Capitalize on your "Organizing" Energy!
Understanding how your personal energy works is the first step in becoming successful at organizing your space! It might sound odd and you may ask yourself “What about gathering supplies, or knowing what to keep...and what to get rid of?” But I promise you, knowing where your stamina levels are as you start decluttering is the most important part of any organizing session.
Knowing when you have the most energy to spare is key! Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you have long shifts at your job that makes doing things on weekday nights difficult? Taking a look at yourself and recognizing when the highs and lows of your effectiveness occur throughout the week will allow you to plan for a rewarding organizing session.
Why is your energy so important? Because if you have low pep, everything you do will feel like a chore. The organizing process can be exhausting both emotionally and physically. Attempting to begin that process when you do not have the energy to do it can lead to unnecessary frustration. It may become disheartening when you don't meet goals for your scheduled decluttering time which could prevent you from making the progress you are working towards. Conversely, if the enthusiasm and energy is high, you can get a lot more done in one session! You may look back and say “Wow! I can’t believe I got through all that stuff!” Small successes lead to larger wins, and this is the case where a snowball effect is a good thing! If you keep having exhausting organizing sessions you may want to stop the process entirely, but if you keep having supercharged sessions where you get lots done then you’ll feel encouraged to keep moving forward!
How do you Keep Your Energy up?
First, you will want to decide on starting your project when you know you have a good amount of pep-in-your-step. Be sure that you have had a good night’s rest the day before and that you have eaten food that will keep you going.
During your organizing session, you are going to want to keep the good times rolling! Do you like music? Throw on some tunes! Prefer silence? Turn on the Do Not Disturb setting on your phone, and let people know in advance when you will need "focus time". Create a space and environment where you can thrive. You will also want to make sure you stay hydrated throughout your sessions so keep a water bottle handy!
Listen to Your Body!
If you start feeling like your energy is flagging, stop! You don’t have to push yourself that extra mile or hunker down through the worst of it just to get that last shelf clean. If you lose your momentum it’s okay to take a break or stop for the day! You can always pick things up where you left off next time.
By keeping your stamina in mind while organizing your possessions, you can create a positive cycle in your life. The more energy you have, the more you get done, which leads to positive feelings about the project and more enthusiasm to expend towards it. Don’t let something that's actually within your control cause you to stumble (before you’ve even left the starting line)!