Your Clutter Is Killing Your Creativity (And What to Do About It)

by Jeff Goins | 147 Comments | Twitter, Facebook, Google+

Photo credit: sleeping pill (Creative Commons)

Some weeks, my desktop is a disaster — full of papers and files and sticky notes with half-baked ideas.

Yes, I am your typical “creative.”

Disorganized and disheveled, I proudly chalk it up to the artist in me. But if I am honest, this is embarrassing, not to mention unproductive.

Clutter is not my friend; it is my enemy.

Clutter is procrastination. It is the Resistance — a subtle form of stalling and self-sabotage. And it keeps me (and you) from creating stuff that matters.

The mess is not inevitable. It is not cute or idiosyncratic. It is a foe — and it is killing our art.

Clean up your mess

Before beginning her career as a successful author and speaker, Patsy Clairmont did something unexpected. She washed the dishes.

She wanted to take her message to the world, but as she was readying herself, she felt nudged to start in an unusual way. She got out of bed and cleaned her house.

In other words, Patsy got rid of the mess. And it put her in a position to start living more creatively. We must do the same.

Bringing your message to the world does not begin on the main stage. It starts at home. In the kitchen. At your desk. On your cluttered computer.

You need to clear your life of distractions — not perfectly, but enough so that there’s room for you to create. The relationship between clutter and creativity is inverse. The more you have of the former, the less you have of the latter. Mess creates stress. Which is far from an ideal environment for being brilliant.

Make more with less

Jack White has an interesting philosophy on creativity. He believes less is more, that inspiration comes from restriction. If you want to be inspired, according to Jack, then give yourself boundaries. That’s where art blossoms.

At a public speaking conference earlier this year, I learned this truth, as it relates to communication. An important adage the presenters often repeated was this:

If you can’t say it in three minutes, you can’t say it in 30.

We spent the week of the conference writing and delivering five-minute speeches every day. We learned that if we couldn’t summarize our ideas in a few short sentences, then we couldn’t elaborate on them for half an hour. Sure, we could ramble and rant. But that’s not communicating. It’s word vomit.

I’ve learned to do this with writing. If I can’t say what I want in a sentence or two, then I’m not ready to share the idea.

Prematurely broadcasting an idea before it can be described succinctly will cause you to lose trust with your audience and cost the integrity of your message.

When attention is sparse, the people with the fewest, most important words win.

Be Ernest Hemingway

People have told me I write with an economy of words they find refreshing. In a world full of noise, it’s nice not to have to weed through spam to find the nuggets worth reading. But this doesn’t come naturally. Succinctly getting my point across is a discipline.

You see, I like to talk. A lot. I often process my ideas out loud as they come to me. However, I find this frustrating when I hear other people do it. So I’m trying to master the art of clutter-free writing. Here’s what I do: I write and write and write, getting all my ideas on paper; then, I take out as many words as possible while still clearly conveying my message.

If I can say it in five words instead of 15, I do. And so should you.

This process of cleaning up your messages is not intuitive for most people. But it is important — an essential discipline for anyone with a message to share. If you don’t know where to begin, start here:

Regain control of your inbox. Throw away magazines and newspapers you have no intention of reading. Clean up your email, getting it down to a manageable amount (zero, if you can).
Clean up your desk. Again, throw away stuff you haven’t used in months.
Find a relatively clean space to create. This is different for everyone, but it needs to not stress you out.
Limit your distractions. Turn off email, phone, and social media tools. Force yourself to focus on one thing at a time.
Start creating clutter-free messages.
Repeat this for the rest of your life.

For more on ways to be more structured and focus as a creative, I’ve found these books to be really helpful:

The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry
Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky
Clutter-free by Leo Babauta

Also, you might be interested in an upcoming conference in May, where I will be leading a workshop on this very topic. For more, check out The Luminous Project.

How do you deal with clutter and creativity? Share in the comments.

