I had so much to say about spring cleaning and decluttering that I thought it would be a four-part series. But no. My notion of ‘Tiny Tidying’ needed to be a tiny article too.
You may have heard me describe myself as the ‘lower the bar’ coach. Often, we expect too much from ourselves, and this gets in the way of even getting started. Writing a book is a massive project. Producing a body of artwork for sale has many, complex components. It’s easy to talk ourselves out of it at any phase of the process – and this is the same for keeping our spaces clean and clear.
If you would love a new approach to spring cleaning and decluttering, Tiny Tidying may be for you.
These ideas are based on my experience. Try them, see what works for you. Adopt and adapt.
Why bother decluttering?
Why not just live with dust and clutter? My surroundings have a big impact on my well-being.
Notice the impact of dirt or clutter. How does dust everywhere contribute to who you are and what you want? For me, the dust contributes to dry eyes and a feeling of staleness. It detracts from my value of beauty. It degrades my well-being and sense of love.
In coaching lingo, things that bother us but stick around are called ‘tolerations’. I tolerated an over-full, cluttered utensil drawer. I tolerated a giant, messy stack of printed recipes. I tolerated an out-of-control lid drawer. Every time I pass a dusty surface, I’m ‘pinged’ internally to do something. Talk about distracting!
Tidying, cleaning, and decluttering makes a perceptible difference. Notice what shifts in your space and in you. I feel freedom, peace, and space for creating.
What gets in the way of decluttering?
Cleaning is hard (for me) because I would rather do other things. Decluttering is hard because of all the decisions we have to make. Choose one deciding factor to guide you. Consider that ones you have used in the past may be outdated. (This might be useful someday. I may fit into this again. This might be valuable.)
Deciding factors could include: Have I used this in the last 5 years? How much do I really care about this? Does ‘keep it just in case’ really serve me now?
Our identity is closely connected with our belongings. Clearing things out causes us to face who we were, who we are now, and who we want to be. Be kind when clearing away ‘stuff’.
Our stuff reveals us. What am I not able or willing to let go of? For me, I cannot let go of hundreds of journals and sketchbooks. I admire those who burn or destroy old journals. I can’t do it yet, and maybe never.
How to Tiny Tidy
Tiny tidying = do one small thing, 5-15 minutes max.
Tiny = low bar, low expectations, low pain, low resistance. Dare you make it easy?
My favorite tiny tidying = cleaning the bathroom one piece at a time. Mirror, vanity, floor, toilet, all in tiny increments.
Tiny tidying can be done throughout the day when you need a break from sitting at the computer. Or one tiny tidy after you get home from work or at any break point in the day.
Stop as soon as you feel tired, overwhelmed, or ‘done’. Make a plan to finish if you need to go back to it.
What comes up for you when you read about Tiny Tidying?
I bet there are objections and resistance. That’s okay. Try one tiny thing and see what happens for you.
Tiny tidying is what I have been doing for years, Cynthia. Doing it this way only takes a few minutes and you actually complete something. A great feeling! Thanks!
I love that you share this practice, Tim! I love it much better than spending hours at a time doing something!
Thanks Cynthia! This has always worked for me!
When I’m going to do a watercolor painting, my first task is to get everything out that I will need! I fill the water containers and wet the paint! That’s usually enough to set my intention! Then my unconscious takes over and when I’m ready (which might be the next day) I wet my paints again and begin to paint!
Thanks for reminding me!
Hi Mo!
I love how you apply this to your art practice. So smart and a gentle way to ease into the creative flow.
Thanks for sharing; great to hear from you.