We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge. ~John Naisbitt

How many pieces of information do you go through in a day? More importantly, how much of it do you use in your life?

I ask myself these two questions every day.

There is an overload of information out there. I read at least 5 blogs posts a day and later in the evening I read part of a book for about an hour.

Most of the stuff I read is very useful to me. The thing is: what do I do with all this information?

Gathering or reading a lot about a subject doesn’t make us knowledgeable, unless we use this information.

I can’t tell you how many articles are bookmarked with a note that says interesting, check it out and do later. The same applies to books. I start a text file for all the stuff I think I want to use from a book.

A few notes about books and articles are not a problem. But when the pile of notes keeps getting bigger and bigger, the interesting information becomes a drag. Nothing gets used and the stuff just sits there.

The one idea

After feeling overwhelmed with all the information I have to process, I decided to just pick one idea and forget about the rest.  I created an archive folder and moved all the old notes to it so I don’t have to worry about them. I figured if I haven’t dealt with them, they were not that important to me. I deleted the archive folder later.

How does the one idea work?

Once you read an article, and it may have 10 things you can do, pick one and run with it. You may say but I want to keep going and apply the rest. How many can you apply at one single attempt?

Pick one. Write it down. Reflect on it for a few minutes. Does it excite you? Do you feel it’s something that you want to use in your life?

Go for it and forget about the rest. As you use it, you’ll know when it’s time to pick a new idea. You may also find out that this idea is not working for you. And that’s okay. Now you know, because you used it.

After mastering an idea or dropping it, move on to the next one. And repeat the same process.

A note about reading

Before moving further, I’d like to share with you something about reading that makes a big difference. Read with a purpose. Engage with the material you’re reading. Why are you reading an article or a book? Is it for entertainment? To learn a new skill? To solve a problem (what’s the problem)?

The more specific you are about your purpose, the more your subconscious mind will guide you as you read.

When you read with a purpose, you become an active reader. You will be open to the ideas the writer is sharing with you. You will become more skillful at picking ideas that suit you.

What happens to all the other useful information?

As you read more articles and more books, you will have more ideas than just the one you want to start with. What do you do with the rest of the ideas?

Keep a log of ideas

Write down the idea you’d like to use in a notebook or a log.

I created a log as a word document you can download here. Use it if you like or create your own. I also attached an example here. (Right click and download the files to your computer).

Please keep in mind, with every tool you use, you need to keep things simple and maintain your system.

Guidelines for keeping ideas

In order to get results and avoid shuffling things around, create your rules for keeping ideas and stick to them. Consider the following:

• Write the idea in the simplest form possible with the least amount of words.
• Limit the number of ideas that go into your log. Mine is set right now at 20. If I need to add more, I’ll get rid of one (usually the oldest).
• With every idea you add, include the date. If the idea stays in your log for a long time, let it go.
• Review your log on a regular basis and clear out old stuff.

What to do with your reading material

Instead of having countless articles and books, you’ll have one document with the information you want to use.

You can safely get rid of all the articles and just add a link to them in your ideas log.

When it comes to books, it’s a bit harder, especially if you don’t own the book or you’re planning on giving it away after you’re done reading. In this case, write the idea, the book title and page number. Even if you give the book away, you can find it at your library or borrow it from someone else. Resist the temptation to hold on to books—I admit I’m still working on this one.

Trust your intuition and inner guidance. Keep the ideas that you want to work with and let the rest go.

Imagine if you just implemented 12 ideas per year (one per month) what a difference this would make in your life. Of course, you can do more or less. It doesn’t matter as long as you do something.

We live in a digital age where information is abundant and readily accessible. Such availability comes with a price though. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. And it’s much easier to skim through heaps of information without learning anything or enjoying the experience.

To avoid the traps of overwhelm and aimless browsing, we need to be clear about what we want to read and how we can do it with ease.

Today I want to share with you some of the tools I use to make online reading more efficient, effective and enjoyable.

You might be familiar with some (if not all) of these tools. If you’ve been using such apps, I would love to know how they’ve impacted your reading. If you’re not familiar with them, give them a try. I hope you’ll find them useful.

3 reading tools

The above is a screen capture of my browser showing the bookmarklets (links to apps) I currently use.