*Photo credit: Sleeping pill (Creative Commons)

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About the Author

Jeff Goins

I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. I live in Tennessee with my wife and dog. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Anonymous

Oh good one. I wanna read about clearing life clutter, too. Because I think we often fill our lives with as much crap as can pile on our desks. We need to clear out the junk from our lives in order to make headspace to really think and introspect and listen. Too much noise actually hinders listening, at least that’s the case in my life! Can you add that to your to-do list?

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

well said, Mandy! I can recommend a few more books, if you’re interested. Blogs, too. Feel free to email me.

http://relevantbrokenness.com/ Marni Arnold

I relate…relate…relate. I have been deep in purging lately…because you pin pointed my thoughts exactly. Mess creates stress. The crazy thing…the state of our mess in our homes (physically) can be a direct reflection of the mess inside of us that needs to be cleaned up. Amazing though how when we tackle the physical mess of our homes, the internal mess can start being tackled. It is amazing how these two things just are so deeply interconnected.

Here is to happy cleaning!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Ooh, good call, Marni. So an external mess is just a manifestation of an internal one? I think you’re onto something there.

http://twitter.com/robbinsbrandon Brandon Robbins

Agreed. That’s a good thought.
Cindi

I agree with Marni on this one. Usually if my area is a mess, it mirrors what’s going on inside of me- a mess, needing a good yoga or meditation session to rid the inside clutter.

NickZ

I agree with you. Whenever I start something new, I need to finish the old things and to bring everything in order. Then I feel that I have no load and can start afresh. Therefore I want to clean it all, before the New Year comes. It brings the feeling of a new start.

Happy New Year – with great resolutions and achievements!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

It’s liberating, isn’t it?

NickZ

Yes, it is. I feel lighter afterwards .

http://twitter.com/AlexaFoxBV Alexa Fox

Jeff, this one of your best posts ever and comes at the right time for me. I walked into my house after being away for Christmas and said “Oh, what have I been doing to myself!!” How can anyone create with this distraction ? Then there is always the possibility of embarrassment when unexpected folks knock on the door.

So, thanks again and Happy New Year everyone!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Thanks, Alexa.

http://www.sundijo.com Sundi Jo Graham

I hate to admit that you’re right.. I’m making progress, but definitely not where I need to be..

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Me, neither. Preaching to myself here.

http://www.kellycombs.com/ Kelly Combs

I LOVE THIS POST! This is one of my goals for 2012. My desk becomes the catch-all, so that everything gets piled here. Thanks for the inspiration.

I have heard Patsy Clairmont speak, and I love the story you referenced. She summed it up that if we are faithful in the little stuff, God will give us more.

Finally, ”word vomit.” What a horrible visual. But well said, conveyed your idea perfectly. But GROSS!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Yep. It IS gross.

Angelbear252000

I LOVE the way you think and communicate.
I too love to talk, but often find that the words “Too Verbose!” written across one of my high school papers long ago, aptly descriptive of my emotional need to be heard accomplishing the complete opposite of what I intended. No one wants to be badgered by anyone’s emotional tirades. To wait until the idea is boiled down to the few short words you describe as succinct, is a discipline, but one worth cultivating in this media bombarded culture. The less said the better heard.
Thank you.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Thanks, friend. Well said.

http://rebootingworship.com/ Jamie Kocur

Oh, this is so me. I am spending a week of vacation cleaning up the clutter in my house that is totally stifling me. I’ve also been trying to clean up my e-mail inbox, but I’ve let it go so long that it’s been a three to four month process…
I am also learning the importance of cleaning up my writing as well. Less is more.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Indeed. That is so important, Jamie. Glad you are learning this, as it relates to writing.

Hillary

Well put. In so many ways art, as writing is, is making order out of chaos. A good writer is someone who can say that “no new idea under the sun” in a way that makes people feel like it is new, or remember it like it’s the first time they have ever experienced it. As you said, beauty is often expressed most effectively in simplicity. In addition, your thoughts on basic mundane tasks, such as folding the laundry or putting away the dishes, are exquisite exercises to organize one’s inner thoughts so they reflect such simplicity in ornate ways once they are spread upon the page. Just as much as our experiences fuel our writing, our environments shape how we view the world.

