Too Much Stuff
“Fifty lemons are a load for one person, but for fifty persons they are perfume.” – Ethiopian Proverb
I know a woman who caries a basket of lemons on her head every day.
Do you know what these lemons are that fills her basket?
I will tell you.
Her lemons are ‘stuff’ that she does not need. Her lemons are also projects, or ‘things to do’ from her endless list. Not only that, they are also thoughts and feelings that weigh her down day after day.
Table of Contents
Do you ever feel burdened like this woman? Is your stuff preventing you from having a peaceful, organized life? The woman, like you, may be smiling or getting by, but deep in her heart she would like a better life. A lighter life.
If you feel like this woman, I can help you begin to sort out your life, and give you a sense of freedom. So keep reading, my friend.
The Mores and Lesses of Life
Most people want more out of life, from grand goals to everyday wishes. In order to get more, though, we need less. We need to clear some room. We must get rid of the unnecessary ‘stuff’ that is holding us back, blocking the way forward.
The Mores
Let’s consider the Mores. Think about what you desire more of in your life. Here is a list of possibilities.
Time with family
Entertainment
Travel
Personal time
Experiences with nature
Freedom from stress and anxiety
Peace of mind
Giving to others
Money in savings account
Meditation
Positive thoughts
Adventure
Creative pursuits
What do you want more of?
The Lesses
Now consider the Lesses – the things you want less of. Things that block the door to your best life.
Here are some suggestions:
Multitasking
Spending money on things I don’t really need
Spending too much for necessities
Anxiety and worry
Conflict in relationships
Anger & frustration
Bills and debt
Household stuff that is crowding my home
Go ahead and make your own list.
Lighten Your Life with Personal Minimalism
Look at your lists. Do you see how some of the items on your two lists kind of fit together?
For example, the fewer gadgets you own, the less annoyance and frustration you will have when they stop working correctly; and you will gain more time and storage room in your home.
The less stuff you bring into the house, the less time you need for storing them, organizing them and maintaining them. You will gain some beautiful space. And you will also retain more money in the bank.
Of course it is not the easiest thing in the world to let go of stuff either in your house or in your head, but it can be done. Have you ever de-cluttered a cupboard or a drawer or two and got that great feeling of accomplishment and lightness?
What if you de-cluttered your whole life? This is called ‘personal minimalism’. Yes, you can create your own brand of minimalism; learn more about it by following the link.
THE BASICS OF DE-CLUTTERING
Following is a 3-step springboard to begin de-cluttering your life.
STEP #1: SELF-EVALUATION
Let’s embark with a self-evaluation.
Review your personal and family goals
You may decide to re-set them as you contemplate them. As the Declaration of Independence states “we are endowed by our Creator with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Of course, happiness varies with each person. What are your happiness goals? How do your goals reflect your values?
Mull over your lifestyle
Consider your daily, monthly, and yearly routines. What changes do you dream of making in your schedule?
Contemplate your physical stuff
What kinds of stuff do you own? How do you manage it? How would you change your stuff? Your excess stuff could be holding you back from the life you dream of!
Think about your brain
Is you mind overly full of stuff too? What kind of stuff? Too many worries? Frustrations? Mental lists? Deadlines?
What do You Own and What Owns You?
Now think again about the material things you own. Do they add to your happiness? Maybe some of them do, but others not so much. And, of course, some things are past their prime but they are sticking around the house anyway – they’ve clearly overstayed their welcome!
I am sure you are aware that our things begin to own us and not the other way around.
Here’s another thought: We have to pay for most of the stuff we bring home, of course. How many hours do you work at your job? Could you be working more than 40 hours a week just to maintain a lifestyle of big stuff and extra stuff?
STEP #2: ORGANIZE YOUR HOME & SCHEDULE
Clear your living space.
You are finally going to get rid of stuff that you don’t need.
Donate
Give clothes and books, even furniture to an organization that will resell them or give them to needy folks.
Hold a tag sale
You could even make your tag sale into a fund-raising event for your favorite organization or charity. Or use the cash you make to purchase some storage equipment for the items that you must keep. For example, invest in sturdy filing cabinets or filing containers, and bookcases.
Give
Gift unwanted items to family or friends if you think they would be delighted to have them.
Trash
Discard the things that have no useful purpose, are broken or worn out. Don’t belabor the decision too long. You will thank yourself for it in the end.
Go here for my complete Guide for De-Cluttering your Home
The Endless To-Do List
Just as important as getting your possessions and storage in order is to remove the chaos from your daily and weekly schedule. It is painful to constantly know you cannot realistically finish all you have to do! You can be done with cramming activities into your days.
Yes, you can get out from under that avalanche of tasks! Here are a few common-sense actions you can take:
Do a time study of your typical day and typical week. Describe every hour of your day in real time. Carry your time study with you and write down just what you do. This is the only way to get an accurate picture of where your time goes.
The time study will help you spot any time-wasting activities such as poring over emails, browsing social media and internet searches, watching TV or internet videos, doing time-sucking errands, and just completing tasks more slowly than you should.
Employ a calendar to schedule not just appointments and meetings, but personal projects, self-time, and family dates. Don’t over-schedule! Practice saying “no” to others and to yourself!
Find ways to squeeze tasks into odd moments. You can write in your journal or make a shopping list while you wait in the dentist’s office, for example.
Use a timer to pace your mundane tasks, helping you to finish them quickly!
Remember all those lemons? As you can see from my suggestions, many of your lemons (stuff) can be given to others in different ways; also, you can delegate tasks to family members or pay for help to run errands or deliver your groceries, and so on.
After your home and schedule is in order, I am sure you will feel great! You will be able to take one of those deep cleansing breaths and feel some peace settle all around you, at least for a little while; because you will want to go forward to the next step, which is:
STEP #3: ORGANIZE YOUR MIND
Yes, you will feel some peace when you clear your living space and simplify your daily schedule, but what about all the lingering thoughts that circle in your mind:
Mental to-do list
Worries
Angry thoughts
Thoughts of frustration
Etc.
Even positive thoughts such as goals and problem solving can be excessive and burdensome.
Too many thoughts can weigh you down and keep you from enjoying life.
There are several methods for clearing your mind of this jumble:
Do a brain dump
Write in a journal daily
Make a reasonable to-do list
Meditate to empty your mind regularly
Pray
Get to the bottom of swirling thoughts by logically evaluating any problem big or small. Seek a person who can help you through this process, if necessary.
Take Action on your Stuff
Does reading this post make you fell a bit lighter? A bit better? Don’t be fooled, though. Just making a wishful plan to organize your life is not the same as completing the steps. If you don’t commit to taking regular action, you will stay in your rut. You will be the woman or man carrying that basket of stuff on your head day after day after day.
But you and I CAN take action. We can truly have a life that is lighter than air!
(images from Freepik)
