Work-Life Balance, Part 3: Clutter fiends

You probably knew I was going to get back to clutter at some point. Though, I tend to think of clutter as more than just physical clutter clogging up a space. I see time clutter, emotional clutter, energy clutter, work clutter and more. Essentially, it’s the stuff that builds and has nowhere to go, dragging you down and keeping you stuck, like an anchor, in a situation, pattern or place. Not to sound too woo-woo, but clutter of any form can interrupt life flow, and consequently lead to work-life imbalances, leading me to my next tip:

Reduce the clutter…of any kind: Think about the different types of clutter feasting on your life. What interrupts your time with your family or friends the most? Where are the blockages? Any negative patterns you see? List five clutter fiends. Do you have your kids scheduled out from event to event turning chauffeur time into your only quality time together? Maybe it’s time to shed a class or two, and schedule a little downtime in the backyard. Are you preoccupied with a work problem and not truly “there” while with family or friends?  Talk about it and create a strategy for remedying the situation so you can open up mental space. Do you socialize with vampires who drain all your energy with their problems? It’s OK to take a break from energy-sucking friends and set boundaries to even the scales towards balance. Evaluate your clutter spots and look for ways to reduce, shed or lose them forever.