By Jordan Freels—
Clutter does not have to be defined as just a messy desk, or a messy room, it can simply be an everyday task one must complete. How many times have you said, ‘I will do that assignment tomorrow’ or ‘there is not enough time in the day to do everything I need to.’ It is not always about rushing to complete your million and one tasks, it is about being organized.
On January 30, Mary Carlomagno, Author of Give it Up! My year of learning to live better with less presented a de-clutter and de-stress your life workshop that share tips and guidelines to having a clutter & stress free lifestyle.
Carlomagno expressed that wanting to change does not happen overnight. She used the analogy of the popular television show Extreme Makeover to demonstrate that although it may seem rewarding to have a crew of people come in and help a family with their cluttered home, it must start within. She says, “If change does not come from you, you will probably go back to the bad habit.” A person can voice that they want to change for the better and receive all the help in the world, but if that person does not start change from within they are only continuing the vicious cycle of not accomplishing the task at hand.
One memorable point Carlomagno made was suggesting saving time and energy so that you can do the things you need. Having stress and clutter in your life only complicates the situation because you are not able to focus on what is important. To stop being disorganized you must find the right method that works for you. Remember, not every method works for everybody.
To eliminate procrastination, give yourself a time limit to do things and to not over-commit or over schedule because then nothing that really needs to get done will.
One great example that can benefit many is trying to give up a bad habit each month. This does not mean eliminate this bad habit from your life forever, just try not to continue it for a months’ time span. Carlomagno gave examples from her personal life, whether it was no shopping for a month, no candy, not using elevators and etc. She confessed that it really did help her in the end. Psychologists say, “It takes four weeks to change a habit or adopt a new one,” said Carlomagno.
Starting fresh or changing your bad ways can not only make one feel good, but it can also eliminate the stress free environment that they may live in. De-cluttering and de-stressing one’s life can open new doors because it allows you to get things done in a fashion that may not have been possible before. So remember, as stressful or cluttered as your life may be, never hesitate to change your bad habits, because in the end your biggest accomplishment will be knowing you had the power to change the whole time!
