When you read “leisure time,” what thoughts come to mind? Are you thinking, “What leisure time? I don’t have any free time!” Does downtime feel absent from your life because you’re constantly working, stressing, and feeling overwhelmed? If so, you’re not alone.

In 2014, Brigid Schulte, an award-winning journalist and bestselling author, introduced “time confetti” in her book Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time. Time confetti refers to fragmented pieces of free time that happen during the day. These moments are too brief to be productive or meaningful, and they spoil the downtime we do have.

Time confetti are “short, unenjoyable moments that end up stressing us out rather than relaxing us.” Frequent interruptions are typically due to technology or multitasking. Even if a disturbance seems minor, it reduces the quality of time off, which can lead to a feeling of constant busyness without a sense of accomplishment.

What is the Antidote to Time Confetti?

Strategies to balance the effects of time confetti revolve around reducing distractions and valuing and creating larger blocks of leisure and downtime. Some of Schulte’s suggestions include:

• Identify where time gets spent

• Prioritize what matters, including more leisure activities

• Lessen digital distractions

• Stop multitasking

• Delegate and share household responsibilities

• Schedule and protect leisure time

• Shift perception of busyness and success

What Does Leisure Time Look Like?

Several years ago, I jotted down a list that I rediscovered recently called “Help for those who do too much.” What’s interesting is it doesn’t specify what not to do. Instead, it focuses on creating more time to enjoy life. The list is relevant to this discussion, so I included it.

Siblings - Tod Machover and Linda Samuels

Help For Those Who Do Too Much:

• Taking time off

• Biking

• Connecting with family

• Kayaking

• Going to the beach

• Sleeping

• Waking up naturally (no alarms)

• Losing track of time (no watches)

“Schedule and protect leisure time.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

In the spirit of leaning into more downtime, I reserved two full days of fun this past weekend, which was so welcome.

Intentional Leisure Time Activities

• Spending time with family

• Exploring Manitoga, the house, studio, and 75-acre woodland garden of the mid-century designer Russell Wright

• Having a picnic

• Celebrating Father’s Day with my husband (Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads!)

• Going on a day trip

• Taking a scenic train ride in the Catskills (ice cream included)

Happy Father’s Day!

If your days and downtime are disjointed and overwhelming, gift yourself a present of being more intentional and protective of your leisure time. Eliminate distractions that disrupt your focus. Time is precious. Yes, we need to work and handle life’s necessities. We also need balance to the busyness and overwhelm that many of us feel. What helps you carve out downtime? What do you enjoy doing? What gets in your way? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

If you want help organizing your time so you can enjoy life more, email me at linda@ohsorganized.com, call 914-271-5673, or schedule a Discovery Call.  A life including downtime and fun is possible, especially with support.

When you think about clutter, do you consider how it makes you feel? In the thirty-plus years I’ve been a Professional Organizer, I’ve seen first-hand the array of emotions and effects of clutter on individuals, families, relationships, households, work, and other environments.

Clutter can keep you stuck, and releasing it can have positive, long-lasting effects on your life. One of my clients shared unique insights about the effect clutter has on her. You’ll learn more about it soon. Before diving deeper into her discoveries, let’s look at how clutter can negatively or positively affect you.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS Clutter Can Cause:

• Overwhelm

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Stress

• Paralysis

• Frustration

• Procrastination

• Low self-esteem

• Guilt

• Sense of hopelessness

Positive Effects Reduction of Clutter Can Foster:

• Energy

• Motivation

• Calm

• Creativity

• Relief

• Satisfaction

• Confidence

• Growth

• Hope

• Harmony

• Happiness

One Client’s Experience of Clutter

As mentioned above, one of my clients recently shared her profound clutter experience with me during a virtual organizing session. She gave me permission to share it with you. She said,

“Clutter creates chronic inflammation.”

I asked her to tell me more about her perspective on clutter. She elaborated and described how . . .

• Chronic inflammation is a physical unpleasantness.

• It feels like an embodied experience.

• It’s physiological.

• A cluttered environment makes her feel agitated and angry.

• Any action taken to clear surfaces in her visual field reduces chronic inflammation.

• Even tiny decluttering acts immediately solve chronic inflammation.

