Get Stuff Done, And Live Happier

Time to start cutting away mental and physical clutter so you can feel lighter, get stuff done, and live happier.

- Lina Esa

You’re 15 minutes late for a job interview because you missed the train. Because you couldn’t find your Touch ’N Go card and you didn’t have any small change. Because they were in your other bag. Which has to be somewhere under that pile of identical black skirts that all need cleaning. The good news is that decluttering your life isn’t just about a to-do list of overwhelming tasks. And, the hard part isn’t the overdue claims and tax return or the pile of handwash-only clothes in the corner.

The difficult bit is only in figuring out your purpose. But once you do that, you discover new reserves of motivation to get the daily shiz in order. In the interest of your mental clarity, total wellness and a very organised ‘Things To Sell On Carousell’ pile, here are common areas of stuck-in-a-rutness along with very neat ways to deal with every single one of them. Hint: you won’t be needing any highlighters, post-it notes or manila folders (although these would be super-cute to have).

Situation: Work Station

A desk covered in two-week-old takeaway cups and coffee-stained yearly reports isn’t the only kind of ‘clutter ’ you’ll find at work. a day characterised by stress, panic, meltdowns and one (avoidable) disaster after another is also a kind of clutter. and a common one. “a cluttered work life is where people chase high standards and get stuck in a loop of competing with people, which can lead to stress,” says Australia-based clinical psychologist and corporate trainer Dr tom Nehmy. “Being efficient at work is not about being perfect. it ’s about deciding when you’re at ‘good enough’ and moving on,” explains Dr Nehmy.