These days, we use each room in our home for multiple activities. Kids do homework at the kitchen table. We hop in bed with our laptops to get a little extra work done in a comfortable spot. We eat in the living room. We read in the bathroom.
Almost every client I’ve dealt with thus far has an issue with things piling up on their dining table, kitchen table, or nightstand. This tends to happen more with people who don’t regularly use their dining and kitchen tables for eating. If you use your table once or twice a day for meals, these surfaces are less likely to have piles of paper and stuff on them. If you don’t use the tables for meals, but have these pieces of furniture because you think you should, take a few minutes each day to keep the surface clear. Oh yeah – if you DO use it for meals, make sure to clear away the dishes (they can be clutter too…).
As for the nightstand – clutter in the bedroom can create stress and disturb your sleep. If any room should be calm, organized, and reflective of a sanctuary/haven/retreat – it should definitely be your bedroom. Keep only the essentials on your nightstand – a lamp, an alarm clock, a book, a journal. But get rid of dishes, bills, paperwork, and other clutter.
Day One: Consider: What kind of clutter do you have in your life?
Day Two: Clear the walkways in your home or office.