My client’s description of chronic inflammation caused by clutter describes the physiological connection clutter can have. While the term chronic inflammation was new to me, I’ve often heard clients describe the weightiness of clutter. They explain when clutter is released, it feels like “a weight has been lifted.” This is another example of the potential physiological and psychological effects clutter can have.

Do you know someone who has experienced clutter this way? What feelings and sensations arose?

“Clutter creates chronic inflammation.”

— Oh, So Organized! Client

How Clutter Feels – A Podcast

Last week, I wrote about clutter’s impact on mental health and well-being. I included links to the interviews by journalist and podcast host Melissa Tracey, who featured me in a Houselogic article and her Housing Muse podcast.

During the podcast, we discussed the relationship between home clutter and its effect on mental health. You can listen below to episode 50: You’ll Never Look at Your Home’s Clutter the Same.

How does clutter make you feel? When you release clutter, what changes do you notice? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

If you are struggling with the weight of clutter, enlist help. Reach out and email me, Linda, at linda@ohsorganized.com, call 914-271-5673, or schedule a Discovery Call. A clutter-free life is possible, especially with support.

Have you wondered how clutter affects your mental health and well-being? As a Professional Organizer for over 30 years who works with individuals challenged by disorganization, I have seen firsthand how clutter can negatively impact behaviors, self-esteem, and mental health. I’m about to share an insightful tool for assessing the impact of clutter on your life.

Recently, Melissa Tracey interviewed me for the Houselogic article, How Clutter Creates Stress and Anxiety: Strategies for Decluttering, and a podcast for The Housing Muse about the relationship between home clutter and its effect on mental health.

Many of my clients have mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and OCD. Clutter can worsen issues by increasing feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, frustration, and overwhelm. While professional organizers can help with specific strategies to reduce clutter and increase organization, having the support of a mental health professional can be essential.

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It began in 1949 to reduce the stigma around mental health conditions and provide awareness, support, and resources. The World Health Organization states:

• 1 in every 8 people, or 970 million people in the world, live with a mental disorder

• Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common

• Mental disorders involve significant disturbances in thinking, emotional regulation, or behavior

• Most people do not have access to adequate care

Contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for information, helplines, and support.

Self-Assessment Clutter Tool

The Clutter Quality of Life Scale (CQLS) was developed by Dr. Catherine Roster, Associate Professor at Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico, with help from volunteers from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD). Catherine is a dynamo, and I had the privilege of working with her on the ICD Board.

The CQLS is a self-assessment tool “designed to measure inward, or subjective, consequences of clutter from the individual’s perspective.” Clutter is defined as “an overabundance of possessions.”

The CQLS scale contains 18 statements about clutter, which a person rates from “1 = strongly disagree and 7 = strongly agree.” These statements reflect the level of negative consequences clutter has on four areas: your relationships, personal finances, the livability or functionality of your home and space, and feelings of anxiety, guilt, and depression. Here are a few examples from the assessment:

• Social impact: “I avoid having people come to my house because of the clutter.”

• Livability impact: “I have to be careful when walking through my home in order to avoid tripping over objects.”

• Financial impact: “I often buy things I already have because I don’t know where things are in my home.”

• Emotional impact: “I feel depressed by the clutter in my home.”

Click on the link to take the CQLS assessment.

“I feel depressed by the clutter in my home.”

— The Clutter Quality of Life Scale

Personal Impact of Clutter on Mental Health and Well-Being

Clutter shows up in many ways and can negatively affect your mental health and well-being. Here are a few examples of what you might experience:

• Your sink is always full of dishes, which makes it difficult to cook and eat nutritiously. It also affects your energy and health.

• Your bed is cluttered with clothing waiting to be cleaned or put away. You’re been unable to sleep there for weeks. As a result, your anxiety increases as your lack of sleep, energy levels, decision-making abilities, and mood suffer.

• Your papers are in piles on your kitchen counter. You can’t find the bill you know is due tomorrow. Your anxiety increases as you search for the bill. Hours later, you discover it buried in a pile in another room.

Have you noticed ways clutter affects mental health and well-being? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

If you are struggling with clutter and mental health issues, don’t go it alone. Get the support you need from a Professional Organizer like me and a mental health provider.

