The Productivity Guru: Are You Holding on Too Tightly?

People ask me all of the time: "Why can't I seem to let go of x, y or z?"

Hard to Discard

If you've ever wondered why you have a hard time letting go of "stuff" (fill in the blank here) you're not alone. When counseling people on letting go, I've found three main reasons contributing to the problem:

1. It served a purpose at one time in their life, although it no longer does. However, they haven't let go of that original purpose in their mind.

2. It represents something from their past that was either a positive or negative experience.

3. They aren't sure if they should keep it because they aren't clear about their future. And, since they lack clarity about their direction, they don't know whether they'll need it later.

All three of the above reasons come down to two things: making decisions and trusting that you'll choose the right way. Holding on too tightly to our "stuff" causes disharmony, confusion, and lost productivity. Ultimately, it steals our lives away by keeping us stuck in the past or future and pulling us out of the present. We use the statements, "I used to" and "Someday, I might," for everything.

Break the Pattern

If you find yourself holding on too tightly, here's what you can do right now to shift this pattern:

1. Make a list: List the areas of your house or office that are driving you crazy. Then, list the particular items that you're having challenges with.

2. Create a schedule: During the next month, set aside some time each week (You don't need hours and hours!) to start the clearing process. At least set the time aside so that you can contemplate what you want to do during it. Clearing and purging never happen under the gun, so you must allow yourself the space and clarity to think.

3. Ask for help: We don't learn these skills anywhere, and it's completely normal to NOT know what to do or how to do it. This is not everyone's strength; so, understand what you're good at and what you're not-so-good at. Then, use your resources to help you move forward with areas in which you feel stuck.

Oh, and by the way, "stuff" isn't just things. It can be thoughts, as well. So you can also use these three steps to clear away any thoughts that don't serve you well.

Sara Caputo, MA is a productivity and organizing consultant who has been streamlining environments and simplifying lives for years through consulting, coaching and training. She believes that by creating more order in our lives and eliminating unnecessary chaos, we can participate more fully in all levels of life. Sara is the owner of Radiant Organizing, a professional organizing and consulting company, based in Santa Barbara, California.