Banish Clutter | brokeGIRLrich
There’s a lot of power in the little things in life. Not long ago, I wrote about how lists were helping me get on track and take back my summer.
The next little motivation tip I picked up this week is another thing that I know, but when my motivation is totally lacking, I lose sight of how powerful it is.
Banish clutter.
I have spent years of my life traveling for a living, so you’d think I’d be awesome at packing, right? And while I kind of am, I always, always, always dread it. I sit in my room and stare at that empty suitcase and the task feels impossible.
Early on in my traveling career, I found that the best way to tackle that task was to first straighten up my room. Rule #1 in packing for a big trip – make my bed.
Yup, and I still don’t completely know why, but it always works.
Maybe it’s the fact that sometimes just getting moving is the hardest part.
Maybe it’s the feeling of accomplishment that at least I did something, so, you know, now let’s do something else.
I also think it’s the fact that I now have this nice, neat space to start laying out all my clothes and items I need. It minimizes distractions and gives me a clear working space.
In college I was the same way about my desk. I had a tendency to heap everything under the sun on that sucker, but when I was working on a project or writing a paper, the desk had to be completely in order and the only thing allowed to clutter it at all was whatever I was actively working on.
Even now, I feel that way about my laptop screen. I know plenty of people can work just fine with 8,000 icons on their desktop, but I keep next to nothing on there – a shortcut to the folder for whatever show I’m working on, the draft of whatever blog post I’m writing and maybe the last episode or two of whatever show I’m watching.
And an added bonus to banishing clutter? If you’ve got an eBay account, you can turn plenty of that clutter into cold, hard cash!
So if you need to get moving, start by banishing the clutter. Who knows what you’ll accomplish with a clean slate to work on?
Maybe that’s why I always pack my suitcase on the guest bedroom! I never really thought about it before…
Carrie @ Season It Already recently posted…The Best Article I’ve Read in a Long Time…
Makes sense to me.
I really don’t get it why some people can work with their laptop with full of icons on their desktop. I prefer to have a clean laptop background, in that way I can easily work.
Kate @ Money Propeller recently posted…Friday #JetFuel – June 19/15
I really don’t know how people who have tons of icons on their home screen manage to survive haha. I have ONE and that’s all I like. If I have more than one row, I go insane.
Michelle recently posted…Why I’m Happy I Made The Decision To Leave My High Paying And Secure Job For Blogging
Sometimes I’ll leave a link to each project I’m working on there, but when it gets to be too many, I’m like “what is this!?!? Do all the work now. Those things need to be filed away and not just sitting here.”
My laptop screen only has a few icons on it, because I feel like if I have too many I get sidetracked and forget what I was supposed to be doing. My desk is another story, I keep planning to clear it off, but once I look at it I just go and work on the couch and lose focus because I start watching tv. I guess I should just bite the bullet and clean the desk!
Sylvia @Professional Girl recently posted…5 Tips for Inexpensive Summer Fun
Haha, yeah. I use my computer as my TV so it’s always a constant temptation.
I use de-cluttering to trigger a social/mental cleanse. It doesn’t matter what i’m decluttering, a room, a desk, it works. NPR had a piece this weekend that pitted collectors and minimalists against in a round table forum. Interesting follow up in this article.
Yeah, definitely. I’ll have to see if I can find it, I’d be interested in hearing that.
Having a neat environment has a way of allowing you to think clearer and get more done. I am currently working to get rid of stuff because I’m gearing up for a big move. Honestly I can’t wait to part from stuff.
Petrish @ Debt Free Martini recently posted…Do You Really Know What Personal Finance Is?
Yeah, honestly, I shouldn’t’ve even used a stock photo on this post because my bedroom is a disaster zone. But I’ve been tackling it in small increments because I don’t just want to tidy up, I actually want to try to get rid of a bunch of stuff I’m not using anymore.
We used to move about every 2 years and the greatest thing moving did for us is that it forced us to get rid of stuff and de-clutter. Three years ago we bought our permanent (or at least until my son graduates high school) home and it sucks that we won’t have the moving exercise, but my hubby and I have committed to “pretend” as though we are moving every six months or so and it takes us about two days to really go through the house and de-clutter but I feel so much better emotionally after we do.
Shannon @ Financially Blonde recently posted…Music Mondays – I Can See Clearly Now
That’s awesome. The amount of stuff that piles up when you’re in one place for a long time is insane. I haven’t actually stayed in one place longer than a year since leaving for college, and even then I’m always amazed at how my stuff has multiplied between when I moved in to when I move out.
I haven’t moved in soo long. For me anyways. Before I moved here I moved five times in one year. By the time I met my husband he was calling me a gypsy because I could load all my stuff up in an instant and be ready to go. Now… Not do much. Decluttering sounds great about now!
Femme Frugality recently posted…Celebrating Four Years of Blogging: $75 Target Gift Card #Giveaway
I do well with this for a while and then things build up on me again – usually paper. Paper is the worst to deal with!
Kayla @ Kat Script recently posted…9 Things No One Tells You About Getting A Divorce
I know. I always mean to get better about filing – or even better, scanning it and then throwing it away – but I never do.
Gah I hate packing, too, and like you, I’ve traveled so much, you’d think I’d be used to it, but I’m not. I definitely have to make the bed before I start, too, and even though I usually procrastinate on actually packing til the last minute, I always keep a running list of things not to forget and having that really calms me.
Chela @SmashOdyssey recently posted…Relocating Is Hard Work: Pt 1 – Housing
I totally procrastinate to the last minute when packing. It’s ridiculous.
I can also get sidetracked by too much clutter and then of course get sidetracked by cleaning it up! It has to be done eventually I guess (for me that’s now) Have a great day.
Vickie@Vickie’s Kitchen and Garden recently posted…Book Review: Hearts of the West: A Christian Historical Western Romance (Review #2)
I have way too much clutter and it can be overwhelming at times. Physical clutter in the house doesn’t do much to unclutter the mind! I’m all for living a more uncluttered life. I just need to get started!
Hayley @ Disease Called Debt recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays #96
I will be getting rid of clutter in the next 30 minutes. I’m working on my bedroom today and basement tomorrow. However, my clutter wouldn’t be considered clutter to some people. I have an anal husband who loves minimal furniture and objects. Visiting from Financially Savvy Saturdays.
To each his own with clutter – what some people find a completely unworkable space doesn’t bother others at all.
As I look at piles of laundry on the floor – yes!!! A clean space is freeing. I just wrote out motivation cards and clear up my work space was tops on my list. I can’t wait to see how much my productivity is enhanced once everything is in it’s place (either here or some place else.)
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