Readable

This simple app removes the clutter/ads from an article and allows for distraction free reading. You can customize the font, color and layout and then drag the bookmarklet to your browser.

Once you open an article, click on Readable button and it will format the page for you. It’s the best app to read blog posts.

You can also use it with Google RSS reader to transform an article to the format you’re used to. It works perfectly.

Using this app will help you focus on your reading. The added space and customization will reduce eye strain and possibly increase your speed.

Instapaper – Read Later

This is one of the most useful tools for reading. Instead of jumping from one article to another—especially when you’re checking links on twitter or facebook, you can click on the Read Later bookmarklet and save the article for reading at a later time.

Reading is more pleasurable with Instapaper. You access your account to read—and do nothing else.

Instapaper is easy to use and has useful features. You can read the article in simple text format without having to visit the original publisher. You can also archive your articles or create a publication to read on the go.

Print Friendly

Print Friendly cleans up articles and formats them for printing. It gives you the option of printing on paper or creating a PDF file. I love the PDF feature.

I use it to create PDF files of articles for research or study. Once you save the PDF file you can move it to your smart phone or tablet or keep it on your computer. You can read and annotate without having to be online.

If you use the above tools for reading, consider the following two apps for organizing your notes and links.

2 organizing tools

Evernote

It’s a very popular note-taking tool. As you read and find something you want to use or refer to again, highlight the section and click on the Clip to Evernote bookmarklet. The application will save your notes in your Evernote account.

Evernote is a great tool to capture text and images. I personally use it for blog post ideas. Whenever I have an idea, I write it down in Evernote. You can use it for learning, recipes and ideas—your imagination is the limit.

You can use the app on your computer, online and on your mobile device. Your info synchronizes seamlessly.

Delicious

I use delicious for bookmarking pages that I want to visit again. It’s very simple to use. There were rumors of it shutting down. This has not materialized yet. In case the service gets discontinued, you can always export your bookmarks to another service.

If you’re not too keen on using Delicious, you can use Google bookmarks, Yahoo, or your own browser. The most important thing is to set a purpose for bookmarking.

Bookmarking is useful for sites you want to visit frequently or for in-depth research on a certain topic. For example, I use Delicious to bookmark investment research sites, local attractions and government resources.

Whenever you visit a web page that you want to bookmark, click on the Delicious button in your browser to add it to your bookmarks (Google and Yahoo offer their own bookmarklets). Use tags to sort your bookmarks. You can also add notes to each link.

Having your information organized and accessible online and in one place makes it easy to get on with your reading and research.

A final word about using any tool or program: the tool itself doesn’t do anything on its own. What matters is how you use it. Consider the following guidelines to maximize your use of tools.

General guidelines

1. Set a time for reading.

Don’t read whenever you see something worth reading. Set a time for reading, and make it sacred. Read without distractions or multitasking. You will benefit more from your reading, plus you’ll enjoy it more.

2. Perform regular maintenance.

Clean out old stuff from your Instapaper and bookmarks. If you use email or an RSS reader, clear them too.

If you save PDF to your computer or phone, delete old stuff on a regular basis.

I usually clear my Google Reader and Instapaper accounts once a week and go through delicious bookmarks every three to four months. I remove the PDF files once the project is completed. If it’s something I want to keep, it gets filed in a documents folder after I’m done with it.

Clearing old stuff creates space for new reading and reduces stress over items that haven’t been processed and that are not that important to you.

3. Keep it simple.

Keep all of your reading in one place and all of your bookmarks in another. Have a purpose for every tool you use and don’t use it for anything else.

If you use Evernote for taking notes, don’t copy stuff to text files or bookmark the same sites in another app. You’ll complicate things–needlessly.

A word of caution about Evernote: if you don’t pay attention, you can end up with a boatload of information that you may never use. Organize your notes and know why you’re keeping stuff.

The fewer tools you have the better. If you don’t need a bookmarking site, don’t use one. If you read articles on the same day and don’t need to use Read Later, don’t use Instapaper.

Reading is one of the simplest and most pleasurable experiences in life. To enjoy your reading, make it personal. Try the tools above; use what works for you and let the rest go.

Happy reading!

