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The only thing that has been growing well in my garden the last couple of months is weeds … and they’re choking the life out of other plants, my grass and quite frankly, me too!

The way that weeds or pests can take over in a garden is similar to how clutter can take over in your life.  Too much clutter takes up space, becomes a distraction, is a huge job to clean up and can feel confining.  And clutter comes in many forms…

Just like weeding a garden, decluttering can help to create physical and emotional space for growth and abundance. In fact, it’s said that your physical space (home, office, purse, car, email, etc) is a reflection of your inner space – more specifically, your mind.

 

If life is feeling a little chaotic, or you’re feeling stifled in any area of your life, take a look around at your environment and see where else this may hold true.

 

Keeping our physical environment tidy by doing a little bit each day or week will not only create space, but eliminate all the negative chatter in your mind so you can “appreciate” your space and new-found flow. It’s one less thing to think about.

A sad truth … I have been a clutter bug for a long time.  If there’s a surface, I can fill it and somehow seem to live with it… until I can’t.  Then I go on a crazy burst of tidying up.  Effective use of my time and energy?  I think not…  I’m tired of living out of hampers and working around piles of books and papers in my office.   Earlier this year I tackled my closets, kitchen and bathroom counters / storage and I must say it feels great!  That said, I still had some problem areas, where I find myself passing through a room and silently berating myself by sayingGeez, I still have to get that stuff put away!”. 

I had to schedule a significant block of time to declutter and create even more breathing space. Cool thing is, once I did this, I immediately felt like I had more time to focus on my business and doing the things I like to do.  My ideal system includes allocating enough time for each activity in my day so nothing gets left behind.  I try to put things away as I use them, tidy up the kitchen at the end of the day, power down and put away everything on my desk when my office hours are finished.  Using the timer feature on my phone is a life saver.  The trick is sticking to my schedule each day so I don’t feel out of control.  Is it easy? No!  Am I done?  No way … teaching an old dog new tricks takes longer than you think and my laundry hampers are still a challenge for me!

 

There are people around us who drain our energy and others who give us energy…

Have you ever been out somewhere and suddenly notice someone off in the distance whom you really don’t want to see right now?  I know … we’ve all been there.  These can be people we work with, are related to or have been friends with for so long that we feel obligated to spend time with them even when we don’t have anything in common any more.  Here’s the truth … YOU are in charge of your own weeding and “pest control” process when it comes to who you hang out with.

So, who do you spend your time with?  Do they lift you up or drag you down?  You always have a choice and can choose to limit or eliminate time spent with those you find draining.  If you must spend time with someone (say a relative) who drives you crazy, limit the number of interactions, keep it light and focus on avoiding the topics that wind them up. When you have a choice, why wouldn’t you choose to spend time with those who light you up, encourage you, challenge you to be your best and love being in your company?

 

Is your job sucking the life out of you?

I know an amazing young woman who has been in my life for the past 6 years.  She is fearless, loves life and has a very strong work ethic.  For the past few years she has been holding 2 jobs – one attached to her dreams and another that boosts her bank account while she saves for a house, travel and her own business one day.  Quite honestly, the 2nd job, which pays less for more hours, has been a significant source of stress for some time now.  She’s one of the company’s top performers and yet they continue to take advantage of her.  Ultimately, she decided the extra income was not worth the personal toll it was taking on her to work in this unhealthy, disrespectful and disorganized environment… she submitted her resignation 2 weeks ago.  10 days later, she was offered a promotion AND an increase (hours and pay) in the job she loves!  In her words, “It’s like I let go of this retail job and created space for growth in my career!”.  What a win!! [/fusion_text][tagline_box backgroundcolor=”” shadow=”yes” shadowopacity=”0.7″ border=”1px” bordercolor=”#aa0101″ highlightposition=”top” content_alignment=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” modal=”” button_size=”” button_shape=”” button_type=”” buttoncolor=”” button=”” title=”Over to YOU!” description=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””]

How would cleaning up and creating systems better support working from home for you?

Sometimes your system involves hiring support, such as a housekeeper or a bookkeeper.

Is it time to surround yourself with energized people whose interests are aligned with yours? Small tweaks like joining a new group, taking a course or switching fitness studios can do the trick.

How would you like to confidently eliminate or manage distractions at work? Setting boundaries, sticking to them and sharing with your colleagues will make a significant difference in the interruptions.

In the garden of your life, where does the weeding and pest control need to begin for you?

 IDENTIFY the areas that need to be decluttered – write them all down!

 CHOOSE ONE area to work on, starting today

 CREATE a system and get support to keep you on track in that one area

 COMMIT to using your system for the next 21 days – consistent action is key!

While September is back to school time for many, it’s also time to clean up after the summer fun, and prepare for the fall. I think it’s as good a time as any to declutter all around! If there is anyway I can support you to get started click here and let’s get connected for a Free 30-minute call.

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