Fresh Start 2011 ~ Organization: Declutter

We are setting ourselves up for success in 2011 this month.  I firmly believe in laying the groundwork so that you can do what you do best: work on your craft and run your business.  December is devoted to getting a FRESH START. We are doing this in 3 stages:

1. HABITS
   Last week, we examined our habits, corrected bad ones, and established good ones.  Behavior is key to positive work rituals.
2. ORGANIZATION
   This week we are going to get ourselves organized.  Our physical space and the environment in which we work affects our mental space and the work we do.
3. GOAL-SETTING
   Next week we’ll set some goals.  We’ll plan for our business in 2011 from an operational, marketing, and financial perspective.

Image: Creative Commons License

A cluttered space is a cluttered mind…

I used to pride myself on being someone who had an “organized chaos”.  I would say, “Oh sure – there are a gazillion stacks of papers on my desk but I know where everything is.”  Over time, I got tired of the “organized chaos” and I rectified my messy ways.  I think when I launched my business and was suddenly surrounded by thousands of syles of papers and envelopes I knew I had to be organized.  It started with organizing my inventory in drawers and drawers and drawers.  But, eventually my need to make things organized took over my desk.  And – thank god for that!

I now know that if there are too many things on my desk not only are those things a distraction to me, but also they make me feel uncomfortable.  Yes – uncomfortable.  I attempt to work and have this nagging feeling of something else that I need to be working on.  I’m working on one thing that is important – and I see that other paper that I need to fill out, and then it just keeps nagging me.  Not only can I not concentrate, but also I am totally irritated with the nagging feeling.

The more “stuff” I have on my desk, the more “stuff” I have on my mind.

Make a HUGE pile and START sorting…

It had been a few weeks since I had committed to being organized and my desk was looking like it.  So, last Monday, I took a “day of organization”.  This is how I clean my desk and I highly recommend it:

1. Put everything that is on your desk (except for your computer) into a HUGE pile on another table – or the floor.
2. Wipe everything down on your desk until your desk is shiny and smells divine.
3. Look at your nice empty desk and reflect on how magical it feels.
4. Look at the pile on the other table or floor (cry a little) and start sorting and throwing things away until every last thing is in it’s place.

Empty desk = empty mind?

Ha!  Sorta.  When your desk is empty of the clutter, your mind is free.  It opens up your ability to GET THINGS DONE.

Soooo… whatcha waiting for?  Go declutter your desk.  And, while your at it, get your whole office done too!