Photo courtesy of Ingo Bernhardt

“Nature is what we know – yet have not art to say – so impotent our wisdom is to her simplicity” ~Emily Dickinson

We live in times of unprecedented evolution. Technology is accelerating at a pace our minds and bodies can’t  keep up with. Life as our ancestors knew is becoming increasingly more alien to us—and I’m sure ours would be to them.

We heavily rely on technology on almost every aspect of our lives— so many tools and gadgets, so many ways to communicate and express ourselves—so much to do and see and so little time.

In our effort to advance, we’re moving towards more complexity at unsurpassed speed. Complexity clouds our thoughts and impairs our inner vision.

And with more complexity, more and more of us are yearning for simplicity. We want to move at a pace that feels right for us—that allows us to catch our breath and enjoy the ride.

While change is an inevitable part of life and evolution, complexity isn’t. We can live in simpler ways and at a slower pace.

I’d like to share with you my take on simplicity from life and nature’s perspective and what it means to us today.

“Most of the fundamental ideas of science are essentially simple, and may, as a rule, be expressed in a language comprehensible to everyone.” ~Albert Einstein

Simplicity in life is:

Singular. All creation starts with one simple act. From one single event, the big bang, the vast universe as we know it came into existence. Everything we create originates in the same way—one act at a time. Life doesn’t multitask.

Basic. All of creation as we know it started from one simple element after the big bang—hydrogen. It’s the creative brush, paint and canvas by which our universe was formed. The elements we use and the ones that make up our bodies came from this essential element as it transformed over billions of years. Life sticks to the most basic tools.

Not bound by time. Everything in nature takes all the time it needs to form and grow. Creation follows its own energetic course without deadlines and agendas. Nothing is racing against time. There is no need for speed.

Clear and focused. As complex as our universe seems it functions on four known forces—gravity, electromagnetic, strong and week nuclear forces.These forces transform elements, create stars and galaxies, shape planets and living organisms.

Elegant. Just have a look at the night skies or view images of stars, nebulae and galaxies—understated beauty and elegance beyond words.

Aware. Life regenerates and expands its awareness through simple cycles of death and birth. Stars are formed from the dusts of dying ones. Life on our planet carries the same awareness and elements of the dying stars—simplicity at its core.

Powerful. We all know how powerful nature is on our planet. As violent as some events may seem, they carry incredible power to simply sustain balance of the earth’s elements. This power is magnified tremendously when you look at the cosmic landscape.

Truthful. Life continues to express itself and evolve in the vastness of space based on its laws. Life doesn’t accumulate stuff or do things to impress.

Simplicity in life isn’t:

Dull and plain. It’s fun and colorful. Just check the Hubble imagery of our universe for a taste of what takes place around us every day.

About less. There are billions of stars in every galaxy and billions of galaxies in the universe. But they all serve a purpose in creation. Simplicity in life doesn’t necessarily mean less—unless you’re removing what doesn’t serve a purpose in your life.

A goal or destination. Simplicity is a fundamental principal in the evolution of life. It’s what paves the roads of creation—the means by which we came into existence. Life doesn’t simplify for the sake of simplicity.

What simplicity means to you

How can you simplify your life in a way that’s meaningful and truthful to you?

This is a question only you can answer. But what I can tell you from simplifying some aspects of my life is this:

Simplicity is personal. The way you simplify is as unique as you. It comes from within and reflects who you are—at the most basic and authentic level. What may be simple to you might not be to someone else. So simplify your way.

Simplicity is Fun. To be able to feel the joy of the simplest of experiences is what simplicity is about. If you’re not having fun and enjoying your life, you’re going too far or overcomplicating simplicity—it can happen.

Simplicity is innate. We are all natural born simplifiers. But as we get older, stuff happens and we lose sight of all the gifts within. Just look at a child at play and you’ll remember what simplicity felt like to you.

Simplicity is practical. Simplicity is a tool that we can use to figure out what serves a purpose in our lives and what doesn’t. Keep using it.

Simplicity is art. The way you live your life is your art. Enhance every aspect of your life by simplifying the way you move, feel, think, consume, create, connect and express.

In a nutshell, simplicity is within you, as life is. Connect to your truth and express the gift you are to the world.

Please share on twitter or facebook. Thanks my friends!

Photo courtesy of Ernst Vikne

Spring is here and life all around us is starting to bloom. The new season energizes us to emerge from hibernation and start anew.

