Challenge Accepted

Currently I’m in the mist of being a working mum transforming my career whilst managing massive changes in my family life. Desperately trying to make headways in all those roles I feel like I’m failing miserably in all of them. I am often an irritable mum, cantankerous wife and a distracted employee. I can’t seem to get enough steam for any of my goals to take off. What is wrong? I ask myself, Is it a lack of motivation? The idea of working for myself, having more money and able to spend more time with my baby should be the ultimate motivation, so it is not motivation. Is it confidence? The question of “Can I really do that?” does loom over my head every now and then, but my logical-self have been able to overcome these doubts easily.

“The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don't.” 
― Marie Kondō

“The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don't.” 
― Joshua Becker

It is not until I started the journey of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, it hit me, what I need to do first is to declutter. Declutter is all about throwing out what is no longer “me” and bringing the things I want closer around me, throwing out things that no longer give me joy and surround myself with things that brings me joy. On reflection, I realised that even though I have been busy doing what needs to be done, I haven’t stop to think if anything I’m doing is what I love or if it is brining me closer to my goals.

“The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don't.” 
― Joshua Becker

The challenge I have accepted is first to create an orderly home by decluttering my possessions. This challenge is not a small feat since we are bunking with my mum for the time been, our furniture is either packed away or mingled and crammed in with mum’s already packed house. With the arrival of the baby the amount of stuff seems to double. To declutter my life now is like separating the chocolate from the vanilla in a marble cake, so I need to do it a spoonful at time, starting with clothes, toiletries and makeup then move on to paperwork and possessions.

“Clear your stuff. Clear your mind.” 
― Eric M. Riddle, STUFFology 101: Get Your Mind Out of the Clutter

The first week I started decluttering it was very cathartic, my brain seems to release a puff of endorphin every time I fill up a rubbish bag and place it in the bin. By having a clean and tidy home it gave me more energy, I enjoy my spaces more and it helped me to think more clearly. Cleaning and decluttering is like exercising, it strengthens the joy finding muscle so it can perform more arduous tasks like finding joy in your own life. Otherwise it’s like running a marathon without training, you get tired and give up quickly. I’m not done yet, but I do feel like I have taken a positive step towards achieving my goals just by cleaning and decluttering.

“Clutter is the physical manifestation of unmade decisions fueled by procrastination” 
― Christina Scalise, Organize Your Life and More