How to Clear the clutter

Knowing how to clear the clutter you'd think is a given. A basic requisite for starting your business or keeping the business running efficiently. The prime purpose would be to have a clear focus on the important matter. Business is business and ridding your work environment of clutter to start of your working day is important, as important as all the other processes you tackle in any working day.

Most of us feel a bit overwhelmed by the physical environments in our lives. In this context, clutter is anything that takes attention away from your core tasks. 

How to clear the clutter when starting your business day makes it easier to focus on all the issues needing to be addressed. It seems a small point but the thing is when you have many things going on all day a clutter free space makes it just that little bit better. 

Clearing the clutter helps you have a clearer vision of your core tasks. 

As a bonus, it has been my experience, a clutter-free space helps to have a healthy body as well. Your physical environment should be clutter-free to keep your mental health balanced. Saves stress looking for that file or note. Learn how to clear the clutter.

Mental clutterGet rid of the clutter and get organized. Get rid of the stress. Relax.

It’s difficult to focus when there are so many distractions in your workspace. This includes papers, files, books, food, and coffee cups scattered across your desk and in some incidences, the floor. 

There’s also comfort; you won’t be able to totally focus if there are no comfortable seating arrangements. Make sure you have a comfortable, clean chair and desk to work from as a prerequisite.


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How to clear the clutter by considering your privacy

laptop in officePrivacy is something to search out and guard it.

Another factor to consider is privacy; it’s harder to focus and complete tasks when others can see what you’re working on or reading on your screen. 

To stay focused, it’s best to clear the clutter and create a clean, quiet work area so you can focus on the task at hand without distraction.

How to clear the clutter on you computer

How to clear the clutter? Start with your computer screen clutter.Digital clutter can often distract you from your task.

Clutter on your computer screen. Digital clutter can often distract you from your task. 

Turn off notifications to give yourself a better chance to achieve greater productivity.

For example, it is easy to understand that someone who works on computers might clear the screen clutter before working. 

Alternatively, someone who works with pen and paper should clean the clutter on their desk before writing an article for his blog or a chapter of his masterpiece. 

Both scenarios distract people from their original purpose because they need to clear it all from their workspace before they can begin. 

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Stay focussed

It makes sense to stay focused while writing. You need to first clear papers off your desk so you don’t lose track of what you’re doing. 

Sticking with this example means writing and being focused on your work rather than the clutter on your desk. 

How to clear the clutter? Stay focused on the task.Stay focused on the task.

Get the clutter off the desk first.

It’s not rocket science. It’s just preparation. Sure you are going to have clutter, but being aware of it and fixing the issue goes a long way to you completing any task linked to your goal of starting your business day.

When you have completed a task, clear away everything from your finished project before starting another. This is good practice.

My desk? I wish. No, my desk is clear but not this clear of clutter.This is probably a little sparse but at the end of the day when you clear the clutter and file digitally, this is all you need.

Without having a clear focus, being clutter-free, and feeling comfortable in your chair at a clean desk it’s harder to complete your tasks effectively and achieve your goals. Sure, it takes a little time and effort, but it is time and effort well spent.

 Clutter is distracting

Clutter distracts you from the original purpose of your work. 

As I mentioned before, someone who works on computers should clear up the digital clutter before starting a new task.

Power cables can be an occupational hazard. Clean them up.Seriously?

The work environment

Look at your workspace. Look around you. If you have bare floors, it may be hazardous and downright dangerous, with electrical clutter like extension cords, electrical boards and power sources lying around. Clear these dangerous things as a matter of urgency. 

Think about your work environment with no plants or decorations. This small thing can make your workers feel sterile. Give your staff the same ideal workspace as you. Give them a clutter-free visually aesthetic office space. A few plants, paintings and ornaments could do the trick.

A clean clutter-free space can have a great impact on productivity.Clean subtle colors and a few plants can make all the difference.