This is the perfect time to de-clutter our possessions and clean our space. If you have thought about reducing your stuff but haven’t gotten to it, please read on.

Clutter in all its forms (physical, mental and emotional) is a burden that you unknowingly carry—constantly. Maybe it’s time for you to stop and reevaluate what’s weighing you down.

The focus of this article is on the cost and struggle of too much stuff and the tremendous benefits you will reap from eliminating the excess. I hope you find enough reasons here for you to start lightening your burden.

The true cost of ownership

Cash cost is only a part of what goes into anything you own. Even if you get something for free or at a bargain, it still going to cost you. The following are some of the other costs we don’t often think about:

Cleaning and upkeep. From your car, to the smallest of objects scattered in your house, they have to be cleaned and maintained. This means spending more money, time and energy.

Insurance and storage. The more you own the higher your costs of keeping stuff.

Visual and mental distraction. Your attention is divided between so many things. Something needs fixing, another needs cleaning, another is lost and you can’t seem to find it. The cost of this inefficiency is time and energy wasted.

Indecision and avoidance. This is a direct result of distraction. The more stuff you have, the easier it is for you to slip into a life spent looking for or worrying about stuff. You don’t have the time or energy to do what’s important.

Stress. How do you feel when you walk into a room full of stuff? Do you feel relaxed and at ease? Most likely you don’t. One might say: well I got used to it—clutter doesn’t stress me anymore. Maybe—on the surface—you can get used to it, but I doubt that it doesn’t bother you at a much deeper level.

Have you ever been to a five star hotel that had all sorts of junk all over the place? I believe we innately seek the peace and calm of an organized and spacious environment.

Accumulating stuff starts with a few things and can progress to a compulsion that’s hard to control. Before we know it, the myriad of stuff in piles and boxes starts dictating how we live and feel to the point of overwhelm and paralysis.

The first step in moving forward is to recognize how we got there.

Why do we buy stuff?

We need to think about why we buy stuff in the first place and why we refuse to let go of our beloved possessions.

The main reason we should buy stuff is that it’s something we need or we are truly going to enjoy. If you buy something for any of the following reasons, chances are it will end up being part of your clutter.

Perceived reward. We buy stuff to reward ourselves for achieving something (like a raise at work).

Impulse. We see it, and we buy it. It’s very hard to pass on a killer deal. Advertising and product placement are the science and art of attending to your every whim.

Hope of change. If we want to change something in our lives, buying what we need seems logical. If we want to lose weight, we buy equipment and diet books. We often tend to ignore the alternatives, like borrowing books from the library and going for a walk.

Promise of happiness. We think a new acquisition will make us happy. The new treadmill is what you need to lose weight, and that’s going to make you happy.

Fun. Buying new stuff is very enjoyable—the smell, look and excitement of new things can be all we need to get something.

Social expectations and ego. We buy stuff to keep up with others or to look good.

Why do we hold on to stuff?

After we buy something, we tend to hold on to it, even if we have no use for it. Think of the following reasons:

The one day syndrome. We buy something and fail to use it. But we still think we’ll use it, or might need it—one day. Stuff can sit for years and we still tell ourselves to keep it—just in case. Worse yet, is keeping stuff for that special day that never comes.

Guilt. We feel guilty for buying an item and not using it. We hold on to it and promise that we’ll use it soon, at least till we get our money’s worth.

Identification and attachment. Whatever we own becomes part of who we are. Owning a treadmill makes one a health and fitness enthusiast. All those music CDs that you haven’t listened to in ages reinforce your preferences and taste.

A lack mentality. What if we let go of a possession but need it in the future? Maybe we won’t be able to replace it. We don’t have faith that we can afford the item again. Or we’re afraid we won’t find the item for the same price or lesser if we were to dispose of it.

The truth about physical possessions

The experience

It’s a common misconception to associate physical objects with feeling good. The new car makes us look good; the 5 computers ensure that we aren’t stuck without one working machine. And so on.

The thing is: physical objects don’t give you anything.The experience that you get from using them is what adds meaning to your life. Stuff won’t make you happy.

We don’t crave possessions we crave the experiences and feelings they give us.

And the experience comes only from what you use or enjoy looking at.

