4 Easy Steps To De-clutter and Get Healthy
“Out with the old…in with the new.” I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase lot lately. Now, I’m not much of a resolution or list maker, but each year, I set intentions for my business and relationships. And like many people, I also think about my health goals. Did you know that clutter and your health are directly connected? Just like giving your home a good cleaning, you need to do the same for your body. If you're exhausted, hungry, stressed and over-worked, you won’t be able to focus on making money and serving others. If you're surrounded by piles of papers, clothes, or junk, you will feel like junk.
Clearing clutter creates space and new possibilities.
Clearing clutter gives you the ability to see what's serving you in your life and what's not. As you get clarity on what's working in your life, this insight makes it easy to make empowering decisions. You become choosy about how you spend your time and who you spend it with. With less stuff around, you'll have more time and the clarity to do the things that you want to do. My home office is a perfect example. I actually thrive with a bit of mess because I like to file things and check tasks off my list. As I put article clippings, cookbooks, and sticky notes of ideas in their proper place, I feel a satisfaction of getting order in my life. (Now, I just need to get my magazine addiction under control... but that’s a topic for another clutter story). When I organize and clean up, I feel better. I'm clear, focused, and light and ready to take on the world.
Here are 4 steps to de-clutter for your health:
1. Sleep
When you're tired, you tend to crave sugars, caffeine, and processed foods. It becomes a vicious cycle. You wake up exhausted, reach for the coffee and muffin, and then continue your day unfocused and unclear. Even before you attempt to de-clutter, make sure you're well-rested so you can make good decisions on what to keep or clear out. Strive for 7-8 hours of sleep each night and your body will thank you.
2. Eat every 3 hours
Keep your metabolism boosted and your mind sharp by eating on a regular basis. I know I have a bad habit of pounding away on the laptop for hours without taking a break. Try snacks like apple slices with nut butter, veggies with hummus, raw nuts and dried fruit. By keeping your body fueled during the day, you’ll be able to focus and have energy for work tasks and family obligations.
3. Connect
As an entrepreneur it can get pretty lonely and isolated, especially if you're behind the computer screen a lot. Reach out with a phone call, email, visit, or even an old-fashioned letter to someone who lights up your soul, makes you laugh, and supports you wholeheartedly. Even a short text can put a smile on your face and help you feel connected to the world and to people who love you. Feeling connected boosts energy and gives you a healthy heart.
4. Take action; get rid of something or put something away
You're tackling your business and family life, and those piles of clothes on the bedroom floor can send you into a panic. Just put away a few pairs of socks, and you will feel your energy lift. I promise. A while back, my closet was such a mess - shoes and purses, open suitcases, and clothes I never wore scattered everywhere. Energetically, every time I went to get something to wear, I said “Damn, I gotta clean up. What a mess.” Inside, it felt like chaos. The clutter was affecting my life, so I decided to clean my closet once and for all. And that one act got my momentum going and boosted my well-being.
Clearing clutter can heal and transform your life from the inside out. Really.
If you're ready for a breakthrough in your health, I highly recommend you set aside some time to clear up one section of your home whether it may be your office, bedroom or kitchen. Once you've cleared away clutter, you'll feel happier, lighter and freer. You'll create space, literally and metaphorically, for possibility and "new" to come into your life and business.
How do you clean up and declutter your life? Let us know in the comments.