Clear your clutter
When is the last time you cleared your clutter?
You can begin with your desk, a drawer, or a closet. Set a timer for 30 minutes and do as much as you can.
Preparing to clear your clutter
Have you set a goal for the new year to clear clutter, get organized, and start fresh but haven’t quite gotten started? Don’t let the fact that you didn’t get to it all by 31 JAN (or any date) scare you off till next year. It’s NEVER too late to start over. Instead of thinking you’re behind or too late, consider that maybe you are in a stage of contemplation rather than action. That’s OK! It may even be ill-advised to jump into action before you’re ready—it could be so haphazard it may only lead to discouragement and lack of longer term follow through. So let’s back up and think about the sequence: a new year inspires change, you’d like to make changes (which is a HUGE step so, congrats!), but you just haven’t started yet. Rather than beat yourself up for inaction maybe try a little kindness and gently ask yourself why you haven’t started? There’s probably a good reason. Anxiety? Fear? Overwhelm? Confusion about where to start or what to change? Once you’ve sorted through the block, I’d suggest you shift into a preparation stage with one of my favorite guidebooks: Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston.
clearing physical, mental,
and emotional clutter
Now there may be a number areas in your life that could use a little de-cluttering—your home, your busy mind, your heart that’s tumbling over backwards from all those heavy bags (see my blog on letting go of emotional baggage for more on this). I’d argue, as would Ms. Kingston, that these domains are interconnected. The busy mind and heavy heart may be a bit complicated to de-clutter on your own (shameless plug for reaching out to your friendly, neighborhood tele-psychologist), but beginning to clear space in your home, one drawer at a time, may be something you can tackle independently. You may be saying to yourself, “Now wait a minute, my life feels pret-ty messy, and you’re telling me cleaning out a dresser drawer is going to make it better?” I know, it seems strange, but trust me, you might be surprised by just how much peace you’ll feel in your home, and eventually in your heart and mind, by taking these actions. Let me share a little about what I personally learned from this fabulous book…
Clear your clutter with feng shui
Does this photo give you a peaceful vibe?
Clearing clutter from our life physically, mentally, and emotionally can bring about peace as we let go of what’s holding us back!
I initially read, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, in its first edition over 20 years ago. I found it so powerful that the lessons stuck with me all these years. What did I learn? Holding on to old stuff stagnates energy and keeps you glued to the past. I cannot say how freeing it is to take items, papers, and certain mementos and throw them out, shred them, and give them away to others who might need them more. Pure freedom! There is a principle mentioned in this book that if you hang on to the old, you are blocking the way for the new. I love this idea. It is the perfect reframe for a packrat; it’s okay to let go of the new because in doing so, you are opening up space for new things to come in.
why clear your clutter?
Taking an action in letting go of items from yesterday gets us more focused on the future—the new. How many times in life do we find ourselves starting over with a new job, new co-workers, new friends we meet, a new workout group or class, etc.? Freshness, change, and new experiences have a great place in our lives and can enrich us in amazing ways. Now does this mean we have to toss ALL old things, people, experiences, and memories in order to open up space for the new? I don’t think so, which is why I bought and read the recently published second edition for a refresher and an update—recycling a good idea from the past and applying it to the now.
the benefits of clearing your clutter
What did I do this go around? Me, the person who thought I already finished and applied all the lessons from this book for the last couple decades? Well, it turns out you sometimes accumulate stuff as you move forward in life or miss lessons on letting go of things. So I finally shredded the tax returns I held onto since the very first year in which I started filing taxes (except for the last 3 years as recommended). I was holding on to these returns for many reasons, none of which are based in standard financial recommendations or rational thought. And that’s just one example of what I released this go-around. So, what did shredding one area of clutter do for me? Freed up physical space, allowed me to have an interesting life review, helped me release certain fears around money and authority figures (ok so the IRS probably won’t come back around to collect more taxes on the near minimum wage I earned in 1998), and opened the way for future financial growth.
I should add the subtitle to the book is: Free Yourself from Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Clutter Forever. So, if you know you want change, start with a guidebook like this one, or one of your choosing. With a plan in place you may find action steps to be more freeing and exciting than behaviors to be intimidated by or feared. And with the clutter cleared, who knows what new and exciting things and thoughts will come your way!
Virtual sessions are available for you!
Whatever is weighing you down and cluttering your life can be released with online therapy.
BENEFITS OF ONLINE COUNSELILNg
Online counseling saves you time and energy as you access mental health care from your home or office without having to take time out to commute to and from the appointment. Relax in the comfort of your own space as you devote one hour to self-care. Secure platforms are used to protect your privacy. Research shows online therapy and in-person sessions are equally effective. So why not choose the more convenient option? Save time, gas, and minimize stress so that a one-hour appointment takes only one hour and not 3 with traffic.
AROSE eTherapy offers over 15 years’ experience in offering mental health services.
BEGIN COUNSELING WITH
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IN COLORADO, FLORIDA, MARYLAND, AND PENNSYLVANIA
If you need support in clearing your clutter, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional, take an action towards change today! AROSE eTherapy offers a Free 15-minute consult. If you would like to proceed to services after your consult, we’ll book you our next available initial appointment, and you’ll be on your way to healing!
ABOUT the author
Alicia Rozycki, PhD
Dr. Rozycki is a licensed psychologist and the founder of AROSE eTherapy, an online therapy practice serving professional women and military affiliates including active duty, veterans, spouses, and government employees. Virtual sessions are available in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Learn more about Dr. Rozycki.
