In today’s consumerist world, it’s easy to accumulate unnecessary clutter in your home that leaves you feeling distracted, stressed out and even anxious. If this sounds like you, perhaps it’s time to reorganise and get rid of all that extra stuff.

​Decluttering can feel time-consuming and exhausting but it’s well worth it! To prove our point, we’ve put together a list of our top five reasons why you should tidy and declutter your home and life. ​

​​On top of this, messy environments signal to your brain that your work is never done, opening you up to feelings of anxiety and helplessness. Although the thought of decluttering your space can seem daunting, research shows that the less time spent dealing with your belongings, the more relaxed you will be.

So, putting in the effort today can help you become more happy, calm and relaxed in the future. 

​2. Clutter in the home is clutter in the mind. 
Have you ever found that having a messy desk makes it harder to get stuff done? This is because your brain has a hard time differentiating between what is clutter and what is actually important.

The result?

We don’t know where to start so we end up doing nothing at all.

These feelings of being overwhelmed not only make you less capable of effectively processing information, but also make you more prone to frustration.

Research shows that decluttering your work and living spaces makes it easier for your brain to focus as you no longer have clutter competing for your attention. By surrounding yourself with order and tidiness, you’re more likely to have a productive and focused mind. 

​3. It wastes your time.

This one is simple; the less clutter you have lying around, the less time you’ll spend cleaning. In fact, studies show that getting rid of clutter reduces household cleaning by a whopping 40%.

Plus, when every item has a purpose and a place in your home, you’ll be able to avoid countless time-wasting tasks such as searching for your keys, or sifting through an endless wardrobe of clothes you no longer wear.

Reduce your possessions and you’ll quickly notice how much more efficient and manageable your daily routine becomes, without the usual snags that trip you up along the way. 

​4. Flex your decision-making muscles. ​

In decluttering your space, try to be as selective as possible, choosing wisely to keep only the most important and necessary items.

Deciding which things to keep and which things to get rid of is a great opportunity to practise your decision-making skills. A skill that will serve you well in all aspects of your life. 

​5. Clutter is unhealthy.

Do you have old clothes hanging in the back of the closet, or discarded toys in the corner of the garage?

Items you no longer use are quite literally collecting dust and making your space unhealthier. Junk items make it more difficult to clean, inevitably leading to a build-up of dirt and dust that directly affects air quality in your home.

​A thorough spring clean (regardless of the time of year) will purify the air you breathe, impacting your physical and mental wellbeing. 

Now you know why it is important, it's time to take action. Would you like me to tell you about the easy way to start decluttering your life and surroundings, then grab our free Declutter Challenge and start today. It only  takes 10min a day.

Imagine your life away  from stresses and frustration to happy and in control. Download your declutter worksheet here.

Shine on!

Hanna x

1. Reconnect with your big picture.
When your days are made up of back and forth emails, annoying errands and navigating social politics, it can be easy to forget why you’re doing these things in the first place.

That’s why it’s always important to keep your bigger picture in mind, reminding yourself that these small tasks will eventually take you to the destination you want. Take the time to reflect on your daily routines and think about the kind of life they’re building. This will allow you the space to prioritise what is important and what is not.

2. Explore your passions.
Do you love to paint, hike, or travel? Whatever your passion, it’s important to carve out time in your life for the things you want to do, not only the things you have to do.

Self-honesty begins with self-reflection; an objective inward look at our own truth. The problem is that our minds have a sneaky tendency to rationalise and create stories to justify certain behaviours and to avoid the discomfort that change can bring. On top this, our minds are programmed to manipulate our thinking to align with instant gratification, which rarely represents the truth.
 
Have you ever justified a bad food choice by making up an internal excuse about why you deserve the sugary treat? These types of misleading interpretations occur throughout our lives, as our mind busily tries to come up with reasons or excuses for the choices that are not serving us.
                                          
The thing is, the more we lie to ourselves the less inclined we are to move forward and overcome the difficulties that stand in our way. By accepting our internal justifications as truth, we’re more likely to be complacent in our unhappiness, unable to evolve and reach the lives we truly want.
 
It’s your life and you’re the only one who is going to live it. That’s why it’s worth taking a hard look at who you are and what is at the core of you. Don’t build your identity around public opinion or current trends. In life, everything else may change, but if you have a good understanding of your true and authentic self, then you will always have a firm grounding that you know you can rely on no matter where life may take you.
 
Being honest with yourself is vital if you want to understand what it is you want from life. It brings clarity and allows you the opportunity to reflect on the things you are doing. When you know what you want, then you can work to make the vision for your life a reality. Remember to ask yourself if the people and activities in your life are helping you achieve your goals. Be brutally honest and the answers will become clear, helping you make tough decisions when it comes to relationships and career.

Do you need some help clarifying what want from your life at this part of your life journey? Coaching can be a great help, book your free taster call to see how it can help you.

Shine on!
Hanna x

1. Reframe your limiting mindset.
All too often, we get stuck before we even get started. Have you ever decided it’s time for a change, only to be stopped in your tracks by that nagging voice of self-doubt? If you listen to that voice, you’ll always lack the confidence you need to move forward in your career or your life. Your inner voice will always be able to find an excuse as to why you can’t do something. But it’s important to remember that these limitations only exist in your mind. Practice tuning out that inner voice and rather focus on more productive things like creating a plan of action or finding a new skill to master. Do this and you’re sure to build confidence as you conquer each new task.

