When you prune your home or office of clutter, like pruning a tree, light gets in where it didn’t before, air circulates better and new growth appears.
For just about all my clients where their clutter has been present for some time, once we begin to clear the clutter, things open up in other areas of life for them.
In your environment at work where productivity is essential, and especially at home where your refuge is a place to both recharge and decompress, a clutter-free space is essential to forward movement. When you surround yourself with a simple, well-functioning environment where everything has a purpose and serves you, or brings you joy, your life will flow smoothly. If your home or office is cluttered without systems in place to support you, it drains energy.
It is fundamental to take some time to organize and declutter every now and then. There is an analogy that Jason Fried used in his regular Get Real column in Inc. Magazine (February. 2013). He uses it in the context of a business tip, yet struck me as very applicable anywhere in life. He found, after eliminating nonessential offerings in his business (A.K.A. decluttering!), they unexpectedly developed two new product offerings and expect exponential growth. He likened it to pruning his apple tree:
“There are a number of reasons to prune a tree. ..to make it look prettier, to cut away or prevent disease, or to generate more fruit. …cutting things back is a way of favoring what is left. You help the tree flourish… Light gets in where it couldn’t before. Air circulates better. And new growth appears.”
He affirms that if you do it right, you give your tree a stronger foundation for the future. If you are looking for growth or change at your home or office, or just a breath of fresh air, getting organized may be just the answer.
Start in one corner, on one surface.
Be brutal and let go.
Clear the clutter and enjoy the fruits of your labor!