But de-cluttering can apply to many aspects of life, and the results can be life changing!

• Tidying up your environment at home/work
• Clear your mind
• De-clutter to-do lists and daily expectations
• Organise food & bathroom storage

When Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was published in 2014 it was hungrily devoured by all, seeking to feel its organisational benefits.

To date she has sold 11 million copies and been translated into 40 languages. That's a lot of people wanting to feel the power of de-cluttering!

Marie’s book not only propounds the concept of a system of tidying that stays organised, but also the unexpected life-changing results this brings to other aspects of life.

When you create order around you it brings energy and inspiration.

Clutter in your environment on the other hand creates cluttered thinking, which drains our energy. It also causes many delays throughout the day as we sort through the mess to find what we need, which is exhausting!

We’ve all heard the saying “A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind”, and it’s true, we can’t think as clearly when we have distractions around us.

A clear space opens up clarity for vision and perspective, and increases productivity and creativity.

What made Marie’s method work so well? Her system was unique, because it created a long-lasting mindset.

She promotes tidying category-by-category rather than room-by-room, and storing things in a way that “sparks joy”, so you appreciate and care for your possessions. 

I tried her system a few years ago, and it really was life-changing for me.

I still have a few categories to fine tune in my home, but on the whole it’s stayed really clear and organised, which definitely sparks joy for me!

• Easier to keep clean and free of dust, which impacts health and energy.
• Creates breathing space.
• Saves time looking for things.
• Helps you work out what is important to you because you only keep what you need and love.
• Builds satisfaction and contentment for the things you already have.

Have you ever thought about the things you fill your mind with as being like clutter?

Often times when we are tired or stressed we “unwind” by scrolling through social media or watching TV.

But rather than clear our mind, this stimulates it and fills it with more clutter than before!

It takes discipline and organisation to clear your house and workspace of clutter, and it’s no different with your mind.

Make a conscious effort to switch off your phone and put it away when you are wanting to clear your mind, and see how different you feel!

Initially you may feel some anxiety, or feel “lost” without it, but the more you feel like this the more you will benefit from a regular digital detox.

Have you ever described your to-do list as being a “list of things as long as your arm”?
 
There are only so many hours in the day, so acknowledging we cannot do everything ensures we prioritise what is most important AND achievable.
 
Running a business myself, I can relate to this trap so well.
I have a never ending list of opportunities or things I can do, but if I don’t set boundaries on these expectations I know I will feel overwhelmed by it all and lose focus on what is truly important, resulting in not achieving the things I really need to first (and enjoying the journey!)

1. I like to do a brain-dump onto paper, writing down everything I need to get done. This avoids the 2am wake up where I suddenly think of something I’ve forgotten.
2. I then put that list in order of priority, either most important, or that process needs to start on earliest for the job to be completed.
3. I then allocate approximate times for each task to be completed.
4. If the times exceed what time I have in the day, I either move the tasks to the next day, streamline the scope to fit an achievable time goal or delegate what I can to get support.
5. I only keep the days tasks on my clipboard page so I am not distracted by the things to follow, or left feeling overwhelmed by everything adding up in front of me.

Keep your expectations focused and achievable by de-cluttering never ending lists and getting them organised and time-lined!

In Week 1 of our 2020 Blog I talked about the effect what we eat has on our energy.

How easy have you made it for yourself to be consistent in eating food that fuels and nourishes you?

I’ve created a storage system of glass jars in our pantry so I can easily see what I need to buy, and also so I have the foods I want to eat more of on display to inspire meal planning based around them.

I regularly clear out my pantry to ensure everything is being used and dates are fresh.

Doing this makes you think more about what you buy in the first place, and helps sort out what you keep regularly.

Those of you who have read my book will also know I keep some organised foundations for snacks and meals in my freezer for quick and easy ways to fuel my body with food that sustains my energy and boosts my health.

Clear everything out of your pantry.

• Clean shelves, check dates.
• Throw out anything past its date
• Get rid of junk food. (I recall seeing Michelle Bridges on TV once doing a pantry purge with a woman who was lamenting that it was a waste to throw out the chocolate, chips, biscuits and processed foods. And Michelle replied it was a waste of her health and life to be eating them! You’re less likely to restock them when you have a clear-out, so hopefully this is a once off exercise).
• Store the things you want to eat more of at eye level.
• Invest in some new storage jars to create systems that are efficient and allow you to see what you have easily.

The same principle can apply to your bathroom.

Products past their date can be unhealthy for your skin.

Keeping drawers and cabinets full of skincare products we don’t use creates overwhelm, and stops us seeing and using the things we really love.

• Put your favourite products onto a beautiful display tray where you can see them and be inspired to enjoy them daily.
• Go chemical-free and get rid of anything with chemicals so you are only left with organic and natural products to put on your skin.

REMOVE THE CLUTTER AND MAKE IT EASY TO SEE THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GREAT AND ARE MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE!

Naomi Whitfeld is the Founder of iKOU and author of the book "Energise your life".

Her passion for inspiring others to live a life of wellness & joy shines through in everything she does.

As an intuitive Aromatherapist, Naomi incorporates mind & body benefits into all she creates, believing we respond best when we treat as a 'whole".

Winner of the Telstra Business Women's Award for "Entrepreneur of the Year", Naomi has a particular interest in supporting busy women to enjoy rituals of self-care on a daily basis.