Entrepreneurs, we have to control that clutter

Hi Gladys, I know that by simplifying my life I would be more productive. But I have big trouble doing that. I have tried everything to keep my office and work space uncluttered. So far nothing works. I have noticed that when my workspace is clear I can think with more clarity. Right now I operate my business from my home, and I have plans to expand to an office building next year. My business has grown a lot and I will be hiring employees and I want to be a good example on keeping things neat and uncluttered. Why is keeping things organized so hard to do? -- P.C.

I understand that clutter can overpower your physical space and it's important to keep it to a minimum so be more productive. And, when the physical space is cluttered it can and usually does have an effect on our ability to think clearly. Mental clutter can also be called information overload.

We have become a society that is receptive to clutter of all kinds. It's coming at us from all directions – television, radio, newspapers, magazines and the Internet and now we can add the technology taking place on our smartphones. It is important to both your time and sanity to be able to filter through all of this information and physical clutter and determine what will work for you.

I have found that the best way to beat both mental and physical clutter is to live in more awareness as I move through my day.

Last year I read Julia Cameron's book The Prosperous Heart: Creating a Life of "Enough". The book is a 12- week program of getting into balance and having a better connection with your money and financial perspective. The basic tool that she uses is called "counting." "Counting" requires that you buy a small spiral bound notebook that you carry with you at all times. And anytime you spend money record it in your notebook and also record the money that you take in.

When you consider that most of the clutter that shows up in our lives is tied to something that we purchased this system of counting can be a helpful tool in decluttering.

It's amazing how life can change when you make a point to write down everything you spend. I followed this recording system for a month and I was shocked at much I bring into my life that I don't need. There were many times that I had second thoughts about making some purchases. Just the idea of writing each purchase can bring a halt to clutter.

A successful business depends on the gathering of information and knowledge. And it is easier now than ever to get what we need. Computers, smartphones and other devices make tasks that once took tedious hours of research a fingertip away. We can respond to customers' wants and needs more quickly, more completely and with fewer errors. In addition we can connect to others worldwide within minutes making it possible to attract and serve large markets.

With all of the wonderful things that we have available to us we must remain aware that we don't get into overload. We have to be able to decide what is important to us personally and professionally without getting overloaded with stuff.

Paring down and focusing is essential to both our personal and professional lives. Keeping excess clutter out of our lives is becoming more difficult.

Perhaps you can try "counting" for a few weeks to see if that helps you. It helped me to save money, time and removed a lot of the clutter from both my mind and my workspace. Recording your purchases is not the only solution but it can at least get you started moving in the right direction and allow you to get an idea of where all of that clutter comes from.

Gladys Edmunds, founder of Edmunds Travel Consultants in Pittsburgh, is an author and coach/consultant in business development. Her column appears Wednesdays. E-mail her at gladys@gladysedmunds.com. An archive of her columns is here. Her website is gladysedmunds.com.