Get Tied Up

Clutter can be, and often is, made up of seemingly small items, yet collectively those items destroy our focus and reduce our energy.

Key offenders can often be linked to incomplete projects (like tax returns!) or unfinished business (closure on a business or personal relationship, perhaps).

Similarly, clutter can come from the gnawing frustration caused by a build-up of unattended emails, paperwork that remains unfiled, bills unpaid ... the list goes on.

One thing is for sure --- unless we attend to the main offender(s) we're never going to move forwards with the kind of gusto, focus, and drive that we'd like.

I'd like to suggest a little trick that I was reminded of recently --- a trick that is as effective as it is simple. Here's how it works:

First, get really clear on what key element of clutter needs attention.

Second, get a friend or colleague to tie a small brightly coloured strip of ribbon around your wrist -- tight enough to not come off without scissors; loose enough to maintain blood flow!

Third, make a commitment to that friend or colleague to not remove the ribbon until you have completed (and removed) the offending clutter.

Try it. It really works.