Are You Overwhelmed? Try This!
by Kathleen Gage The Street Smarts Speaker and Author

Daily I hear from people who say they can't seem to catch up to all they need to do. They want to move forward on various projects, but feel completely bogged down by what's in front of them and those things that seem to take up a lot of space in their mind.

I know the feeling. I've been there, done that.

There are subtle little things we do that can do more to zap our energy than just about anything. They are the things we look at on a daily basis where we mumble, "One of these days I am going to get around to fixing that, cleaning that, throwing that out."

The reality is, unless you put time aside to clear out these "energy zappers" they will keep you in a space of overwhelm and those feelings of not be able to catch up.

As you prepare to do this, get a stack of garbage bags in order to throw out those things you know you will never use again. Get some boxes to box up those things you can give to others such books you have read that others will now enjoy. A vacuum cleaner to vacuum in those hidden areas that are not readily visible, but when you start moving things around you actually go into a state of mini shock at how much dust may have collected over a period of time.

Plan to spend a few hours at a time committed to organizing your workspace. You will be amazed at how freeing this can be and how much more productive you will be.

Here are a few simple (not necessarily easy) steps you can take.

Clean out your files
Periodically go through your hardcopy files and get rid of those things you no longer need. Let go of paperwork that is outdated, you don't need for tax reasons and simply no longer serve a purpose. In some cases you can simply recycle the papers. In other cases, you absolutely must shred the documents.

A real time saver on shredding is to bag and box up the papers and take them to a location that can shred more in a few minutes than you could do in hours with your own shredding machine. Before taking your papers to the shredder, make sure you take as much as possible in order to not waste time going to and from the location.

Organize your workspace
If it has been some time since you have cleaned and organized your workspace (more than your daily straightening up), it's time to do so. Most people will be amazed at how much "stuff" you have collected that doesn't serve any purpose other than collecting dust.

As you determine what you need and don't need, box up those things that others will gain benefit from. Check with people you know who may be able to use the items. For example, I am an avid reader. On average I read 10 - 15 books a month. After a few months I have quite a collection that others may find great value from. I can't tell you how many times someone else found great pleasure in receiving my collection of books.

Of course, there are some books I hold on to for sentimental purposes such as an autographed copy or one that is more of a reference book than one I will never refer to again.

Clear out files on your computer
If you're like most people you have gotten in the habit of collecting file after file of information that resides on your hard drive never to be read. Take time to go through the information on your computer and delete (or backup) those files that you don't use on a regular basis.

You will be amazed at how much your energy will increase when you clean your hard drive. Seeing file after file that you don't use at all is a major energy zapper.

I am actually doing these very things this weekend. The reason being is I am preparing for taking my business to the next level. In order to do that it is essential I create the space that allows for clear thinking, high energy and room to grow.

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