Finding Time by De-Cluttering and Letting Go

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

The way you use your time is the way you live your life.

Finding Time by De-Cluttering and Letting Go

Posted on August 13, 2009, under Time Priorities.

Finding time is a universal quest, isn’t it? Time is the medium in which we live and breathe. Its flow carries us forward no matter what. Sometimes that is a comfort and other times, a frustration. It comes, and it goes, just as we breathe in and breathe out. It’s a rhythm of holding and letting go. In that it is consistent and unchanging.

Maggie McCauley recently wrote on her blog about letting go of her home of 17 years and moving into a smaller space. In The Gifts of a Small Space she writes about what this transition entailed, and how it has changed her AND her daily living. Writing about how downsizing and letting go has simplified her life, she says:

The advantages of having a smaller space; there’s less to clean, vacuuming takes me about twenty minutes as opposed to over an hour, everything is within reach, I have everything that is important for life to be comfortable and functional and I have more time to devote to business, socializing and me time!

In order to fit comfortably into her new space and make it livable, Maggie had to let go of a number of belongings and habits of living. This can be a challenging and disorienting transition to make. It is important to keep in mind that, as Maggie describes so well, it can also be very energizing and freeing.

Letting go applies not only to belongings – it also applies to your time! Think of your time as a basket and of your tasks, commitments and activities as small (and large) objects piled into that basket. Is it overflowing? Are your commitments tumbling out of your basket and scattering across the floor?

Maybe it’s time to work on de-cluttering, simplifying, and letting go! Letting go is not simply about saying goodbye – each time you let something go, you are affirming the importance of what remains. As challenging as that process can be, embarking on it will lighten your load and change your life!

Are there things that you could let go of today? Next week? Next month? Start making a list. See how it feels just to think about letting go. What stops you? What will help you move ahead? Please feel free to drop me a line -I’d love to hear how this goes for you!

What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!

Let’s explore time together …

Paula's Signature

There are 2 Responses to “Finding Time by De-Cluttering and Letting Go”

#1 Alison - 13 August, 10:08 AM

Clutter is an ongoing issue for me. I recall that poet Donald Hall proposed that New Hampshire’s state motto should be, “It might come in handy some day!”

Sometimes, when cleaning out, I ask myself, “How much is it worth to me to enjoy a clutter-free space?” If it’s worth more to me to enjoy that lovely calm than to possibly have to replace the item in question, I toss it.

It helps me to envision time that way, too, and remember I’m creating calm and spaciousness every time I simplify my life!

#2 Paula - 19 August, 6:39 AM

Thank you for your comment, Alison – and I love your re-write of the NH State motto. Here’s to creating spaciousness and calm!

If this is your first comment it may be held for moderation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed, or Trackback from your own site.