Tackling the Entrepreneurial Clutter: Clearing Your Surfaces and Your Mind
They say a cluttered desk is evidence of a cluttered mind but technically, this can also go the other way around. If your environment has gotten too disorganized, chances are that the lack of order is starting to go to your head. Many entrepreneurs will realize at some point that their desk has become a ‘hoarder’ pit of empty cups, random stacks of paperwork, and evidence of at least one recent meal. We’ve all been there. Clutter happens when work is at it’s best, when you’re handling everything and nothing can stop you, not even the need to clear up. The key is to prevent the clutter itself from becoming a lifestyle.
Cleaning When You’re Stressed
Entrepreneur stress is absolutely normal. In fact, you’d be an anomaly if you didn’t get stressed out. With no one to fall back on but yourself, every challenge and setback falls on your shoulders. Some days you’re totally pumped about that and sometimes it may seem harder than it should be. When the frustration or worry starts to mount, get up and jump around a little. This is your perfect opportunity to tidy up. While you go through the mental motions of clearing your head, take the time to clear your surfaces as well.
Cleaning Before Closing or First Thing in the Morning
The clutter doesn’t get nearly so bad if you take a little time every day to get rid of at least one layer of built-up dishes, spare computer parts, and underlying grime. Most people have trouble finding the right moment for a daily clean and for an entrepreneur, the best time is when you’re already not working at your optimal speed. If you like to wind down and get organized at the end of the day, try making part of your end-of-day ritual doing five to thirty minutes of cleaning so you can go to sleep and dream organized dreams. For those who need an hour or so to warm up to work in the morning, this is the perfect time for a little light manual labor to get your blood pumping and your brain in gear.
It’s Less Daunting in Stages
Whether you’re just looking at a day or two or soda cans or a hoarder’s nightmare of pizza boxes and spare parts, cleaning is always easiest if you work it one step at a time. No matter how daunting your entrepreneurial clutter has become, it can be cleaned.
Step 1: The Real Trash
Getting started isn’t hard, just grab a trash bag and pick an area, we suggest starting with your desk. First, identify any real trash that should have already been tossed. For this first wave, don’t worry about recycles or crushing things down, just get it in the bag. Old food, containers, fast food cups, soda cans, and any other disposables all go in the bag.
Step 2: Dishes
Next are things that should be in the kitchen instead of living on your desk. Real cups, plates, and silverware should be gathered, stacked up, then moved to the kitchen. Next, look for your bastion of spices. Most people who work at home have at least a salt-shaker and some have an entire spice cabinet stashed somewhere nearby. If it can be tidily organized, do so. Otherwise, move everything to the kitchen to be wiped down and reclaimed when you need it next.
Step 3: Work Bits
Chances are there are a significant number of little bits of paper and equipment scattered around your work area that either doesn’t have a home or have been in a ‘kinda using that’ place for too long. This is, admittedly, the hard part. During the final phase, it’s time to wipe down, wrap up, and box everything you’re not currently using. Just remember where you put the things for when you do need them later on.
Try going through the process and starting one morning with an (almost) perfectly clean desk. You might be surprised at how refreshed and clear-headed being free of the clutter makes you feel.
Whether you had two days or two weeks of clutter to clear, the challenge now is to remember to clear your desk every day to keep the clutter from returning in force. Being an entrepreneur is hard work, the trick is not to let the stress and tight-scheduling take over other important tasks like keeping your workspace clear and ready for use. When your office is organized, you may find that you have an easier time keeping your thoughts organized as well.
For more tips and tricks on how to be your own boss and manage the challenges unique to entrepreneurship, contact me! I’ve been where you are and can always lend an ear or offer a little friendly advice.
David Michael Gilbertson is the founder and president of 3 Elements Lifestyle, LLC., a Fitness and Weight Loss company that specializes in YOU!. With more than 15 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, David lectures, delivers seminars and gives workshops on the practical skills required to successfully help you with your health and fitness goals. David also helps you build the teamwork, management, and training necessary to open your own fitness center. For more information on Licensing and Consulting Services Visit his Web site at
www.3elementslifestyle.com
or email at daveg@3elementslifestyle.com
or call
(805) 499-3030.
