How is your sense of balance? If you have ever watched gymnasts on a balance beam, you know that those who have had lots of practice can do jumps and flips and still land on that narrow beam.
Novices take one foot off the beam and wobble before placing the other down.
They put out their arms hoping to maintain their equilibrium.
Sometimes they have to leap off the beam, other times they are able to stabilize and remain on the beam.
Using the same analogy, each day we get on our own balance beam.
We start on one end of the beam at the beginning of the day and keep walking until we get off the other end at the close of the day.
Our goal isn't to put on a great performance; it is to complete the tasks and activities of the day without falling off the beam and hurting ourselves.
The problem with our beam is that it is curvy and really high in some places.
There are all sorts of distractions around our beam.
Furthermore, there are people trying to pull us off into one direction or another.
With the swirl of activity around us, it is hard for us to focus our energy to keep our balance on the beam.
Uncontrolled stuff, whether physical items or time-related tasks, is often the cause of the commotion around our beam.
When we focus on the stuff, we forget about walking on the beam, and we fall off.
The question is what structures can we put in place to decrease the diversions and increase our stability? First, diminish the impact of clutter.
If you are overwhelmed by too much physical stuff, try one of the following strategies for the next month: •Shopping sabbatical: do not go grocery shopping unless it is for perishables (you probably have enough dry and canned goods) and do not go into a clothing store unless all of your undergarments are falling off! All other stores are completely off-limits.
If you don't know what to do with your extra time, go to a library or meet with a friend.
•One in, one out: for every item in your space, you must delete (discard or donate) an item of equal value and for every activity in your calendar, you must do the same.
Second, practice routines until they become ingrained habits.
Here are some examples: •Process mail every day: toss/shred/recycle, action (highlight or mark in red), or file.
•Practice saying "no": develop a stock answer to give anyone who asks for your time.
One idea is, "I need to check my calendar, can I get back to you in a couple of days?" •Put it away: whether it is an item that needs to go into the drawer or a task that needs to be scheduled, "put it away".
If you do not give it a home, you won't find it again, whether it is an object or an activity.
Third, don't stop! Many people want to "get organized" but they get stuck in analysis paralysis.
This comes in several forms: •Initial paralysis or not knowing where to start.
Let me give you a hint: there isn't one specific way to start the organizing process.
You can start with a small space that will help you feel instant success.
You can begin with your most problematic space.
You can start wherever feels most comfortable to you.
•Perfection paralysis or believing that there is "only one way to organize".
This is a total myth! In order for organizing to be effective, it has to account for personality, needs, personal strengths, and learning differences.
Above all, it has to be functional.
•Agitated analysis or churning.
Every decision related to your organizing is a major decision.
From what type of shelves to purchase to where the shelves should be placed to what should be on the shelves, each decision takes an agonizingly long time as you consider all pros and cons.
Each time you think you have made a decision, you doubt yourself and the process starts all over again.
Now, I will grant that some decisions are more important than others.
But I maintain that there are only a few "'til death do you part" decisions when it comes to organizing.
While the aforementioned shelves may not be able to be returned, they can be shifted to another location and the items on the shelves can be moved around (or even off!) If you get stuck, move to a different area just don't jump off the beam! Every day brings a new balancing act on the balance beam of your life.
There are many uncontrollable aspects of life that may cause you to stumble.
However, the clutter in your space or calendar is something that can be managed.
It will take persistence.
You may need to acquire some new skills.
But the rewards are well worth the effort.
Take a step today to remove the clutter from around the balance beam of your life!