A bulky treadmill sitting in the corner of your bedroom doesn’t add meaning to your life. It takes away from it. The treadmill is of value only when use it—the benefit and feeling of walking or running on it, not buying it.

Instead of thinking of acquiring or keeping something you don’t use, think of the feeling you’ll get when you let it go or start using it … right now.

A true measure of value

Your value and social standing shouldn’t be derived from what you own. If you were to lose all your possessions in a fire, you’re still the same person. Nothing you own matters.

When it comes to what you own, an item’s true value is in how much you use or enjoy it—not what it costs.

The peace of less

There are tremendous benefits to having less stuff. Most of the rewards come from reversing the negative side effects of having too much stuff. Here is a summary.

1- You awaken to what is. The less stuff you have the more aware you become of what you own and how you benefit from it.

2- You experience what brings you true joy. Keeping only what you use and enjoy enhances your experience. You have no other possessions to worry about.

3- You feel lighter and more at ease. An empty space invites stillness to your life.

4- You open up to opportunity. When you clear away your stuff, you create space and invite inspiration and abundance into your life.

5- You help others. Letting go of your stuff provides others with something of use to them.

6- You learn to trust more that you have what you need. What you may need in the future will come to you. Trusting life is peace.

7- You save time and energy. You do less housework and maintenance because you have fewer items to care for. Time and energy are our most valuable resources—not money.

8- You stress and worry less. You don’t have to think of what you should be doing with something. The stuff you don’t need is out of your life.

9- You gain clarity and focus. You become less distracted and more focused on your top priorities. Stuff doesn’t bog you down anymore.

10- You reclaim your freedom. You’re free from clutter and can do what you want when you want to—and that’s what matters the most.

You need little stuff to genuinely experience happiness. Removing the excess burden will give you freedom and peace.

For resources on simplicity and having less, consider the following books. Look for them at your local library before deciding to buy.

Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter.

Living the Simple Life: A Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying More.

The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential, in Business and in Life.

Please share on twitter or facebook. Thanks for your support.

Photo courtesy of Boa-Franc

Do you have a space in your home or at work that you’ve been meaning to organize for a while but you never seem to get to it?

For the past year, I’ve been wanting to organize my office space. Everything was tucked away. There was no clutter around and everything looked nice and tidy—on the surface. The closet was a nightmare.

The office setup itself wasn’t functional. I didn’t like using the space. Every time I wanted to do something, I wasted time looking for the stuff I needed. There was no system in place and there was a lot of crap.

I started this project estimating that it would take me a couple of days. Little did I know that, like every other project, doubling the time and effort is the minimum requirement. After 4 days I’m happy to say that mission is accomplished.

I am writing this article sitting at my desk and focusing on what I’m doing. It feels great.

Reflecting on the experience, I wanted to share with you a few tips to help you with your organizing efforts.

1. Just start. If you wait for the right time or to have a complete plan laid out before you do something, you will never get it done.  If your project has been nagging at you for a while, the best antidote is action. By starting, I mean go to the space you want to organize and take everything out. Once everything is out of its place, you will have to deal with it.

2. Work with what you have. Don’t wait to get this tool or that gadget. If you need something, you can get it as you progress: it would be a nice break and a change of routine. When I was organizing the closet, I needed some paint which I didn’t have. So I stopped, got the paint and then continued.

3. Find uses for the stuff you own. Don’t go buying stuff to replace what you have. Try to find a use for your stuff first. Sometimes you can organize your possessions differently.  You may also get creative in how you use your space. You will save money and put your stuff to better use. Everything in my office is from my home. I did not buy one new thing and I’m so thankful for that.

4. Things don’t have to be perfect. When you are working in your space, you will face challenges and might have to change some of your ideas or outcome.  Don’t get bogged down by minor details. Instead, focus on the improvements you have made so far.

After applying new paint in the office closet, I noticed that the color was a bit off from the original. I was tempted to go back and get an exact match for the paint and redo it. Then I thought to myself, my intention was to patch the walls and organize. This is not a paint job. So I moved on and accepted that the color is not perfect. The closet looks much better than when I started.