Thank you for sharing,

Hillary
http://www.write-along-blog.blogspot.com

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Love that. You’re absolutely right. And an important caveat: this doesn’t mean we make the chaos perfect, just a little more orderly.

Hillary Radbill

Nice word, caveat. Never seen it before. I’m enjoying your blog. It’s inspirational and I learn things.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

One of my favorites.

http://hubbyshome.com/blog/ David

Jeff, I regret that it took me a long time to come to the same conclusion. I used to see doing the housework as a chore but now I enjoy it because I know I’ll have the freedom to create once it’s done. It’s also amazing how many flashes of insight hit me while I’m cleaning house.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Me, too.
http://twitter.com/PatWooldridge Patricia Wooldridge

I so agree, David. It took me a week and a half, working most of every day, but I got the clutter cleaned up. I had a feeling it was all blocking me from being productive; now it’s finished, surfaces are clean and binders (indexed, all standing together, and labeled) and holding all the great info I just KNEW I still had. The block, or huge distraction, or whatever, is gone. Writing happens now. Jeff does hit the nail on the head. Best to heed the hits. )

Tamara

Thank you for this post. It’s timing was perfect. I planned last night an intensive house cleaning today as a way to prepare to be a more productive writer in 2012. This morning my little voice was telling me I’m just procrastinating on finishing the first draft of my novel. Thank you for “giving me permission” to declutter in order to free up creativity.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

You’re welcome.

http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

Be Ernest Hemingway. Shoot yourself.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

The shooting is optional (and discouraged).

http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

I see. Clarity trumps concision, hence your choice.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Yup.

Anonymous

Thanks Jeff. You provide great thoughts to chew on, though I would like to give a slightly different view. My gut tends to push back against statements that lump everyone into seemingly small boxes.
I also struggle with mess causing me stress, preventing me from doing what I need to do or allowing me to be distracted. I have wondered though how some great creatives (Picasso, Walter Cronkite, Einstein…) do great work with “mess” around them. I think my tension is in the quote “Mess creates stress”. From my limited observations I wonder if many great creatives just don’t let mess create stress. They are so passionate about their work that nothing can stop them from creating. Not even meal times, bed times or the piles of papers around them can keep them from their passion. They can’t help but create.

I desire to be a creative that does so in spite of my organizational skills and not because of them.

Thanks for all your challenges to us.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

I think we are more alike than different, Mark. For me, it’s not about perfection, but it is about getting a grasp on the chaos in our lives. I appreciate the push-back. I don’t want to over-generalize. Thank you. I am guided by this passion you describe (sometimes, it’s more like an obsession).
NickZ

That is a very interesting point, I must admit.

I have noticed something else. There are many fake creatives who live in mess, because they have heard that great minds do so. They acquire their image, the image of the creative mess but do not create anything, just look creative.

It does make difference if you start with the mess or work with it during the process. One would never clean up being lost in creative passion, but one does need something symbolical which denotes the new start. It helps. And who knows what the great minds did before they started something new? What was their way to start afresh?

Anonymous

Good points. Genuine comes to mind as a good descriptor for some of these folks.

