Making Clutter Decisions – Swing, Batter!

The Paper Tiger lady, Barbara Hemphill, wrote, “Clutter is postponed decisions.”  That is a profound four word sentence that sums up the reason clutter happens. Does that statement resonate with you as it does for me? These are decisions that I struggle with that – left unanswered – clutter up my life and the surfaces in my home / office!

• How should I answer that email?
• What is the best place to keep this so I can find it again?
• Where can I put this so I will not forget to RSVP?
• Which of these projects should I work on first?
• Should I mail this now or wait?
• Who can I give this to who might appreciate it or actually use it?

The pile of things to do grows each time I don’t make a decision on how to deal with that item, email, or piece of paper. That is clutter, the result of my postponed decisions. In addition to physical clutter, my brain sends messages reminding me of those things still to take care of , producing mental clutter!

It helps to envision myself as a baseball player up to bat. The ball (a decision to make) comes my way. I can choose to do something with that pitch or let it go by for “ball one.”

The team manager (me again) reminds me that I get three strikes before I am OUT. I encourage myself to take a stab at the next ball (decision.) I may connect the first time. I tell myself to do it NOW!

I may make a few mistakes. I may flub a few decisions the first time. But I  learn more from the mistakes than from making no decisions at all. The best part is – the piles of clutter are disappearing little by little. Hooray!