There is almost nothing more stressful than an overbooked schedule. Coming in a close second is a cluttered and disorganized physical environment. Combine the two together and you have the ingredients for chronic exhaustion. Yet, I would venture to say that most of us live in a constant state of over-promising (to ourselves, our families, co-workers, bosses, etc.) and feeling like we fall short. And because we are so overstretched tending to our physical environment takes a backseat because who has time to de-clutter?

The grand result of this crazy little merry-go-round is burnout. That “I just can’t take another thing!” state of mind. So, we come home, kick the dog, yell at our loved ones and do-do-do until we collapse and start the cycle again. Many times we are not even aware of what is really going on because the “situation normal” IS living on autopilot and wandering around exhausted.

What is the answer? It can be found in a little known art form called - the art of elimination.

Before you can really take the hedge trimmers to your schedule and surroundings, though, you have to become aware of what “reality” is looking like for you these days. Let’s start with your schedule.

Take a look at your schedule and your to-do list. Are you trying to fit 30 hours of things in 24 hours of today? Do you set yourself up for failure because each day’s task list is so long that you don’t even stand a prayer of putting a sizable dent in it? If so, it is like trying to put 120 pounds of air in a bike tire designed for 100 pounds of air. You can imagine the BANG when the tire finally blows out. YOU are much the same way.

What can you do?

• Schedule in “down time”
• Start saying “NO” and clear space in your schedule
• Make more reasonable to-do lists and reward your efforts along the way

Now, take a look at your physical environment. Is it in a disarray of clutter? Is it visually appealing? Is there space in your environment to do what you need to do in it? For example, is there plenty of room to write and work on your desk? Can you find what you need when you need it in your closets and cabinets?

Your environment is a reflection of how you are feeling inside. Bet that thought didn’t make you feel so great, did it. If you can imagine your insides as a container for all your mental, physical, and emotional energy and then picture the clutter around you as holes in that container, you can get a feel for the drain an un-nourishing physical environment has on your capacity for feeling great and being successful.

What can you do?

• Go on a purging spree. If you haven’t used it in the last 6 months (unless it is a yearly seasonal item) — sell it, toss it, or donate it. This holds true for everything from papers in the office to files on the computer to clothes in your closet.
• Clean up. If you don’t have time to clean or don’t like to — hire someone to do it. A clean, scrubbed, well maintained space will yield dividends in terms of time, energy, and money.
• Rearrange the furniture. If you’re bored in your space, try rearranging things. Apply some feng shui principles if you’re so inclined. Sometimes the mere act of creating a new space can interject energy and opportunity into your life.

Don’t let creating some space be overwhelming to you — try a little bit of something a day. Even throwing out 10 things a day for 90 days can have a tremendous impact. Simply taking 20 minutes a day out of your schedule to just have downtime can leave you feeling more refreshed and renewed. Start with small steps and let the momentum build.

What does your schedule feel like to you? How about your physical environment? I’d love to hear from you….scroll on down and share your comments….

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