How much is too much clutter?

First Published 25 February 2021

I noticed today that my inbox (plural) had hit 300 unread e-mail messages! I’m sure I only just cleared them out at the weekend as well!  And this got me pondering about clutter in general.  I find for certain things I work better surrounded by ‘stuff’ but for other things I feel the need for minimalism (the inbox being one of them). 

I remember a few years ago reading one of Denise Linn’s books about clutter and she ‘prescribed’ tidying out the junk drawer to her clients with depression and reported a major improvement for them.  I was pretty sceptical about this until I noticed a difference in my mood and energy after I had a big clear out.  So with the ‘stress’ of my mailbox I am sensing a major clear out coming soon (probably with some heavy duty unsubscribe button pushing thrown in for good measure!).  

Is there one area of your life that you feel might need some attention and decluttering? If it feels like an overwhelming task I would suggest working in 15 minute stints.  And remember if it’s a big area, be prepared for the space to get worse before it gets better – but it will be worth it in the end!  If you are feeling brave, I’d love a before and after photo!  In the meantime, I’ll be hiding out in my inbox….

If it all gets a bit too much for you, give me a shout for a zoffee (zoom coffee)!