I suppose a lesson is that we should not use either lifestyle as a crutch or obstacle. Clean starts do feel good though.

sweetpea

I can relate to this. When the creative fairy godmother hits you with that wand…you go for it… writing, then painting, back to writing, illustrating (never did this before but..) making music, a book of poems, a cd of tunes ..crazy vortex. Aftermath.. looks like a tsunami hit my place. .I’m spent, I’m happy …I know “Home Beautiful” is never going to visit. My partner “gets it” and adapts. Coffee is sent in, meals sent in. I emerge from the “surge” sometimes a week, sometimes three and then I clean…15 minutes max a day. Only rule… no seepage … no brushes, paints, paper, music equipment, books, scissors, implements of mass distraction …whatever ..in other areas of house. (it took years to get to this stage)
I think it created more stress for “some” people that visited…jazz musicians and arty farty’s were always fine with it.

http://profiles.google.com/susanwbailey Susan Bailey

Funny this post should come today. I just last night finished cleaning out and rearranging the sitting room portion of our bedroom where I read and write. As I am reading, studying and writing about Louisa May Alcott, I cleaned out my bookcase of old stuff and moved my entire library of books regarding Alcott into the bookcase. The room is clean, clear and open and my computer area looks out onto the deck and the bird feeders. And right now I am writing . . .

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

hah! interesting.

Aaron

Great post, Jeff. In my experience so many “creatives” are frustrated for lack of willingness to restrict their mess, minimizing their possibilities, and focusing in. It felt “limiting” to me in my youth and feels freeing to me in my non-youth… Keep it up!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, Aaron!

http://lifebeforethebucket.blogspot.com Adrian Waller

What’s funny is that we recently left our apartment to visit our parents over Christmas Break, and so I finally cleaned off my desk. I haven’t used it in months, but I was able to spend a couple of hours sitting at it and was surprised at how much I could get done. I guess it makes sense, though, in light of what you’ve said here.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

interesting!

http://www.indueseason.net skottydog

Cutting down your word count is certainly a good practice. I’m starting to like Twitter (slightly) in that regard. It forces you to cut down your sentences into one, two max while coherently getting your message to the reader.

Also, funny you mentioned Jack White regarding creativity. I thought Bryan Allain was joking when he said he was speaking at the Killer Tribes Conference…do you know something we don’t? :^}

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

I agree about Twitter. (For more, see this: http://goinswriter.com/twitter-makes-you-a-better-writer/). Regarding Killer Tribes, no comment.

http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

As illogical as it is, I’ve found this to be true. It’s all about the environment I create for myself. Wearing certain clothes, listening to certain music, and having a clean area around me do wonders to my effectiveness.

http://popparables.com Keri

I’m dying to know what kind of clothes because maybe I need them.

http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

Business Casual. I work from home, so I could get away with…well, whatever. But when I dress up like I’m going to a meeting, I just feel more business-like and productive.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

that’s good. working from home, i’ve found the same to be true.

http://twitter.com/PatWooldridge Patricia Wooldridge

My ‘writing clothes’ are usually business casual. “Usually”, because if ideas come to me first thing in the morning, I put on whatever’s handy, get to the computer (as soon as I take the dog outside/inside again and feed her) and get everything written. Fortunately, the first things I come to are generally my jeans and a sweater. Later, depending on the mood, I put on better jeans and a better sweater and a scarf. If I’m in the middle of writing some my 2nd novel for kids, I often feel like wearing some variation of sweatshirt with a favorite shirt under it. And my Work Pin, which is a pewter horse collar with hames. As my writing involves kids who are into horses and therapeutic riding, this getup seems to spur the process almost as much the clean writing area I now enjoy.

Anonymous

Nearly 18 months after moving into our house, we are finally getting the bonus room clean. That’s where my painting studio and design office are. I hope to have it finished in a day or two, and I predict that once I get it wrapped up and “neat-ified” I’ll start having a lot more creative flow. I’ve been stuck and haven’t painted in about 9 months, and it hurts.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

you just convicted me dude. good thing we only moved six months ago. :-/

http://twitter.com/Ashley_E_Prince Ashley Prince

Great post. I can definitely say that when I start my day cleaning, I find it easier to sit down and write. I also don’t feel guilty by taking hours to write if there is not a stack of dishes or a pile of laundry that needs to be done.

