Decluttering helps you problem-solve
I've had a couple of big hurdles to leap in the last little while. But here's the thing. For the most part I haven't been completely overwhelmed by them.
(Okay, okay, so I had a little meltdown when it all got too much for me at the KV Show, but let's be honest, which parent of small children hasn't chucked a tantie of their own at some point within full view of the dodgems or the fairy floss trailers?)
This time around I've been mostly able to approach my roadblocks with an attitude of 'step by step' and 'a little bit at a time'. I can do this, I can get through this, I've thought.
In the past, things have been a lot harder. I've often been more overwhelmed more quickly and given up, hopeless and a bit defeated.
I really think that the decluttering I've been doing over the past year or so has helped my mental state – for a few different reasons.
Firstly, as I've removed excess stuff from the house and from my life, I've had more physical space in which to organize the things I really do want. Now, the majority of items in my house have a place of their own. This means that I know where I can find things, which reduces the work my brain has to do. It also means I've had to think about and practice my organizational skills.
Secondly, as I look around the house there is a lot more clear space. Corners and benches aren't clogged up with piles and random objects. You know how you automatically relax when you look at a clear view to the horizon? It works the same way when you have clear spaces in your home. My brain doesn't have to deal with the constant low-grade stress that comes from things getting in the way of a clean view.
The third thing I've noticed is that as I've decluttered the physical objects, I've also been able to get rid of a bit of mental and emotional stuff too – or at least to recognize it for what it is.
The upshot of all of this is simple: decluttering has given me more energy, brain space, resources and ability to approach a big hurdle. It's not that it makes my difficulties smaller or less important; it's just that it frees me up in a variety of different ways to solve problems.
Discovering this has made me more inclined to continue with my decluttering. It's good to see results – even if they're different results from what I expected.
And now, I realize, I should do something about my desk…