If a garbology expert came through your office or your home, what would he or she learn about you?  This specialist actually studies garbage and trash, with varying applications. Learning from this research can assist in many areas, ranging from archeological excavations to criminal investigations.

I recently had the responsibility of emptying the house of an elderly family relation, and it is safe to say that there were many inferences that could be drawn about the person from what had accumulated, even if one did not know the party involved.  The main point that jumped out at me was:

I can’t make a decision.  (You might need 5000 return address labels, utility bills from 1973, or 23 paper bags from fast-food restaurants.) 

We all have certain areas where we struggle to let go.  The problem develops when so much accumulates that you are paralyzed with getting started in making changes.  The more clutter you have, the harder it is to clear out, and thus even more clutter accumulates.

I have seen manifestations of this in many of the offices where I have worked.  Stacks of papers and miscellaneous objects can fill the office, but once systems are in place so that all papers and tasks are put away, the person feels in control and works to keep things that way.  (View some of our one-day Before and After sessions, picture yourself in those offices, and explore how you would be feeling.)

Most people thrive in an organized space.  If they do not have an organized office, they often berate themselves and vow to get organized “as soon as they have time.”  The trouble is that there is never enough time. 

Do not wait until you are sure you can do everything at once.  After all, that clutter or stacks did not build up in a day, or a week.  Just start with a small area.  Make a decision on everything in one drawer or shelf.  Do a little bit each day, or each week.  Ask the following questions:

• How recent is this information, or when was the last time I used this item?
• Can I picture myself needing or using this again?
• What is the worst possible thing that could happen if I got rid of this?

As you have more practice making the decisions that will help you control the clutter around you, it gets easier.  When new items come in, decide right away where they will go and avoid a future accumulation of clutter in your life.  Your space will be clearer, your mind will be clearer, stress will drop, your time management skills will be sharper, and your productivity will surge.