Because Powerful Focus Is Your Secret Weapon...

This lion has a choice...she can scatter her energy and move in short bursts 12 different ways OR, she can FOCUS and use the same amount of energy to move forward...in ONE direction. YOU can use this lion-like focus to make progress in your space, with your stuff, too!

I have a client, Sunny, who has been paralyzed FOR YEARS by her stuff. She says “I take a bag to the donation center just about every week but it doesn’t feel like there’s less stuff in my home.”

So, we made a plan. A focused plan. Start in the bedroom because nothing is more important than sleep--and it was the most chaotic. Your sleep can really be interrupted by crazy energy in the bedroom. (She lives in Kansas City so we have a weekly Facetime date.)

This is her EDITING PLAN:

• The Bedroom floor (I call it the “floordrobe”+ other items and papers)--sort into trash, recycle and donate.
  
  
• Dresser and Nightstands
  
  
• Closet
  
  
• The Guest Room--kind of a catch-all
  
  
• Upstairs Office--papers!
  
  
• Kitchen, Living room and Garage.
  
  

Because she is scattering her energy, picking out a few items to donate HERE AND THERE--she is not making progress in a directed, satisfying way. Theoretically, she is getting the same amount of work done, and (eventually) she might be able to go through her entire space. However, her lack of focus is giving her imperceptible results. I’ll keep you posted...so far, Sunny and I have finished working on the Bedroom floor, Dresser, Nightstands and most of the Closet!!!

Your Turn:

Choose a starting place! Pick a manageable starting place. Something you KNOW you can complete. And then feel good about. A dresser, your nightstands, or your media cabinet (VHS or 8-tracks, anyone?)

Cut out distractions! Turn your phone and laptop OFF. Lock them in your car or give them to your neighbor. Put up the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign and set a timer for 1 hour...2 hours if you’re brave. (Even with my support, 3-4 hours is all anyone can tolerate in one session.) A ticking timer (like an old-school wind-up one--remember your phone is in the car) is a very good audio reminder to stay on track. Physical and mental wandering is NORMAL as you practice this skill. Do not leave the room, make piles by the door for when your time is up. THEN, Close the Circles!

Break it down! If you choose the dresser, start with the items on top--edit and refresh. Next the top drawer. Then the second drawer. Work your way to the bottom drawer. One at a time. If you do this work in distinct sections, you may find the challenge very do-able. Fun, even:)

Finish with a flourish! When your timer rings, Close the opened circles: take the trash out, put donations in the car, and CELEBRATE!

This is your secret sauce for progress--COMPLETE and CELEBRATE.

If you’ve picked a small manageable area, then completing it is a breeze. How will you celebrate? Fresh flowers for the dresser? A walk in the sun? A phone call with your funniest friend?

Powerful Focus is an amazing tool to use as you make progress in your space. If you need support staying on track or finishing what you’ve started, contact me, I would love to help.

Love,

XOXO

Jane

PHOTO CREDIT: quoteswell.com