Thursday, January 14, 2016

A Time to Declutter

by Judy




I am blessed to be surrounded by so many Creatives.  Since the year began I have seen many of my friends talking about starting new projects, finding their "word," planning and plotting all of the wonderful creative things they want to do with themselves this year.  I must say, I'm impressed, but I feel a little bit like a slacker. 

You see, I find that January is the time of year that I need to stop.  Just stop.  I need to take a deep breath and just be. I've learned that I can't focus on beginning projects, heck, I can't even focus on planning projects yet.  In the past I have struggled to find my one special word to begin my new year, only to find myself kind of grabbing at the first one that sounded good.  Needless to say, that word and I never really connected throughout the year.  I wonder if I'm alone here?  Have any of you felt this way too?  Do you feel like you need to ease into the new year and relax and rejuvenate before the creativity can flow? 

My one little plan for this month is to declutter my mind.  I've cleaned and decluttered my house as I put away all of the Christmas decorations.  Now I can set forth on getting rid of some of the mental post-it notes and lists in my head. 

I've begun journaling again on a daily basis.  I'm not sure why I always stop doing this - it definitely helps me to clear my head, and ideas seem to really flow.  I am also trying to stop multi-tasking.  As a woman, a mother, and an employee, this is a very difficult thing for me to stop doing.  But as many of my FOL sisters have talked about in their posts, I feel that multi-tasking is keeping me from being in the moment.  If I'm juggling too many things at once, I'm not really putting my best into any one thing. 


I really look forward to seeing all of your 365+1's, and ALL of your creative projects, but for now, what is right for me, is to dust the cobwebs out of my head and just BE.   












10 comments:

AFishGirl said...

A big fan of decluttering. Best book on it I've ever read is "Clutter Busting." It's really good. The red one, about stuff. I have not read his other one about relationships but I give the red one two thumbs up.

AFishGirl said...

http://www.amazon.com/Clutter-Busting-Letting-Whats-Holding/dp/1577316592/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236132313&sr=8-1

This is it.

Cathy H. said...

I understand how you feel. Each year in January I feel like everyone else is so far ahead of me with plans and projects. January is a time of rest for me. A time to replenish what the holidays have drained out of me. I did start a 365 this year, but only because I wanted it to start on Jan. 1, not because I was ready for it. Wishing you a restful January!

kimmanleyort said...

Hear, hear! January is a great time to pause and reflect. And your photograph says it so well.

terriporter said...

I completely agree with you about January and feeling the need to slow down after the hectic holidays. But I am always torn between wanting to slow down and wanting to start something at the start of the new year. So I have started some things but am easing into them. We can't let ourselves be swayed by others' busyness into taking on more than we are ready for. We all have to go at our own pace or it just doesn't work. As far as decluttering, I'm going in search of Pam's book. I have a LOT of that to do!

Anonymous said...

I can completely relate with decluttering...my mind that is! January has never been my favorite time of year to start new projects, but to reflect on last years inspirations that motivated me finish one project before starting another! There are so many things I want to see and do, but my mult-tasking skills are not exactly what they use to be! Im still trying to decide if I even want a word for the New Year as my wants, needs and moods change constantly...sorta like the seasons. Always changing but staying true to ones self! < this was my motto on my old blog! Thanks for sharing a wonderful post!

kelly said...

I think listening to our own hearts is always the best plan. Hoping that you find the peace and clarity that you need. xoxo

heyjudephotography said...

Thanks for the link Pam, I will definitely check this out!

Dotti said...

As I put the Christmas decorations away, I always declutter as part of the process of putting the house back to normal so I feel like I can 'breathe' again after all the holiday hoopla. January and February are usually project times for me simply because the winter seems so confining to me. I used to always do home improvement projects in the winter. Now that I've 'retired' from that, my projects usually center around photography. This month, I'm working on a photo book of our Europe trip six months ago. It just seems like I can't get this kind of stuff done when the outdoors beckons me and my camera. All that said, I'm going to join all of you in checking out Pam's book suggestion.

Sarah Huizenga said...

January is a good time to stop and regroup. I could have kept with my word from a few years ago for the rest of my life - it was and still should be JOURNEY.

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