relationships that are mutually life-giving and avoid letting obligation be the thing that keeps you connected, especially if it is an unhealthy relationship. Work to keep your emotional tank full so you can better navigate all your relationships.
- What memories are you hanging on to out of sentiment rather than savoring the memory for what it was—a mem- ory? Memories are wonderful. They produce emotional (often happy and sometimes sad) feelings from your past. While memories and reflection are important, itis more important to live in the present. Holding on to items based on emotional ties can lead to accumulation of clutter, both emotional and physical.
- What decisions are keeping you stuck and stagnant? You have so much information at your fingertips that decision making can feel almost impossible. You can easily spend hours trying to make just one decision. To avoid getting cemented in indecision, consider your dreams and val- ues. Stack every decision against these two things. Then keep it simple and don’t overcomplicate your decision. It’s often better to decide than to stay stagnant in indeci- sion. Sometimes the best decision is to decide—and then make that decision right!
For more information on my book Take Back Your Time and how to order a copy, please go HERE.
