I have always been aware that being in a cluttered space disrupts my mental processes. What I didn’t realize is that the reverse is true: cluttered mental processes shows up in cluttered spaces. It’s not just the junk around me, though, it’s also the digital stuff. Recognizing the link between mental and physical means that I can use both directions to design my environment for deliberate living.
By working my way through three layers, I can get my stuff under control and be more deliberate without distractions.
The Physical Layer
I find it easy to start with the physical stuff because it is visible and is easiest to spot. I can see when a pile of papers is building. I can see that the kitchen table is buried under things that don’t belong there.
I try very hard not to shove my messes behind closed doors ala Monica from Friends. I found out many years ago that doing that just leads to even worse things. This is a lesson learned from my mother, who had several areas that you had to open and dance away as stuff rained down. It was worst with the upright freezer, where I risked taking frozen things on the toes if I didn’t move fast enough.
I have two tenets when processing any physical area:
- Only items that are used every day can reside there
- Everything else is stored together in mini task stations.
I just finished decluttering my bedroom today. The dresser got cleaned of everything that was on it except my jewelry box, two lamps and a (cat proof) tray that holds my daily jewelry.
There were three areas in the room that needed to be worked on beyond that. Two chair/reading areas and my nightstand.
The nightstand was cleared of everything unless I use it every day: my lamp, alarm clock, my charger box, sleep mask and Carmex. My hand lotion lives on the shelf underneath. Everything else was moved out: four notepads, books, three dead pens, USB-C port plugs, three lip balms, and my warmie.
The chair/reading area closest to the door I turned into a coloring and word search area. All my coloring books, pencils, word search books and highlighters are in basket. All pillows, clothes, blankets and empty gift bags (?) were put away.
The other reading area holds the sideways Kallax bookself with my to-be-read piles. I cleaned out the books I was not going to read, dusted everything, consolidated bookmarks into a basket with sticky notes, stored in the shelf. There is nothing on the surface, which makes it easy to dust.
Now when I go into my bedroom I can sit down and read, color, or go to bed without having to move things out of the way. The room feels more peaceful.
The Digital Layer
It is really true for me that “out of sight out of mind”. And digital stuff can pile up quickly because I don’t keep my eyes on it.
Yet every time I pick up my phone, iPad or open my computer I am assailed with all the digital clutter. I have spent too much time searching for apps or files because things are mixed in with all of the carp on my devices.
I have three tenets when dealing with digital clutter:
- Just because it doesn’t take physical space doesn’t mean I should keep it
- Everything should be filed with related items
- Everything on my devices needs to serve a purpose.
A few months ago I cleaned out my Kindle library. I went from nearly 400 books down to less than 200. All of those books removed were ones that I had read and would never read again. It did mean I had to regenerate my Kindle Inventory, but that was much faster.
I have a “to file” folder on my computer that I move things from the various file sharing apps like Dropbox and Google Drive. The contents of this gets evaluated and filed every Friday. I have a minimal filing structure that corresponds to active projects or areas of my life. I also removed many labels from my Gmail and have been really diligent about cleaning out my inbox.
I have gone through my phone and iPad and deleted all apps that I don’t use. This includes most games, several writing/note taking apps, and a bunch of software I downloaded in order to try out.
I am also in the process of revamping my phone screens to work with my focus groups. That is the subject of a future article as I am trying to come up with a repeatable method. Also on the slate for this year is cleaning out my password manager and my photos.
I wouldn’t have thought that cleaning up my digital space would make much of a difference, but I am able to find things much faster, and it makes me less likely to put things off.
The Mental Layer
My mind is not a place I ever thought about cleaning up. It’s full of rabbit holes, random trivia, and a pile of trauma that likes to peek out from time to time (working on that with a licensed professional).
My mind is also prone to remember things randomly, particularly at times when I can do nothing about it. I have practiced what David Allen calls “mind like water” to the best of my ability since I read Getting Things Done*. That means that everything of importance comes out of my mind and is put into a trusted system.
As part of my end of the year review, I also venture into my mind to examine things that need further attention, regrets (either for things done or not done) and the things that my mind is telling me I should do. For each of these items, I do a deep dive. Does the item really need further attention, or is it my perfectionism rearing? If there is a regret for something I have done, do I need to make an apology? If it is something I haven’t done, can I do it now? And should is a warning word for me – should generally indicates and expectation someone has placed on me. I need to look whether doing it is actually warranted.
My morning routine plays into this decluttering as well. I free write 750 words every morning, and I find that a lot of the clutter comes out during that time.
I find that even though I spend a lot of time in my head, getting rid of the “stuff” there is the hardest of the three layers.
My Maintenance Routines
If I don’t stay on top of all three layers, things pile up at alarming rates. I rely on daily, weekly and monthly maintenance routines to keep these in shape.
Daily
- Clean off all counters, the kitchen table and my desk
- Clear out my inbox and send things to my task lists as needed
- Write 750 words to dump what is in my brain
Weekly
- Declutter one small area (drawer, shelf or surface) that needs attention
- Pull everything from the file sharing apps and evaluate it for long-term filing on my computer
- Review the week to look for undone tasks and regrets
Monthly
During my monthly planning, I review all of the systems I have as well as taking a walk around my house. I look for things that are working well, as well as things that are not working. This allows me to adjust for the next month.
In Conclusion
By having these routines in place, my environment supports me in what I want to do, rather than getting in my way. By including the invisible digital and mental realms, I find that I get much less distracted as I move through life. It’s all about supporting the life I want, not letting the stuff get in the way.
I encourage you to try this three layer approach out. Start small – one box, bag, drawer, or shelf – and see if you find it easier to do what you intend.
