We can often suffer from depleted energy and focus, and have increased anxiety because of clutter. Those nagging thoughts in our head of the things that need to be done or dealt with are an unhealthy mess both around us and within us. Mess and clutter steals our peace, energy and focus and drains us.
God knows clutter weighs and slows us down and encourages us continually in his word to lay aside, cast off and let go of our messes and internal and physical clutter. Jesus came to set us free and says for us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, so that we can run our race with passion and determination. That sounds like decluttering to me. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
A helpful tip to declutter and clean up our mess is firstly to formulate a decluttering plan.
1. Make a list – Writing down all the clutter and mess we want to clear brings clarity and reveals what we are facing, what needs to be done and helps to unravel the mess in our heads and hearts. If its physical clutter then go through your house room by room and itimise everything that needs to be sorted, cleaned up and thrown away or put in its place. If it’s internal clutter regarding things we need to attend to in our inner life still write a list of what is nagging on your heart and mind. Get it on paper so you can see what needs to be dealt with, brought to God, and acted upon.
2. Schedule: Allocate a time to begin sorting out the mess and clutter. There is no better time than today…so “seize the day”.
3. Set the timer for 20 minutes: Many success and management coaches recommend setting aside 20 minutes to start attacking clutter. Just 20 minutes will get you started and keep you motivated. See how much you can get done in 20 minutes.
Stay focused on one room and make it the one you spend the most time in. Allocate 20 minutes today, and again tomorrow and keep decluttering until you feel good about that space. Its recommended to start with a surface such a bench top, floor etc. that’s visible to the eye so you can see that you are making progress.
Don’t look at the hour you don’t have, look at the 20 minutes you do have. 20 minutes over a month equals 10 hours, so what could you achieve in 10 hours this month?
Mess steals our peace and nags at us. It can cause us to feel annoyed, incomplete, embarrassed and even anxious. It also can limit and prevent us from moving forward into all that God has for us. Today I encourage you to make a list, schedule a time, set the timer for 20 minutes and get decluttering today. You can do it!
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)
“Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:2-2 TLB)
Prayer: Lord thank you for the amazing life you have planned for me. Please help me to sort through and set in order both my physical and internal clutter with your help. I can do all things because you give me strength. I’m finding 20 minutes to begin today. In Jesus name Amen