A messy desk is the sign of a creative mind. Many of us have heard the old saying, but experts agree: often, that same desk may signal being overwhelmed, chaos and a life out-of-control. Often our external environment mirrors our internal state -and if our homes, cars or desks scream disorganization, I’d hate to see what that means inside our heads.
Whether or not you agree that environment mirrors internal state, one thing many can understand is the freeing nature of a freshly-cleaned home, a newly-organized filing system or a picked-up kids’ playroom. Somehow it’s easier to think, to breathe, to function in an environment devoid of chaos than one rampant with strife.
Sabotaging Self
Lifestyle consultant Sally Allen is owner of “A Place for Everything,” a Colorado Company specializing in organizing for stress-free living. Allen doesn’t like to be called a professional organizer because she finds the title intimidating. “I know how hard it is for them to pick up the phone and make the call,” she said, referring to many of her first time clients. “People are intimidated because they think they should be able to do it themselves. They say ‘I should’ but what they need to say is ‘I will,” she counseled.
Allen constantly sees people sabotaging their lives because as disorganization grows, creativity, reliability and relationships often fall victim to the effect of clutter. “If there’s chaos in your life and you don’t realize it,” she warned, “then it sabotages where you want to be.”
A Part of Our Culture
It’s no coincidence that there’s been a surge in “organization” television shows of late. Professional organizers like Peter Walsh are achieving a level of fame growing to celebrity status and most recently the A & E show “Hoarders,” debuted-showing what can happen when clutter is the effect of a person’s psychological state. The shows’ website describes compulsive hoarding as a mental disorder marked by obsessive need to acquire and keep things, even if the items are worthless, hazardous or unsanitary. It cites more than three million people as compulsive hoarders.
Most of us will not reach this level of chaotic surroundings, but many can relate to competing priorities and experiencing little say in the demands placed on their schedules. The thing we often don’t realize is that a disorganized environment limits choice by creating unnecessary demands and wasting precious time. Many also don’t realize how this can alter their lives: missing deadlines, losing checks, running late because of that frantic search for misplaced keys. In the end, it affects a lot of people, cautioned Allen.
Creating a Plan
“I want to say, first of all, understand you are not alone. There are other people just like you. You can choose to stay where you are or to making the self-commitment to create change,” she advised while emphasizing that change is key. “Its all about change. How is your environment affecting how you’re living? It’s all about accountability.”
Allen provides a few tips to create an environment that will support gaining what you want out of life:
1. Neat isn’t necessarily organized. It may look clean and together, but can you find what you need in a hurry? Are items in your space that no longer are necessary or serve a purpose? A neat space is nice to have, but an organized space can contribute to your life and psychological well-being.
2. Procrastination represents delayed decisions. That drawer, attic or basement catch-all is a form of procrastination. Make a goal to rid yourself of unwanted items in your catch-all spaces.
3. When the floor becomes an option, it’s a good sign you’re out-of-control. Use this benchmark to stop the madness and keep from falling further down the proverbial rabbit hole. If it’s overwhelming to tackle, enlist the help of a neutral party, someone who has no investment in whether you keep or omit items from your life, and have them support you in your goal to purge.
4. Figure out priorities and decide if your environment is sabotaging the life you want to live. Look at the big picture, decide what to tackle first, and do so in bite-sized chunks.
5. Make an appointment to de-clutter just as you would with a doctor or colleague. Give yourself a deadline to complete the entire task, and schedule realistic appointments to take significant bites out of your assignment in order to reach the final goal by deadline.
6. If it’s too much, call in the troops. Professionals like Allen deal with overwhelming schedules and environments on a regular basis. Without judgment or emotional attachment, they can walk you through figuring out what fits your needs and will help achieve your life goals.
With a little effort and a shift in thinking, you can create an environment that’s not only enjoyable, but one that supports your goal of creating a life well-lived.
For more information on A Place For Everything or tips to help organize your space, visit
Doni Luckutt is a writer, author and speaker who believes by increasing interpersonal connection, we can stop simply living, and become Simply Alive! If you have a suggestion on what brings you to life, connect with her on Twitter @SimplyAlive, via email Doni@SimplyAliveWorld.com or on her blog: www.SimplyAliveWorld.com/Blog.
