The continuing cleaning process…

I’ve been working on cleaning my office for a while, but today I really need to get it done. We’re planning to paint my office on the weekend, so I need to empty out all the extra stuff. We’ve lived here almost two years, and my office has been the catch-all for things without a home. There are still unpacked boxes in here, and I’ve found everything from a shower curtain liner to a hammer to a box of cookies while cleaning. I’m trying to be as thorough as possible now so that I don’t have to more sorting after the painting.

I’m working on filing paper as I find it, and creating new files as necessary. I’m also recycling and shredding paper, but most significantly, I’m trying to be proactive and avoid bringing paper in to the house, and in to my office. For example, at our last visit to the health unit, I turned down their brochures on child development because I know I can get all that information off their web site.

Cleaning and organizing my office is also becoming a lesson in untangling all the different parts of my life. My office needs to have defined spaces for my responsibilities as a student, a researcher, a entrepreneur, a volunteer, and a board member. It also has to accommodate looking after our personal financial records, health care information, and personal papers. That’s places a lot of demand on one person, me, and one space.

Hopefully the process of cleaning, painting, adding appropriate shelving, organizing, and decorating the space to reflect me, will bring both an inner and outer sense of order. My office should be energizing yet relaxing, organized and efficient, and reflective of what matters to me. That way I’ll enjoy working here, and I’ll be more effective in all my responsibilities.

Another good reason to declutter….

I believe that if you want something in your life, there has to be space for it.  Of course, there has to be physical space for it, but there also has to be space in your schedule and space in your mind and your heart for it.  I’m realizing this on a number of levels right now.

For example, I’m working to start a new business: Life’s Learning. I’m creating a physical space for the business in my office by clearing off shelves and a desk. I’m also shredding and recycling paper from projects that are finished so they don’t take time, energy and space away from this new focus. I’m clearing space in my schedule by setting aside time for my business and making decisions about which activities in my life are most important. But, just as importantly, I’m making a space in my heart and my mind by letting go off ideas about myself that aren’t conducive to starting my business, and by opening myself up to new experiences and opportunities.  I think the process of clearing a physical space can help me to symbolically clear the space in my life.  In the same way that cleaning and organizing my physical space can help to me to clean and organize my thoughts and feelings.