Clearing space
January is Get Organized Month. In alignment with the New Year theme of "ringing in the new", decluttering is a perfect way to free up space for fresh dynamic energy, abundance and love to come into our lives. At our home, we're declaring January "the clutter-free month"!
There are a few silent giants that invade our homes on a daily basis. Years ago, after learning that the average family in our neighborhood produced over 45 pounds of recycled waste each week, we adopted the eco-philosophy of reduce/reuse/recycle to get our kitchen waste down to a minimum.
So, the first quarter of each year, we focus on tackling the seemingly never-ending abundance of paper that crosses the doorstep in the form of bills, statements, newspapers, circulars, periodicals, junk mail, personal/work/school documents, cards, and receipts.
Combined households can mean the addition of old journals, letters, magazines, books, get well cards, posters, event cards, files, and even more mail, make the mounting piles of paper even more overwhelming.
Eliminating paper is a form of cleansing or clearing or detoxing. Similar to a food cleanse, the aim is to reduce the amount that's coming in and at the same time eliminate the excess that's already present. Regarding the mail, our most common source of paper overflow, my mom always said, "touching paper more than once is a waste of time". In other words: read it, handle it, toss/shred it, and be done with it.
One morning each week in January is dedicated to converting existing accounts to electronic statements, setting up auto/electronic bill payments, and shredding unnecessary paper. At the end of the month these small steps help reach a goal: less incoming paper = less clutter!
Once the mail clutter has been dealt with, that time can be repurposed for more emotional tasks like reducing or organizing personal items of sentimental value: cards, letters, books, journals, etc. This can be potentially daunting, so take your time to decide which items can be gifted to others to treasure, which can be stored or displayed for posterity, and which ones can simply live on in memory.
Take comfort in the knowledge that there are health benefits to being organized. It's true.
Being organized:
Reduces stress by lowering uneasiness, distractions, and cortisol levels
Provides a natural energy boost by creating natural productivity
Helps you lose weight by encouraging healthier choices
Improves sleep by creating more time for passive, relaxing activities
Reducing depression risk factors: stress, poor eating, inefficiency, and sleep deprivation
Encourages a true work-life balance by creating more time for the important things
To assist with change/transition/letting go, try diffusing essential oils. Orange, lemon, peppermint, and/or lavender can help energize and uplift, while supporting feelings of peace and calm.
Hopefully, these ideas will provide a small spark to clear space for what's to come. Happy New Year!
References:
Organizing Your Life Reduces Stress - http://www.healthreviser.com/content/organizing-your-life-reduces-stress
Physical Order Produces Healthy Choices - http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797613480186
Seven Organization Tips - https://www.busylifeproducts.com/blogs/organization/7-organization-tips-to-save-time-take-control-and-feel-less-stressed
How Cleaning and Organizing Can Improve Your Mental and Physical Health - https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/how-cleaning-and-organizing-can-improve-your-physical-and-mental-health
8 Annoying Chores with Unexpected Scientific Health Benefits - https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/health-benefits-chores/
Can Being More Organized Be Good for Your Health - https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/health-benefits-chores/