How to clear the clutter is an issue that is fixable by simply being aware of it. It can surreptitiously have a great impact on productivity. Who doesn’t want more superior productivity?

If you can’t see the forest for the trees, it might be a good idea to pay someone to clean your workspace every night to give you a fresh start in the morning.

Make sure you clean your office every day before you leave.Well, maybe not child labour!!!!

If STUFF is not used within a year - BIN IT

I defined clutter as an excessive accumulation of stuff not needed. 

Clutter can be both physical and digital. Physical clutter is visible digital clutter, something hidden behind your screens. Be aware.

There are many reasons you accumulate clutter.

Not knowing how to clear the clutter - no time to cope with your stuff is the issue. The simple solution is to have a storage bin or cupboard well organized to keep your stuff. The thing about stuff or the excess clutter is, you don’t need it. If it’s out of sight stored neatly in a cupboard and you have not used it or thought of it after a year, it’s a good bet you do not need it. Bin it. Make your life simpler.

If your issue is the common misnomer of thinking, you might need it later, so it lays around on the desk. Well, it does not happen like that.

I know the deal.

Everything is if it’s on your desk in dedicated piles of stuff. You can put your hand on it straight away.

How do I know? Because I’ve just described how I used to be.

Who needs an office anyway

It took an outsider to come in and shake up the place. It was the best thing ever. Now I have a virtually paperless office space. Not only where, I can locate to anywhere I want, like the local cafe, airport lounge, holiday rental, even the beach bar. As long as I have an internet connection, I have a virtual office. A clutter free office because everything is filed on my laptop and iPad. Rarely do I have paper or junk around. I have a wireless printer if needed but most delivery is by email or txt. 

Who needs an office, really?

Working off-site can often free you up from noise clutter. Great productivity hack.Getting out and working in a different environment is sometimes a great creative diversion. Who needs an office?

A good filing system is a must and a good filling system discipline. It’s your call. Build it yourself. Easy to do and it can be totally secure only you know the code or password.

Whatever the reason, there are ways to deal with it and clear the clutter.

Plan your assault on clutter

How to clear the clutter.

The 3 steps to get you started.

First, you need to be aware of it and you have to want to do it.

Second, have a plan and process to deal with it.

Third, make it a habit. Before you start, clear the clutter.

What about the mind clutter?

Declutter your mind. What about the mind clutter? You need to purge unnecessary thoughts and focus on what is important at the moment.

Headspace clutter

Clutter can not only take up valuable space on our desks and computer or laptop, but also in our brain and mind. Thoughts of things you don’t need to think about.

To help in this area, try to understand and practice mindfulness.

Research well-being and mindfulness centers in your neighbourhood. See what is available.

Research meditation. This is a valuable attribute to take with you for the rest of your life. I will have more to say about this on another page.

Meditating to un-clutter your mind works wonders. If you haven't tried it get to it.Clear the clutter in your mind. Meditation is a wonderful strategy.

Doing a meditation course or a yoga session is well worth the investment and a tremendous help. Not only for your own well-being to cope with the stress of starting your own business, but to help the business productivity as well and clear the clutter from your mind. 

A lesser-known mind-clearing process is morning pages. I do this every morning. This is the best free exercise to purge your mind you can do. Click here to learn more about it.

I wrote a book about clutter for a mentoring student years ago. I think it is still around on Kindle. How To Reduce Clutter, by Max Dymon.

Summary

Identify your clutter issues.

Office and digital clutter is clutter.

Make a goal to do something about it.

Creating a paperless office is a worthwhile.

Set down a goal to increase productivity and get rid of the clutter once and for all.

Research meditation for the mind clutter.

Try morning pages to make massive steps forward in clearing your mind before you start any work every day. This is life changing.

Take it a step at a time.

You can do it.

Experience isn't the best teacher, it's the only teacher

Focus on the process the results will take care of themselves.

Confidence comes from experience