5. Keep only what you use. This is simple but not easy. Getting rid of what you don’t use is harder when you start thinking of what you could do with your stuff. If you are unsure whether to get rid of something or not, put it in a visible place and mark a date on it (say 8 weeks). If you use it before that time, great. If not,  get rid of it without even thinking about it.

6. Identify problematic thoughts and habits. What are the thought and behavioral patterns that you keep repeating? Are they adding more to your physical or mental clutter? Once you become aware of what you do and how it affects your space, try to do things differently to break the cycle.

For me I have this bad habit of wanting to document everything. So I keep files and papers for years. I hardly go back and look at them. I did not eliminate everything at this point but started a process to avoid adding more documents.

7. Create an ongoing maintenance process. When you deal with everything in your space, you will have a better understanding of what you have and how you got there. Take advantage of this knowledge and create a simple maintenance process that you can apply on a regular basis to eliminate the need for another big organization project.

Here is my process:

• No more paper. Keep only accounting and tax records required by law. Scan other important documents and throw out the rest.
• Every day go through a couple of old documents and shred.
• Don’t buy more folders or office supplies.
• Don’t buy new books until all the  books I have are read or disposed of. Eliminate two books per month.
• Start and end the day with everything in its place.
• Be aware of what is working and what is not. When something is not working, deal with it right away. Don’t put stuff in a box to deal with later.
• Simplify as much as possible. Continue to eliminate things that have not been used.

If you are interested to see images of my office space before and after,  check out this video (length 2:40).

There is an amazing feeling of lightness and relief after you get rid of stuff and make sense of what you have. You will also have a reason to celebrate your accomplishment;  you completed something you’ve been wanting to do for a while. If you have something you need to organize and simplify, go for it. Now is the best time.

I hope you found my experience useful. I would love to hear about your own experience with organizing and decluttering your space.

A cluttered, chaotic environment is a reflection of one’s inner state of being.

The physical clutter can be a manifestation of avoidance and indecision. It is better to get lost in the chaos and spend half an hour looking for something than dealing with an important (but often not too urgent) issue.

A cluttered environment also is a sign of a cluttered mind. There is probably a lot of inner dialogue of should and could. But nothing gets done because everything is piling up and the sheer volume of the mess is overwhelming.

Like most situations, we keep creating more of the same clutter to the point of hopelessness.

The best thing to deal with this situation is to start somewhere. Since spring is in full swing and life is starting to bloom, why not take this time to have a look around your house, office and car and see what you can get rid off?

How to de-clutter your physical environment

This is not a new concept. I have been using this for a while. It is a simple process that raises your awareness and keeps things in perspective. I call it the simple power of two.

When you want to buy something. As a rule: when you want to get something new, get rid of two things you own. For example if you want to buy a new pair of shoes, get rid of two old pairs or get rid of two other items in your home (two shirts, pants…etc.).

If you use this method consistently, you will end up with a lot less stuff than you started with.

Also if you fully commit to it, you won’t buy anything before you’re able to get rid of something. For example, before getting an ipod touch, I sold my Palm and gave away an old MP3 player (I wouldn’t have gotten the ipod if I didn’t cut down).

Ongoing. During the day look around and get rid of two small things (papers floating around, stuff that is sitting in drawers). If you can dispose of more, go for it.

More out less in. Do your best every day not to add to the mess. For example when you receive your mail, clear it right away; don’t add it to the pile. If you have to keep something, use the same principle and get rid of two things.

The end result.Take a few moments and imagine doing this for 300 days a year. You can get rid of 600 things. Feel the lightness of having less and the added space. This is your best reward.

A comprehensive de-cluttering project. If you have time and want to do some massive de-cluttering,  pick one area (choose the one that bugs you the most) and do the following:

• Create a simple plan: visualize how you want your space to look. What items you want to keep and why. Always think of how you will use your space and the things you keep.
• Eliminate. Pick all the stuff that doesn’t fit into your plan and give it away, throw it out or sell it.  Be as ruthless as you can and do it!
• Finish. Organize what is left according to your plan. Don’t let things sit and fester. If you can’t sell or give away the stuff, label a couple of boxes one for sale and one for give away. And do it soon.

De-cluttering the mind

These days it is really easy to pile up a lot of information that we want to use or learn from.

We spend more time trying to organize and categorize our files than actual learning (my number one weakness). This is OK if it doesn’t stress you out and you don’t have a hundred projects or things (either on paper or in your head) that you want to complete or learn.

