De-Clutter Your Life

Spring is here! The bare trees and snow covered lawns from the winter have come to life once again. Birds are chirping and flowers are blooming, while warmth embraces the air. As nature comes to life, we get this energetic spark to do some spring cleaning. Many of us will be thoroughly cleaning our homes, de-ncluttering, and even redecorating. When you spring clean your environment, everything feels renewed. You can tackle the new year with a fresh perspective. I firmly believe that your environment contributes to how you feel. It is a reflection of you in many ways. It should reflect colors, pictures, and items that make you feel good. Anything that contributes to negative thoughts or situations should be thrown away.

What does your environment tell you about yourself?
How do you feel when you look around?
What would you like to change, if anything?

Procrastination, indecision, and avoidance contribute to how you feel and can add to mental stress. Changing your thoughts and behaviors, and adding activities into your life that make you feel good will help de-clutter your life and mind.

So are you ready to tackle some spring cleaning? Remember, you can complete any task, one step at a time. Here are some suggestions to help you get started:nn * Assign a different task for each day of the week- Dedicaten one hour a day to complete each task.
* Use good tools and supplies- You want to get the job done n effectively and efficiently.
* Take your de-cluttering seriously- Anything you have not used,n worn, or needed in quite some time, get rid of it. Make room n for bigger and better things in your life!
* Donate or sell items that are in good condition- Not only are n you clearing some space in your own life, you are helping n others as well.
* Make it fun- Play music, involve friends and family, or treat n yourself to something special afterwards.
* Eliminate distractions- Unless it is an emergency, let your n phone go to voicemail.
* Open the windows- Let the fresh air and the sunshine in!

You can de-clutter your entire home, but it is the "mental clutter" that holds you back from moving forward in life. It is difficult to move forward when you are constantly being pulled back to the past by your thoughts. There are regrets, resentments, fears, and those negative voices, attributing to your limiting beliefs. So how do you begin to throw away the "mental clutter"?

It is important to recognize that your "mental clutter" has served a purpose for you, even if you are not sure what that purpose is just yet. Make a list of all the negative thoughts/nsituations that are cluttering your mind. Think about why you are holding on to this stuff. What is the significance? Where in your life are those thoughts holding you back? How are they helping you? How do you think you will feel if you let them go?

Letting go is not easy. It takes time and patience. This also doesn't mean that your negative thoughts will suddenly disappear. With practice, they become quieter because you stop nallowing them to take over your life. Instead of expending energy on the things you cannot change and the situations of the past, take that enery and put it to use in the present.

"Letting go is not to forget, but to forgive yourself and othersn so you can live without regret"