Definitely a post that I need to remember.
http://www.nginaotiende.blogspot.com Ngina Otiende

“You need to clear your life of distractions - not perfectly, but enough so that there’s room for you to create.”
“Mess creates stress”
Wow, what a word for the new year!
Thanks for sharing!
http://www.spencesmith.com Spence Smith

Jeff… this post is me all the way. I can’t do squat when my world is cluttered. I need the freedom of open space or else i get bogged down with knowing i haven’t cleaned up my mess or organized my space in a way that brings a productive and creative space. It’s easier for me to get under control these days but one other area of my life that gets cluttered is my schedule. If my life is to cluttered with other stuff going on then it’s hard for me to do the important things in my life.

Even blogging. I love it but my life has been so busy and cluttered at times, it’s hard for me to make the time.

Great post!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

agreed. thanks, Spence!

http://www.brandonclements.com Brandon Clements

Making progress in this as well, but still have a long way to go. A friend made fun of me just the other day because my desk it super clean but my computer desktop is a mess!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

one step at a time, right?

http://www.brandonclements.com Brandon Clements

exactly.

http://jeremysconfessions.com Jeremy Statton

I hate word vomit.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

tastes like bile
http://sagoyism.com Josh Sarz

Hah. I learned a new term today. Word vomit.

http://jeremysconfessions.com Jeremy Statton

Gorging our writing with partially digested ideas, an online thesauruss, and the desire to please our 8th grade writing teacher is an awful thing, Josh.

Nannhudson

Wonderfully succinct and timely. I am guilty of the whole sabotage. I see this pattern in my life:I can’t create in this mess…I’m tired of all this stuff piled around me…*turns on Facebook*. So convicted. Ready to purge. Thank you, Jeff.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks! by the way, you might hate it, but this could help: http://goinswriter.com/wasting-time-on-facebook/

Laurie Wallin

Ha! And my hubby always messes with me about how I clean house before I work on a chapter for my book or write a post! I KNEW it was productive. Thanks for the encouragement!

http://popparables.com Keri

I really feel that the manual labor of house cleaning gets my creative juices flowing. It’s a nice warm up exercise for the brain.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Cool. I Agree.
Anonymous

Yeah, and I think it raises our sense of confidence and accomplishment too, so we can get in productive, creative mode!

http://SignificantEncounters.com/ Deborah

Thanks for this post Jeff.
I have been purging my home for a couple of years.
As I learn more about writing, I am learning to purge there
as well.
I have been taught to write like I talk, because it sounds
more authentic.

I have also been taught NOT to write like I talk because I
talk so much.

It appears to be an ongoing thing.

I think I’m slowly getting there though.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

excellent, Deborah. just as with our possessions, we need to purge our writing, too.

http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson

I think Jack White is on to something. I think that is really true. I like to use the analogy of rivers and floods. For rivers to be helpful, they need strong boundaries. Without boundaries, rivers become destructive floods. In the same way, creativity needs boundaries to be helpful or good. Plus, I think most creative types would admit to needing some kind of limit or parameter or deadline to work with.

Great post. Since I got married, I have been learning how to keep the dishes clean. It makes for a much happier wife.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

good man!

http://www.ricardobueno.com Ricardo Bueno

I pounded my inbox yesterday. From 800+ messages down to 32 messages in my inbox. It was frustrating opening my email every day. Now, not so much. It’s clutter free and it feels damn good. I respond quicker and I feel more confident doing so.

Cleaning up all the clutter – emotional, physical, et cetera – makes you feel damn good. It allows you to think clearly and get what you need to do, done.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

amen.

http://www.turningthepage.info/ Barry Pearman

Thanks for this Jeff.

One of my favourite books about communication is Communicating for a change by Andy Stanley. His view is to bring the message you want to communicate down to one point, one sentence, one unforgettable line.

I try and do this, and have everything else revolve around the hitting that one point home via illustrations, stories, images etc

I have attached an image with a quote from his book.

Off to clean my desk!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

nice quote. this is true.

