Peace of Mind Organizing

Clutter and stress

5 November 2007

I just discovered something about myself. I’ve always known that, for me, clutter causes stress. And stress tends to cause clutter. Typically, my stress starts because I’m too busy. When I’m busy I have no time to put anything away. The clutter grows and grows and looking at it stresses me out. It’s a vicious cycle.

That’s why I named my business Peace of Mind Organizing. Because for me, as I’ve discovered in many of my clients, the absence of clutter (and the presence of organizing systems) reduces stress and promotes peace of mind.

Now here’s my discovery: if I’m not stressed, the clutter doesn’t bother me. Right now, I’m just the right amount of busy. I’m busy with clients but have a couple of “desk days” at home. And I’m plowing through my to-do list, which is the most wonderful feeling. (High on my to-do list was updating my website, which you may have noticed I’ve accomplished, with the help of Nora Brown, web designer extraordinaire.)

But my desk is covered with paper. And, strangely enough, that’s not stressing me out. Maybe it’s because I’m functioning just fine with the clutter. Or maybe it’s because I know that I could declutter my desk in just a few minutes if I took the time to do it.

I don’t know that this is an earth-shattering discovery, but I find it interesting.

I was thinking of instituting a clean-desk challenge to myself today, documented here. My plan was to start off with a “before picture,” then clear off my desk and make sure it was clear at the end of each business day. And I was going to post pictures to prove it.

But my husband is using my camera, so I can’t document it. The challenge stands, it just won’t be documented photographically. I hope and trust that on Friday I’ll post that I had a clean desk-top every day for five days running. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Tagged with: clutter, decluttering, desk, stress

Comments