Too Much To Do!

Yesterday read an article “Too much stuff” from Elizabeth Fenner. The reasons why we accumulate stuff and have a hard time eliminating it very much resemble reasons why we accumulate tasks on our To-Do list and why we feel stressed about saying no. So, let’s see how we can take the six lessons from dealing with physical clutter and apply them to handling all those SHOULDs.

#1 - We often feel guilty to give away something we received from others. Suggestion is to keep giving and find people who may want it more than us. Well, you can do the same with all those opportunities people tell you to go and check out (they really mean well, you know) Think of who may be interested in the information or suggestion that came your way. Replace your guilty feeling with generosity and caring.

#2 - As we are just about to say goodbye, we may hear that voice in your head “I may need it one day“. Elimination process caries a sense of loss in it, so instead of thinking about what we want to throw away, we can choose what we want to keep. With the tasks and worries that are spinning around your head, just pick the ones you really want to deal with right now and give yourself permission to focus on those. Let the important stuff bubble up. The rest can wait.

#3 - We may wonder about the potential value of certain possessions, which makes us hold on to them just in case. The solution is to get real by asking an expert. You may feel like many of the tasks you have your hands on a work have a big future potential for your next promotion. But how can you know? Get a mentor who will help you sort out where you can really create an impact and where you should negotiate your involvement.

#4 - While we may have a good intention with keeping things in sight, soon enough we put clutter on top of clutter. The remedy is to find a specific place for everything. Similarly, if you are keeping everything in your head, the chances are the important stuff gets mixed up with the rest. Put your planned action on your calendar to see it when it’s time to see it. You’ll also be more realistic about what you can get done in one day.

#5 - Giving things away may be difficult, because we want them to find a home where they’ll be appreciated. In terms of tasks, this is all about delegating. We often keep things on our list, because we are afraid other people would not do it the “right” way. But to have time and space for what’s truly important to us, we have to find a way to engage others and look for help. BTW, you can make people feel trustworthy and capable when you ask them to give you a hand.

#6 - When the whole house is cluttered, we may be unsure what to do, because it’s just too much to handle. Similarly, when the pressure of all the obligations is reaching the boiling point, it’s tough to sort it all out. The trick is to start small. The same way as you would choose to clean just a small area in your house, do something small with your tasks. Make a plan for today and stick to it. Or pick one thing you’ve been avoiding and commit to it for 30 minutes.

Out with clutter, in with space for what really matters to us and to people around.