Enough already…

I’ve just had a brilliant idea – instead of reducing clutter, say no to “stuff” before it becomes clutter.

This message supports both the global warming movement and the “stress” we experience as a direct result of having too much clutter in our lives.

According to the Australia Institute research ‘Stuff Happens’, 88% of Australians have at least one room full of trash stashed.

Somehow the RedBalloon “funky” office space has turned into a storage house… what once looked like productive chaos now seems like we are bursting at the seams and cannot cope. This weekend we are about to have a massive spring clean.

And it is bothering not just me.

I’m in the fortunate position of having a fellow RedBallooner who is a professionally trained organiser (and she sits across from me). At first I found this rather daunting – like having a personified conscience – until I realised that she was not judging everything that I brought to my desk – in fact she was looking for ways to support me in this never ending habit.

She advised me:

Never deal with something twice (or more than that) and when you bring something into your environment determine its purpose. Have three piles:

1. Action now (use it or file it in its permanent place)
2. Action by end of month
3. Action never (so bin now)

On point 2 – ‘action by end of month’ – if you haven’t, then process the pile straight to option three (the bin).

It simply is a waste of mental energy, which doesn’t allow you to focus on the bigger game – the plan and delivering on your strategy.

So exactly which pile do I put the jumbo collapsible toy horn in? It seemed funny at the time. But it’s just a piece of plastic that now clutters my desk. Note to self: ‘deal with it – and fast’ and ‘keep clutter out’ – I’m sure my campaign will catch on.

Naomi Simson is the 2008 National Telstra Women’s Business Award winner for Innovation. Naomi was also a finalist for the Australian HR Awards and a finalist for the BRW Most Admired Business Owner Award in 2008. Also in 2008 RedBalloon achieved a 97% Hewitt employee engagement score. One of Australia’s outstanding female entrepreneurs, Naomi regularly entertains as a professional speaker inspiring middle to high-level leaders on employer branding, engagement and reward and recognition. Naomi writes a blog and has written a book sharing the lessons from her first five years.

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