The physical clearing out of your Piles of Overwhelming Paperwork will help you feel lighter and more energized when facing the world.
Nothing is worse than feeling constipated by paperwork! Did you just read that? What does the first letter of each of the last four words in the title spell? POOP.
How appropriate when you consider how often you've caught yourself muttering, I need to get rid of all this $h!t ...
uhh, I mean, STUFF! Of course, if you're like me, you set aside time to get through piles of paperwork, but it's hard to make time in our ever-busy lives.
Who has time for reflection these days? I've considered angling all the horizontal surfaces in my home-cabinet tops, book shelves, and the kitchen table.
This way, anytime my husband and I place the mail, a magazine, or other paperwork on top, it will slide off and onto the floor.
Seriously now, how realistic is that? Meanwhile, piles were reproducing and growing taller.
Instead of navigating through narrower paths in rooms and hallways, we bought a bigger home.
Over the years I practiced another technique; one I believe will be familiar to you.
Right before my guests arrive, I scoop up piles of overwhelming paperwork (poop) and store the piles in my home office.
Since age eight, I've been saving paperwork.
At first, I saved pictures of puppies and kittens then recipes.
Later, I saved my school work.
I still have my college course work and my handwritten lecture and book notes.
I attended college full time over thirty years ago! I've been fighting POOP for over forty years.
Boy, do I feel constipated! What's my problem? I cannot simply toss my paperwork like my husband does when his piles grow too tall.
I feel I must review, read, or even scan all the books, magazines, and other paperwork that currently occupy my space before I can let them go.
I feel I finally am seeing the end of my battle with paperwork.
Over the last four decades, I've learned a few valuable lessons.
I call these: The Scoop on POOP-oops, Piles of Overwhelming Paperwork 1.
When someone offers you something for "free" it really isn't.
Unless you really need it, it will cost you time and space.
You'll ask, "Where do I put it until I can make time for it?" Besides, it's one more thing to dust and to worry about.
When picking up an item, examine it.
Realize that you are granting some of your limited time to the creator of that item.
Ask yourself, "What is the creator of the item doing while I spend time reading, storing, or dusting it?" "Is s/he enjoying the vacation or a relaxing weekend I could be enjoying instead with friends?" Two questions I have also been asking are: "Is this person's work worth giving away my limited time?" "What will I gain from spending my time with this work?" 2.
You can enjoy the space you've cleared out.
The open ambiance of your living/work space brings an ever lightness to your being and allows you to be open to new things.
Fewer things mean less to worry about and fewer piles to trip over.
3.
You can walk right up to your windows and look out.
Although stretching over piles and boxes can work out the kinks in your back and legs, you run the risk of injury.
4.
You have more time to spend with people instead of things.
When the time comes and you're lying on your sickbed (or even deathbed), it's not the things in your life that will bring you comfort; rather, people will.
5.
Start by turning off the TV earlier one evening and spending 90 minutes reading.
After three months or thirteen 90-minute sessions, you'll be surprised by the progress you've made! And this is the scoop on POOP! When you eliminate your Piles of Overwhelming Paperwork, you will have the energy to face what's new in the world.
You will feel lighter and energized.
Nothing is worse than feeling constipated by paperwork! Did you just read that? What does the first letter of each of the last four words in the title spell? POOP.
How appropriate when you consider how often you've caught yourself muttering, I need to get rid of all this $h!t ...
uhh, I mean, STUFF! Of course, if you're like me, you set aside time to get through piles of paperwork, but it's hard to make time in our ever-busy lives.
Who has time for reflection these days? I've considered angling all the horizontal surfaces in my home-cabinet tops, book shelves, and the kitchen table.
This way, anytime my husband and I place the mail, a magazine, or other paperwork on top, it will slide off and onto the floor.
Seriously now, how realistic is that? Meanwhile, piles were reproducing and growing taller.
Instead of navigating through narrower paths in rooms and hallways, we bought a bigger home.
Over the years I practiced another technique; one I believe will be familiar to you.
Right before my guests arrive, I scoop up piles of overwhelming paperwork (poop) and store the piles in my home office.
Since age eight, I've been saving paperwork.
At first, I saved pictures of puppies and kittens then recipes.
Later, I saved my school work.
I still have my college course work and my handwritten lecture and book notes.
I attended college full time over thirty years ago! I've been fighting POOP for over forty years.
Boy, do I feel constipated! What's my problem? I cannot simply toss my paperwork like my husband does when his piles grow too tall.
I feel I must review, read, or even scan all the books, magazines, and other paperwork that currently occupy my space before I can let them go.
I feel I finally am seeing the end of my battle with paperwork.
Over the last four decades, I've learned a few valuable lessons.
I call these: The Scoop on POOP-oops, Piles of Overwhelming Paperwork 1.
When someone offers you something for "free" it really isn't.
Unless you really need it, it will cost you time and space.
You'll ask, "Where do I put it until I can make time for it?" Besides, it's one more thing to dust and to worry about.
When picking up an item, examine it.
Realize that you are granting some of your limited time to the creator of that item.
Ask yourself, "What is the creator of the item doing while I spend time reading, storing, or dusting it?" "Is s/he enjoying the vacation or a relaxing weekend I could be enjoying instead with friends?" Two questions I have also been asking are: "Is this person's work worth giving away my limited time?" "What will I gain from spending my time with this work?" 2.
You can enjoy the space you've cleared out.
The open ambiance of your living/work space brings an ever lightness to your being and allows you to be open to new things.
Fewer things mean less to worry about and fewer piles to trip over.
3.
You can walk right up to your windows and look out.
Although stretching over piles and boxes can work out the kinks in your back and legs, you run the risk of injury.
4.
You have more time to spend with people instead of things.
When the time comes and you're lying on your sickbed (or even deathbed), it's not the things in your life that will bring you comfort; rather, people will.
5.
Start by turning off the TV earlier one evening and spending 90 minutes reading.
After three months or thirteen 90-minute sessions, you'll be surprised by the progress you've made! And this is the scoop on POOP! When you eliminate your Piles of Overwhelming Paperwork, you will have the energy to face what's new in the world.
You will feel lighter and energized.