Jodi Schumm

Great suggestion to start with cleaning clutte! The messy areas I try to avoid burden my thoughts with “but you should be . . .” making it harder to focus. I think it is a needless hurdle in the freelancing work I do.
Although there’s still several work-related tasks on my list yet for this afternoon, I’m going to de-clutter my office first.
As you can tell, I also need to put into practice your tips for the economy of words
http://www.facebook.com/twerthem Tammy Bolt Werthem

I am a bit of a neat freak, but having kids made me lighten up. We decrease clutter by opening mail outside on the porch and sending junk, directly to recycling. In addition, we pay a lot of bills online. I use baskets to contain kids stuff, husband’s stuff, etc.
We only keep what we are using. We donate a lot to Goodwill and our local soup kitchen. I believe in systems for organization and encourage my family to honor and use these systems. Most of all, I do a lot of “letting go”!
http://www.linchpinbloggers.com/ Don McAllister

Clutter is indeed the Resistance. Now I just need a desk to keep de-cluttered..
Also, great process you have for clutter-free writing! I have similar discipline, but find myself at times thinking too much about what was already written before the thing is even finished. Great post!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

yeah, you need to de-clutter after you’ve written.

David Whittacre

I’m sitting at my computer, thinking about all the things I could say in response to your post…lots of things. see…LOTS of things, but I find if I have to read too much in a post or a blog, I either skip over it, or read just parts of it. I don’t want this post to be a one that anyone wants to skip because it’s too long, so I’m off to cleaning off my desk, and someone just taught me how to delete emails by the page. I went from 2,000 to 56 in an afternoon. I’ll share this delete method with anyone would like.
adrienne

Typo… you said “Bringing you message to the world…” That’s when I checked out.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

fixed. you may resume reading now.

http://twitter.com/worshipVJ stephen proctor

I like to play the “artist card” once in a while, but if I’m honest, I’m a neat freak. I’ve slacked a little in the past years… really this was me just loosening up a bit. But I feared that I really wasn’t a true artist b/c I was never really THAT messy.
I can’t start a project or focus on anything until everything is cleaned up and in it’s place. I almost use this as an excuse to procrastinate. But it sure does feel good to have order before creating controlled chaos. =)

I need to apply this more to my writing though. I can get really wordy sometimes. This is a good reminder to get to the point while maintaining the same power of the message. It CAN be done.

Thx Jeff.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Hah! I love the statement about not being a true artist. Wanna come do my dishes?

http://www.inpulsearts.com/Word Eddy Damas

Yeah, this should get me motivated to cleam my…errr…office. As I am sitting here typing and looking at the screen I am actually looking over several stacks of DVDs….
http://educlaytion.com/ Clay Morgan

Funny that I just saw this link scrolling through Facebook about 2 minutes after spending 3 hours finishing my move that started, um, 2 months ago. Clutter free and loving it.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

way to go, Clay!

Jenifer Sam

I am going to clean my room now. Right away! Thank you.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

http://thepaperskies.com David Helms

True story. Sometimes my best sentences and paragraphs pop in my head when I’m doing something completely different from writing or blogging. Usually when I’m doing dishes or straightening up and can allow my mind to wander.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

this is always true for me

http://John.do John Saddington

definitely liking this!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, John! I imagine you would. I need to emulate your example — you seem to live a pretty organized life. I could use more of that.

http://John.do John Saddington

it’s a trick of the mind. i’m organized when I need to be but it’s not a goal of mine.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

I can relate to trickery. It’s the secret to any productivity I have. I am just tricking myself.

https://turnerbethany.wordpress.com/ turner_bethany

I was thinking about this post today while starting my day by washing the dishes. I love how eliminating clutter in the home eliminates some of it in the mind as well. But not only does it eliminate clutter, I think it helps give us a path as well. Many times during more mindless chores I think about what I want to get done and how about getting it done.
Toni Nelson

As “they” say, “Less is more.” My friends always give me a hard time because my house is clutter free. They want to know “how”, I do it. Simple… If there is a place for it, put it back in its place. Handle paper once and pay it, file it or toss it!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

this is excellent, Toni. I need to do more of this.
Pat

Sounds like another way to say, “Don’t put it down; put it away.”

