When searching for truth and wisdom, many seek to study with sages. Some will seek solitude and contemplate the universe. I, on the other hand, am likely to just twist open a bottle of a Diet Peach Snapple. Under each bottle cap is a “Real Fact”. I find them interesting.
Recently, I chanced upon “Real Fact” #326 which reads, “On average, you’ll spend a year of your life looking for misplaced objects.”
I can see the element of truth in this statement. Yes, I spend far too much time looking for stuff that I know I’ve left somewhere in the vast piles of my stuff. I am certain that it’s somewhere within the house or office, but its exact location is not readily recalled.
Spending over 1% of my life just looking for stuff that I’ve misplaced does not bring me joy. It’s annoying. Therefore, I’ve been considering ways to reclaim this wasted 1% of my remaining years.
It’s time to initiate my personal War on Clutter. And what better time to commence than during the season of Spring. Maybe I’ll call it my Clutter Cleanse.
I’m thinking that if I have significantly less stuff, my remaining stuff will find it harder to hide and I will spend less time locating what I need.
I did some online research. There are hundreds of books, blogs, videos and articles on how to declutter your home, your workspace and your life.
Let me summarize what I learned. It’s really not that complicated. Just start getting rid of your stuff. With each item decide to:
- Share it – Give it away to charities or other people;
- Dump it – Throw it away; or
- Commit to it – Keep it but only if you will use it or cherish it.
It’s simple. Give it a try. You will be glad you did.
As I surfed for info on decluttering, I came upon the practice of “dostadning”. This is the Swedish word for Death Cleaning. This is the practice of folks cleaning up and decluttering their homes before they die. Essentially the idea is that you get rid of much of your stuff and organize the rest in order that your remaining loved ones won’t have to. If you start this process way before you begin your final decline, you may benefit from many years of a non-cluttered and healthier life.
By eliminating unnecessary stuff, I will create new space. The question is how I will fill this space? Will it be with things that bring meaning and joy to me? Or instead of just things, will I fill my days with enriching connections and experiences? My intention for this Clutter Cleanse is to promote positive personal change.
So I must close now and begin decluttering. I believe that this action will foster even more peace and joy in my life. And hopefully, I’ll find a couple more of those missing receipts before I file my taxes in a couple of weeks. I know I left them around here somewhere…
