Don't live the same year 75 times and call it a life - Robin Sharma

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A clutter free home equals a clutter free life.

I'm currently updating my blog and a program about extreme hoarders is on the TV in the background.  I just had to share my thoughts on decluttering!

Why declutter?

Many people have written about the concept of "stuff" stagnating the home.  When we collect things in our homes that we do not use, we create a staleness which is reflected in our lives.  By clearing out things we do not use, we create space for new energy to enter our home.  I'm sure there is no scientific evidence to support this idea but I have found that whenever I have a clear out, something new and exciting enters my life.  For example, earlier this year when I was looking for a new job, I decided that I would try to have a huge clear out.  I got rid of shoes which I just knew I'd never wear, old books from university which I certainly didn't need any more and some hand-me-downs which I just felt guilty about getting rid of.  (In actual fact, taking a couple of bags to my local charity shop made me feel great not guilty.)  Sure enough a couple of days later, I received a call regarding a great opportunity!

In any event, by having an organised space, you are more likely to feel in control and have clarity of thought as there will very little around you to distract you.  Steve Jobs believed clutter equals stress and having a minimalistic space certainly worked well for him.

Here are some of my tips for clearing out:

1. Get rid of anything you have not used in the last 12 months and which can be replaced for less than £10.

2. There is no point holding onto clothes which you do not feel good in - not only are you unlikely to wear them, you probably shouldn't wear them anyway!

3. If you have notes or articles which you have kept for reference but which you rarely refer to, perhaps scan them into a cloud computing network or onto a disk.  That way you can save space and access the documents more easily.

4. Be ruthless with old makeup.  For example, mascara's over 6 months old can collect germs and cause eye infections - its just not worth holding onto to them!

5.  If you have clothes which you have kept for sentimental reasons, consider storing them in places that you do not use everyday.  That way, the space you use everyday will be more organised and only contain the things you need.

Book Review - The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I have just put down one of the most inspiring yet pragmatic books I have read in a while – and not only do I just have to blog about it, I have already recommended it to a number of my friends. 

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin documents the author's project to lead a happier life. Don't we all want that? Spending more time doing things you love? Being a better partner or parent? Worrying less about the future and dwelling less on the past?

The idea is to simply give thought to your true values – 12 of them to be precise. Then, focus on one of your values each month, building up your steps to living a happier life, whatever that means to you. For example, I had been thinking about ways to “give back” and had been pondering the idea of becoming a mentor for the Aspire Foundation. As soon as I put down the book I ran to my laptop and hit the send button on the draft application that had been sitting in my outbox for weeks. I am now mentoring and feel great about it! This is small step towards my goal to do more for others. Has it made me happier? Absolutely!

The book is packed with practical ideas to motivate you to simply be conscious of the things that make you happy. For example, creating an inspiration board to remind you of what you enjoy.  This reminds me of a theory which Robin Sharma often writes which is creating “flags” in your mind. He says “By writing your desires on a piece of paper, you send a red flag to your subconscious mind that these thoughts are far more important than the remaining 59,999 other ones. Your mind will start to seek out opportunities...”

The more you remind yourself of something, the more likely you are to be drawn to it. That is why this book will be kept on my bookshelf and dipped into again from time to time. Highly recommended!