Rachel

We are on the same page. Love this blog.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, rachel!

Angieelkins

THanks for these thoughts. I never realized how true this was. Im challenged to get things in order…

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

best of luck, Angie!

Michele Blaker

Jeff,
It’s not just clutter killing my creativity, but unfinished projects as well. I knit and scrapbook as hobbies. The unfinished albums, sweaters, scarves, and socks haunt me even though they are neatly tucked away. Finishing creative endeavors releases energy for new ones. Leaving them unfinished keeps that energy locked up and unavailable. Here’s to decluttering through fInishing!
Thanks for the great ideas,
Michele

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Michele, I can relate. To be clear, I think unfinished projects ARE clutter. Best of luck to you.

Anonymous

Hey Jeff!

Clutter=procrastination. Simple. I’m seeing housework in a new light.

I read this yesterday and something hit me this morning. I do tasks all day long such as sketching, idea generation, writing, sleeping, dealing with clients, putting out fires, answering emails, selling, eating, riding my bike, dealing with kid’s, cleaning, meal prep, etc.

If my approach to all of the daily “doings” is closer to “just do it,” generalizing that mindset/behavior to my work activities just happens.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

cool insight, Garry

LeJuan

I saw this post on my cell via facebook-email compliments of my bro and my first thought was … Oh No! Did he put this on my wall?? Whew. He posted it on his. This really helps me to realize I am not the only living human who has JUNK to take care of. Thanks Jeff!
http://cacpro.com/blog Trevor

This is so good, Jeff. Sometimes I don’t want to be bothered taking the time to organize my office, but I need to remain mindful that it can be hindering my work. And that it’s worth the extra few minutes to de-clutter… Sometimes it takes de-cluttering my physical world in order to do the same with my thoughts…
http://twitter.com/robbinsbrandon Brandon Robbins

“We could ramble and rant. But that’s not communicating. It’s word vomit.” // Guilty. This post reminded me that clutter is not only in our physical environment, but it manifests itself in the way we talk and write too. Thanks, Jeff.
http://www.patwashington.blogspot.com Pat Washington

Haven’t browsed through your comments yet, but I chuckled when I read this post because cleaning first often backfires on me. Cleaning, to me, can be another form of procrastination that keeps me from my writing…. And now that the post-surgery percocet haze is lifting, I should really be writing. I miss writing. But if I miss it so much, what is it that keeps me away from it?
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Cindy Marie Jenkins

The whole idea of cleaning before you write is why I transitioned all of my work to a home office. Clutter used to bother me even when I wasn’t there!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Interesting.

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http://nariness.livejournal.com/ Najee

Alright, alright, that “To Do” note of mine to clean my desk, closet, and book closet has been staring at me for too long already. Thanks a lot for this. =D

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

My pleasure. Cleaning my kitchen tonight.

M Saif.

Did realise the importance of living a clutter free life a few years ago, but we all need subtle reminders once in a while. When laziness and distraction tend to become habitual!
Last month I had to study for my semester exams but just could not get to do it. Finally I tidied my room, bazinga the concentration switch just flicked itself on!

Lovely article.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Excellent!

Richard Graham

Thanks for a great post Jeff, as a young pastor starting out in preaching I was once given this advice by a much senior and wise pastor: ” If you haven’t struck oil after 10 minutes – stop boring!”
Too much information can blind. I suppose in crafting the sermon it is good to remember what you are trying to achieve. The easy way is to take the “P” off preaching!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

well said, Richard.