2. Create real options (but not too many).
When you’re trying to make an important decision in your life that will cause a significant change, you first need to figure out what the problem is that you’re trying to solve and then come up with realistic alternatives to solve this problem. This way, a lot of the guesswork is taken out of the decision-making, as now your choice is founded on well-thought out scenarios and solutions. Remember that your first option, is not always the best option. So be sure to spend some time investigating different scenarios, so that you’re able to make the best decision possible.

3. Don’t focus on impossible problems.
When it comes to moving forward, there’s no point wasting your time on problems that are not really problems, but are situations that can’t be changed. Do you really want to be a poet, but know that poets don’t earn much money? Well, if having enough money is important to you, then don’t waste your time trying to figure out a solution to this unchanging situation. Rather accept it as a fact and focus your energy on other options that will better serve you and your end goal.
 
4. Learn from your mistakes that are worth learning from.
​Every now and then, we all mess up and make mistakes. But the mistakes you want to focus on are the ones you make that could have been avoided if you’d known more, as these are the ones that can be avoided in the future. Make sure you spend the time to figure out exactly where you went wrong, and how you could have done things differently to achieve better results. This way you can use your mistakes to propel you forward in the future, and avoid making the same mistakes that will leave you stuck in the same situation. And then equally important, do not waste energy on the ones that are simply screw ups - they happen, accept it and move on!

​It is easy to get stuck, but remember there is always a way forward - and you don't have to do it alone. If you want to create a life and career you love, in support of likeminded women on a similar journey join our Facebook group TAC She Sisterhood. Hope to see you there.

1. I don’t have the right experience.
Reframe: I have built up experience over a lifetime and can add the skills I need to do this.
When faced with doing something different, it can often leave you feeling as though you have no experience at all! Remember that throughout your life you have built up a wealth of knowledge that goes far beyond your professional career. Make a list of all the skills you have and experience you’ve gained, and then see how these can benefit you in your new pursuit. Identify the areas where you’re lacking and figure out how you can learn these new skills that you will need. Once you have a plan of action, the experience gap won’t seem so daunting anymore.
 
2. Now is not the right time to change.
Reframe: Now is as good a time as any to start creating the life and career I want.
Starting on a path of change can be daunting. It’s the reason why all too often you stop yourself before you’ve even started. If you give in to this thought, you’re bound to find a reason to justify it, no matter what stage of your life you’re in. Your kids are too young, you don’t have the money, or you’re about to get a promotion at work. Whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that you can start small and take little steps towards achieving your new goals today. Whether it’s as simple as working on your business plan, taking an online course, building your mailing list, or expanding your network, start moving in the right direction now, so that when the timing is right you will be in a better position to move forward.  
 
3. I need a solid plan or nobody will take me seriously.
​Reframe: I can do this step by step and start getting feedback from day one so that I can embark on my new adventure with confidence.
Asking for advice from people you trust is a great way to help you define your plan for change. Asking family and friends is often our first point of call. But remember that although they of course want to be helpful, sometimes they may have an invested interest in the outcome, which could influence the advice they offer. Often, a better direction to go is to get feedback from people who are in similar situations, as they will be able to offer valuable and relevant insights. If you don’t know anyone personally, head online to a career forum for some helpful advice.
 
 
4. I am too old to make a big change in my life.  
Reframe: I am fortunate to have so much experience to draw from, which will help make the change easier.
When we finish high school, we’re all told that it’s time to choose a career path. What do you want to study? What job do you want to do? What career do you want for your life? But how are we supposed to make such enormous decisions, when we’re only just old enough to drive a car? As we grow older, our tastes, interests and passions develop and mature in ways that we could never predict when we’re younger. But the truth of the matter is that you’re never too old to make a change, and you’re never too old to live the life you dream of. Rather than using your age as an excuse, focus on the fact that you have valuable experience that will serve you well in your next pursuit. Rather than focusing on the past, look to the future by visualising where you are going and the steps you’ll need to take to get there.

5. I should be fearless.
​Reframe: I respect my fear, but will not let it paralyse me from taking steps towards achieving my dreams.
Fear is not only natural but is also inevitable, and can even be useful in certain circumstances. We need fear. It stops us from taking unreasonable risks. But it shouldn’t be something that stops you from making positive changes. So, strip away the unrealistic belief that you should be fearless in the face of change and rather focus on finding ways to manage your fear so that it doesn’t get in the way of moving forward. Acknowledge your fear and try to understand where it is coming from, allowing you take charge of it. Choose to rather focus on more productive feelings or actions and your fear will soon become background noise to your positive mindset. 

Getting your mind to work for you instead of against you can be a tricky thing. On Tuesday the 17th April 2018 I hosted a free mini-masterclass on the topic 'The 3 core elements of a thriving mind' it is still available in our Facebook group TAC She Sisterhood a group of likeminded women on a journey to create lives and careers we love, come and join us!

Have a wonderful day my friend!