The thought of decluttering can easily overwhelm us. The task seems so large that it can cause inaction. However, if we focus on one small section instead of focusing on the whole project, we have a better chance of moving forward.

I was reminded of this when I recently went to declutter the game shelf in our closet. It's not that we have so many games. It's that over time from a lot of use, that shelf had become disorganized. The chaos made it difficult to find something. I had been ignoring the shelf for a long time until one day I finally added "organize games" to my to-do list. That was the cue I needed to get this small space organized.

When the day came to organize the games, I emptied the shelf. Piles were made of games to keep, to toss, or to donate. The small items, like playing cards, were organized into a box. The keepers went back to the shelf in a more organized, visually appealing way. The compact area took less than twenty minutes to complete. It felt so satisfying to organize this small space.

What tiny space wants your attention?

January is the time of new beginnings and change. Status quo just doesn't cut it for this season. Not all changes are radical. Some of the most lasting ones are impreceptibly small.

This year one of my goals is to learn something new. So I signed up for a mindfulness training course. The class includes learning mindfulness meditation practices along with how to live more mindfully.

One of the first homework assignments was to eat a mindful meal. Instead of doing my normal chewing and swallowing while being interrupted by internal and external distractions, I was encouraged to focus on my meal, one moment at a time. I centered my attention on the textures, scents, tastes, sights, sound of my food. I noticed that I ate breakfast more slowly and enjoyed my eating experience more intensely.

Did my mind wander? It did. But staying true to the mindful practice, in a non-judgemental way, I gently focused back on being purposely present with my meal.

Where will your focus lead you this year?

Fall is one of the seasons where change is visible every day.  Each morning I look at the woods out back. I notice more leaves changing color or being released from the branches. Nature is preparing for next. It does this slowly by transforming the display and letting go of the excess. 

I respond to nature’s cue as my personal inspiration for change. What are the things, both physical and emotional that are weighing me down? What can I let go of? What will lighten my doing lists? What can be removed to ease life’s challenge of maintaining the stuff?

Soon I’ll make my seasonal clothing switch. That will give me an opportunity to let go of the pieces that no longer fit or won’t be worn. I happily imagine the full giveaway bags leaving my home.

It’s not just the physical things that need attention, there are the emotional stressors too, like the guilt over what I didn’t do, or what I should do. I’m working on letting go of the “shoulds" and focusing instead on the wants and possibilities.

As the seasonal changes nudge us to act, what possibilities are you noticing for you?

Summer is in full swing. I don’t know about you, but to me it feels like it’ll be over in a blink. July zoomed by. I’ve thought a lot about this season and looked forward to it feeling “lighter.” This is mostly because of a change in volunteer service. I went from being ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization) President to Immediate Past President. I’m still on the Board, but my time commitment is much less, meaning more free time. It’s fascinating how quickly calendars can be filled, if we’re not aware.

I’ve been trying to stay mindful of this newly found white space. For months I’ve been collecting ideas and possible things I’d like to do in my “Post Prez” folder. I’ll be candid with you. I’ve barely looked in the folder because I’m not ready to fill up the time with just anything. I’d like to first see what it feels like to have some more breathing space. Once I experience the deep exhales, I’ll revisit my folder. For now, I’m leaving space open for possibilities, for things I might need help with, and for space not to do.  What has your summer been about?

Distractions are a type of mind clutter. I had an interesting occurence recently, which made me think about this. For over three days, I experienced a tech glitch, which caused my email and ohsoorganized.com website to deactivate. I couldn't access my website or send and receive emails during that time. While I have other avenues for communicating, email is the one I depend on most frequently.

Some workarounds were put in place, so that people knew other ways to reach me. But, what I realized was how not having regular email access meant I had fewer distractions and less mind clutter. I wasn't aware of my dependency and distraction issues with email until it was gone. When I was "off," I found it much easier to focus on my priorities, practice mindfulness, and hear myself think. I had more clarity and less mind clutter.

This was a fascinating and unexpected experiment. I can see the benefit of setting some self-imposed "tech-less" holidays, even if it's only for a few hours a day. Do you have tech boundaries?

Recently I spoke with a friend about the New Year as a time for setting goals, enjoying the promise of a clean slate, and new opportunities. She shared that for her it’s not January, but September (the start of the school year) that is her beginning.  Planning and goal-setting happen in August so that she’s ready for the fall. I remembered that for my mom it was also that way. She would plan her teaching schedule and other activities during the summer because September marked the start of the school year.  This was also the case when our daughters were growing up. September was definitely a distinctly new beginning.

My point is that whether it’s January, September or another month, we can take opportunites throughout the year to stop, reflect, and decide about our future. So, if like me, you aren’t quite ready with your 2016 goals and plans, do not fret. You can create your new beginning at any point- today, tomorrow or next month.