The week between Christmas and New Year can be a good time to clear the clutter from your life – and that includes both physical and mental clutter.
The physical surroundings we live in every day in our homes, offices and cars have a strong impact on us. Cluttered environments drain your energy. Just think about the last time you organized a drawer or cleaned your car – do you remember how accomplished you felt, and how you were able to approach the rest of your day from a much lighter perspective? That’s because you released stagnant, cluttered energy.
Allegra, Ruby and I have been working on decluttering for the past few days. Since the girls have been good girls all year long, Santa showered them with toys and treats, and they decided that it was time to go through the toy baskets and get rid of some of their older toys, which they will donate to a local rescue group.
Meanwhile, I’ve been going through file folders and piles on my desk. I’m pretty organized – the photo above of Amber shows my desk pretty much as cluttered as it ever gets. I don’t function well with visible disorder. Unfortuantely, I’m not nearly as good about the space inside my desk drawers or closets, so there’s been some serious decluttering going on.
I always feel lighter after getting rid of clutter and things that no longer serve me, and I highly recommend the practice. With a little feline assitance, decluttering doesn’t have to be a chore. Make a game of it with your cats: as you get rid of papers, toss some balled up paper for them to chase, bring out some boxes to collect items you’re going to get rid of (just make sure to check for any cats inside before tossing!), and make decluttering a fun project.
Do you take time to declutter and get organized for the year ahead?
(o: I was looking up information about Tortie cats and found your adorable site! I adopted a crazy white cat last year, he’s my joy. Then we fostered three orphaned kittens for our humane society. On Christmas Eve, my husband brought one of them home from the shelter. A sweet little handful of tortie cat. She’s just wonderful. She snuggles and she’s adorable. Since my white kitty is more of a “knock everything to the ground while investigating the concept of gravity and never sit in mom’s lap” kind of cat…my tortie (who is as of yet nameless because nothing suites her yet) well…she sits on me and she purrs and purrs and I’m mad for her. (o: Love the pics on your site. And maybe I’ll clean my desk tomorrow. Not that it will last. Gravity boy will be in motion as soon as I’m done.
Your new little family member sounds like a love, Rebecca! Feel free to post photos of her on our Facebook page, we’d love to see her! As for your desk, it sounds like you might be fighting a losing battle… 🙂
I keep cleaning up clutter, and then more clutter pops up!
That does seem to be the nature of clutter, Fisher!
I kind of do it on and off all year long. It sure does make you feel better. I try not to clutter but; it always seemed to creep up. LOL. The kitties and I go through their toys every once in awhile and get rid of ones they don’t like or have been played with so much have fallen apart. I would say my desk area is the worst to keep clean. If it’s too clean I cannot find anything. LOL.
Clutter does have a way of taking over, doesn’t it, Sue.
At the moment, our guest room looks like a warehouse, with large corrugated shipping boxes stacked on one side of the bed, and the bed itself holding rolls of leftover giftwrap and tissue paper. This is a result of marathon wrapping, packing and shipping; my shopping was finished early, but I didn’t get the rest done as speedily as I would have liked. So I’ll begin there, continuing on to closets and drawers, although I did manage to clear out a few closets before Christmas, so those will be incentives for completing the decluttering process elsewhere. 🙂
Your desk will be an inspiration to me, too; I’m usually good about keeping mine clear, but in the run-up to Christmas, it gathered address lists, calligraphy pens, assorted notepaper, stamps, and other stuff usually nicely organized in one of three huge armoires I use for storing assorted craft supplies, my calligraphy papers, light table, etc., and gift wrap, gift boxes, gift bags, and more ribbon of every width and color imaginable than I will possibly be able to use in my lifetime.
Thanks for reminding me of how good it will feel to have the weight of clutter lifted from my shoulders!
Good luck with your decluttering projects, Bobbi. I think Christmas does tend to add to the clutter in our homes, albeit in a good way. As much as I love my Christmas decorations, it always feels “freeing” to put them away for another year after New Year’s – all that open space brings fresh energy with it.
I totally agree about loving all the Christmas decorations, and then loving the open space after they’re put away!
I love to declutter and organize and I always feel so much better afterwards as well. At the moment however I have too much work happening (working two basically full time jobs) and not enough time to tackle the project. I have several projects that I know will make a difference in my life if I can get them done – remnants from a former life so to speak that I am no longer involved with, need to clear it out and make room for those things I’m involved in now (or want to be involved with now.)
Good luck with your projects, HollyAnne – it’s good to clear out remnants from a former life that no longer fit.
Ingrid, that is as cluttered as your desk ever gets? You are amazing and an inspiration. But if my desk weren’t so cluttered Sammy wouldn’t have so much fun knocking things off- or “liberating them” as my husband says. I’m trying to declutter this weekend to get off to a good start for the New Year- the picture of your desk will be my inspiration. Wishing you all the best in 2013!
How thoughtful of you to keep your desk cluttered so Sammy can have some fun, Debbie! Happy New Year to you, too!
funny that you wrote this because I was in our bedroom closet yesterday and was screaming at my husband about what a mess that it is. It makes me sooooooo nervous!! I had told him that it was on my “to do” list this week (probably New Years Day)……your post will help me make sure that I DO tackle that job!
I’m glad I could help, Caren! I hope your husband has recovered from being yelled at. 🙂
Thank you for the great New Year inspiration, Ingrid! 🙂
I need to declutter too… it definitely makes you feel so much lighter!
Wishing you, Allegra and Ruby a wonderful New Year 2013, with lots of Joy, Peace, Love and Health!!!!!!!!
Anna & Zoe
Thanks, Anna! Happy New Year to you, too – I hope it’ll be your best year yet!
We declutter too. It becomes nearly an obsession for us to complete before the New Year! We don’t work well with visible disorder either. Wishing you all the best in the New Year!
Ah, a kindred spirit! Happy New Year to you, too!