Start with a mind dump. Before you can get rid of the stuff in your head, you need to make them visible by writing them down. Do a mind dump and just write everything that you can think of on one sheet of paper or one document on your computer.

Use the same rule. You can use the same simple power of two principle. Don’t add any more things to read or complete before you get rid of two. It can be as simple as deleting files or recycling paper.

Do it every day. Each day for every item you add to your day (things you have to do, read, write…etc.) take out two.  Try this with your email and you will have your inbox under control in no time.

Stick to doing it and keep it simple. The result may not be visible in one or two days but, as mentioned earlier, thinking of the cumulative result makes a big difference. The reward is worth a few minutes a day.

Ask yourself the following questions whenever you are unsure of what to do with something:

• When was the last time I used it?
• Why am I keeping something that I haven’t used in such a long time?
• When am I likely to use it again? If you think you will use it, write a date on note and attach it to your item. If the date comes up and you haven’t touched it, get rid of it. As you do this, consider what your true motivation for keeping it in the first place was.
• Can someone else use it right away? Am I helping someone?
• How would I feel if this item was lost or stolen? Would I notice, would I want to replace it, would I care?
• What would happen if I did not do this project a year or five years from now?
• Would I be willing to pay for a storage space to keep this item? Why would I do that?

De-cluttering can be good for the soul

There is a spiritual element to a clean clutter free environment. It gives you a sense of control over your space. You feel more calm and at peace.

You become more aware of your surrounding when you are not distracted by the chaos of everything else. When you have a clear mind, you can focus on what really matters to you and let go of the rest.

Photo courtesy of urbaneapts

I wrote earlier about the emotional and mental strain that is caused by unfinished business. Today I want to expand on that and discuss decluttering.

Clutter to me is anything that sits there day after day and has no use or enjoyment in our lives. It can be furniture, kitchen appliances, books and magazines, clothes, things that are broken and haven’t been fixed, computer files or programs not in use. You get the picture. If you don’t use it or enjoy looking at it, you can chuck it or give it to someone who can use it or enjoy it.

“People hold onto stuff like their kids’ old clothing as a way of holding onto the past. Or they keep things they think they might need someday as a way to control the future.” – Peter Walsh

Whenever I go through the process of getting rid of stuff, I feel much lighter and at ease. There is comfort in knowing that I made a difference in someone’s life. The lightness of being and the feeling of helping others can be considered spiritual.

Getting rid of stuff can provide insights to the true motivation for holding on to stuff. So when we experience resistance as we try to cut down, we can see what has been holding us back.  Is it fear, control, or simply not paying attention?

But that’s not all. One of the most important results of decluttering is that you end up with much less stuff. The less you have, the more time and energy you have to know and enjoy what you own. In other words having less increases your awareness and appreciation of the things that surround you.

Increased awareness is definitely a spiritual act in my book. It is the foundation to a fuller more authentic life. Would love to hear about your experiences with decluttering.

To your awareness!

I wrote earlier about having to clean up after finishing a project. My clean up ended up causing more clean up in the garage, the office files and office supplies.

It is so easy to buy stuff and even easier to make a mess. Cleaning up is a different story; it takes more time, energy and desire to face the consequences of our previous actions or lack thereof.

Cleaning up the garage and the office supplies are on my list of things that need to be done completed. In the past couple of days I made good progress but I can’t say I’m finished yet. There is still more stuff to do.

One of the important lessons I have been trying to remind myself of is: if you don’t finish it, start gain soon before you lose momentum. Also don’t start a new project before finishing up loose ends on other items. The less things to do , the less stress and more fun things can be.

Taking everything out of the closet to sort out makes the room look like it was hit by a hurricane (which is me in this case since I can be a natural disaster when it comes to starting a mess). As things get sorted into piles (throw away, give away and keep), the storm starts to calm down.

I felt so light after reducing my stationary supplies from three large boxes to one small box. I filled a large cardboard box with items to be given away. This was a reminder to self: DON’T BUY ANY MORE CRAP!

It is really that simple: if I don’t buy stuff, I can’t make a mess, and there is nothing to clean up after.

The calm is setting in and I’m closer to my target of completing what I started.