Reach out and email me, Linda, at linda@ohsorganized.com, call 914-271-5673, or schedule a Discovery Call. Decluttering is possible, especially with support.

This is the newest release (v44) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature, with my latest finds that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. These unique, inspiring, next step discoveries reflect this month’s blog theme.

You are a passionate, generous, and engaged group. I am deeply grateful for your ongoing presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community. I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced.

What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? – 5 Best Next Step Discoveries

1. Interesting Read – Brave Next Step

Fear can color your choices and how you experience your life. In Todd Henry’s new work, The Brave Habit – A Guide to Courageous Leadership, his goal is “to inspire an epidemic of everyday brave action.” He says, “Bravery exists when we have a vision for a better possible future, and we trust that we have agency to help bring it about.” These ideas are further explored by examining what happens when low to high perceived agency is paired with optimistic or pessimistic visions.

When thinking about the next steps and the consequences of your actions, Todd says, “…almost every action you take, or choice you make has a lingering impact on the world around you, and over time, the impacts of those actions are exponential.”

Todd created The Brave Index to accompany the book. It’s a quick survey that helps you identify areas to develop your capacity for brave work and leadership. Based on your responses, you will receive a customized action plan. Todd says, “Don’t fear wrong action, fear inaction … One small step in the face of fear is enough to dispel its hold on you.”

2. Interesting Workshop – Clutter-Free Next Step

Does your next step include reducing clutter, overwhelm, and disorganization? One in four people struggle with clutter, which can affect their anxiety levels, relationships, sleep, and focus.

If you’re in the Westchester area near Croton on Hudson, New York, join me, Linda Samuels, Professional Organizer, for a live in-person workshop on How to Conquer Clutter. On Thursday, March 21st, from 5:30-7:30 pm Eastern, I’ll present at Design Lab’s monthly speaker series, sponsored by Denise Wenacur of DW Design & Décor. Come say “hi,” network with local professionals, enjoy yummy beverages and treats, and learn empowering clutter insights and solutions.

3. Interesting Article – Unplugged Next Step

March 1st was the Global Day of Unplugging. For 24 hours, we were encouraged to unplug, unwind, relax, and engage in activities that did not involve technology, electronics, or social media.

Did you miss it? That’s OK. You can create your own “unplugged” day or a part of a day at any time. Several of my colleagues wrote terrific articles about the benefits, history, and ideas for unplugging. Is stepping away from your devices next on your agenda? Find inspiration here:

• How to Unplug Your Home for the Ultimate Digital Detox by Teresa Siqueira

• Celebrate the Global Day of Unplugging by Julie Bestry

• How Unplugging Can Fuel Your Creativity and Forward Movement by Yota Schneider

“One small step in the face of fear is enough to dispel its hold on you.”

— Todd Henry

4. Interesting Resource – Beneficial Next Step

Spring is next. This is an excellent time for editing, letting go, and decluttering your closets and drawers. Do you have clothing and accessories you no longer need, want, or fit? If so, you can clear space and help others.

Consider donating your clothing to The Benefit Shop Foundation Inc. You can drop off things at 185 Kisco Avenue, Suite 101, Mount Kisco, New York. Items will be accepted in March and April, Monday through Friday, from 11 am to 4 pm. Donations are tax-deductible, and tax forms will be available.

The Benefit Shop Foundation will host a fashion pop-up sale on May 17th and May 18th from 10 am to 4 pm. Proceeds will go to various local community-based organizations that help people who live and work in the area.

5. Interesting Thought – Small Next Step

Figuring out what to do next can feel overwhelming. When unsure what to do next or feeling the enormity of a project’s scope, next seems elusive. Instead, focus on making consistent, tiny movements forward.

Each small step lets you experience progress, boosts your motivation, and moves you closer to your goal. Make your next step small and manageable. Do and repeat. Action is your key to progress.

Do you have an interesting, next-step-related discovery? Which of these resonates with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to join the conversation.

If you need help deciding on your next step, I’m here to help. Please email me at linda@ohsorganized.com, call 914-271-5673, or schedule a Discovery Call. Figuring out next is doable, especially with support.