Clutter and hoarding: rest first before decluttering, organizing and cleaning

You may be thinking, “What? He wants me to rest first? I have too much to do.” Well, does pushing yourself to exhaustion, thinking you’ll get more done, really work? Will you really do more things? Or will you just move at a half pace, doing a half job? And will you feel good or miserable? There are many good reasons why you should rest first, before decluttering, organizing, and cleaning.

Guilt is not a good reason

If guilt is the reason you force yourself to work while you’re tired, it may have been taught to you as a reason to push yourself. But it’s not a good reason. How does guilt feel? It is a feeling that overwhelms you and can tire you. So banish guilty thoughts and feelings, no matter what action you are taking, be it by resting or doing.

On a plane you put on the oxygen mask first

On airplanes they always teach you to put on your oxygen mask first and then help others. This is a good idea throughout your life. Take care of yourself first, before taking care of your mess. Rest, eat, drink, do anything that supports your body so your mind can refresh while you declutter, organize, and clean.

You do more things when you are rested

When you are tired, you are more likely to make mistakes or take longer to do something. When your brain is tired, it’s harder to think, harder to make decisions, and easier to make mistakes. When you are rested, you can do a better job.

You can give yourself a 15 minute break and rest. I mean really rest, without feeling guilty or having negative thoughts about yourself or your situation. Relax your mind and just rest. Then you can get up and tidy, organize or clean with a much better mindset. Get enough sleep each night. Do whatever it takes to make it a priority to get a good night’s sleep and rest when you need it. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.