We’ve reached the tail end of August; things are beginning to feel very autumnal!
I’m looking forward to the cooler weather, the beautiful colours of nature in autumn – and that feeling of new beginnings that comes with all the schools and colleges returning.
Even if you don’t have kids, it’s hard to miss that “back to school” feeling over the next month or so.
It always makes me feel inspired to organise myself, get my ducks in a row.
I know I’m late to the party on this, but I’ve been reading Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
So this week’s Mental Sunshine is all about clearing the clutter and tidying up.
Last week I suggested we all try and clear our email clutter so that our inboxes feel less overwhelming.
The thing is, our homes can become overwhelming too, can’t they
Over the course of a life we can end up accruing a lot of stuff
I like the approach in Marie Kondo’s book – where you don’t just open a cupboard and see if there’s anything you can get rid of…
Instead you empty the entire cupboard, and go through it all – finding it a proper home, or getting rid of it.
And of course there’s that famous line:
Does this spark joy?
The thing is, having lots of clutter about the place does the opposite of sparking joy.
Being surrounded by too much stuff can feel overwhelming and stifling.
It can contribute to anxiety and stress.
It’s really hard to focus on anything when there are piles of things surrounding you.
But also: the idea of clearing out your entire home might feel so overwhelming you don’t know where to begin!
Here’s what I suggest: choose one cupboard. One drawer. One surface. One bookshelf.
Just one space to begin with.
Take everything out.
Look at it. Really consider: do I need this thing in my life?
Is it useful?
Does it have a real, sentimental value?
Is it beautiful?
Why is this thing in my house?
Could I bring some Mental Sunshine into someone else’s life by giving it to them?
Once you’ve sorted through everything, put back what you’re keeping.
And now here’s the really tricky bit: guard that one, clutter-free shelf or cupboard with your life!
Don’t allow yourself (or anyone else!) to put anything into that space.
Enjoy the fact there is space there.
Use it to motivate yourself to begin on the next shelf. The next cupboard. The next drawer.
Taking “before” and “after” photos can be helpful for motivation on this.
This might be the work of a single rainy afternoon
For others, this might be an ongoing project that takes weeks.
There are no rules or timescales; just make a start.
And each time you make some space – stop to appreciate how that feels.
Stop to feel that Mental Sunshine!
And when you get rid of things, do it with gratitude – and thank it for the joy it brought you when you first had it.
And don’t forget to let me know how you get on!