Cindi

I’m with you in cleaning up the clutter on my desk before I start writing. For me, if something is out of place,my eye wanders to that very thing. I get up, put it away, sit, start over again.I waste precious time and my creativity is then restricted until everything is in its place. Cleaning or making my work area functional is a good thing.
http://www.bobbyhutchinson.com/ Bobby

It’s such a delicate balance, clutter and clean. It can go either way–write with blinders and ignore the fulminating mess, or find so much that needs cleaning you never get around to writing. Somewhere there’s a happy medium, its just tough to find.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

agreed. well said, Bobby.

Elaine Sangiolo @inkdipped

This article really connects with people. I liked it so much I tweeted about it. Makes total sense.

Elaine
Book Marketing Manager: Cathedral of Dreams, A Kingdom’s Possession
Booktrope Publishing
http://www.booktrope.com
http://www.booktropepublishing.com
@inkdipped:twitter

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, Elaine!

Elaine Sangiolo @inkdipped

I also find that when I enter into writer’s block, if I go and wash dishes, often the block releases and a flood of ideas enters my mind. Okay, so I stop washing and write, but … few dishes are clean and my writing benefits.

Elaine

Kvhaesen

Is this a self-help Blog? …or is it just a mere (but useful) distraction?
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Jenny

This is too funny. I just sat down to take a break after doing dishes, when I came across this. I really needed it. Thanks. And I agree with the person that said the clutter outside is a reflection of our clutter inside.

Cindi

Messy outside means messy inside. I see it as a good indicator of where I am emotionally.

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makabata

so true!while reading this, i can almost visualize myself in the center of my room with all those sentimental notes-cards-books- newspapers.etc.oh no! its hard to let them go! but yeah.. for me to let new things in… i have to ditch them out… LESS IS MORE!
http://twitter.com/PatWooldridge Patricia Wooldridge

Jeff, my appreciation of this column is doubled by the fact that I finally finished doing exactly what you have just said to do. How freeing it is to work in an undistracting, clean space. I’m determined to keep every room clear of clutter, inviting to all who enter.(Added benefit: no feeling of dread when the doorbell rings). There! Guess I just got sick of all my creative thoughts drowning in Brain Bile every time I thought of the mountain of info all over the place, that I had been overwhelmed with, then had procrastinated over for a year so. I really enjoy, and learn from, your columns. Many are in a labeled binder so I can go to them anytime, and add more favorites as I find them. Thank you for demonstrating that we most often write memorably when we dare to be ourselves.
http://www.memyselfandkids.wordpress.com/ Larry Bernstein, blogger

I find myself distracted by the clutter. I prefer things organized which helps me focus. So, I am definitely on board with this idea.
SML3966

This morning Iwashed my dishes, cleared my desk, and I also threw away magazines and newspapers that have been sitting for a long time. Then , I sat down at my computer, and came to your website to continue my desire to be the writer that I long to become. I then choose this post to read, and I honestly feel like I am getting it, as I had washed my dishes and cleared my clutter before I sat down at my computer to write. THANKS JEFF
http://www.heartchoices.com/ Debbie

Oh my, as I was reading this post I noticed that I have 505 emails in my inbox. And that’s just from three days. I end up spending so much of my days off going through my messages and responding. It’s crazy!

You’ve inspired me! Thank you for that.

Debbie
http://www.domesticfashionista.com/ Ashley Urke

This is so interesting! Something I have been learning lately is to have less so that I can live in my own home and live out my creative ideas! I started watching my one year old nephew part time and it has been such an awakening to living in a home with children. I have learned to declutter and have less so that he has the freedom to roam around our home and to play and to touch things without me being concerned something will be broken or hurt him. I very much apply this to my creative life right now…but will be the first to admit to you that I want to declutter before I have children. I am slowly getting there but I want to be able to live with my kids and not always moving the clutter to only clutter somewhere else. Thank you for this insightful post!
Colleen

I should have taken before and after pictures.

We’re renovating our main floor — doing it ourselves — and I’ve been using the excuse that we live in a construction zone. But when my mother-in-law (whom I love) dropped and my husband invited her in (to the very back of the house) to see the freshly painted office, I woke up. Then a friend, who is a meticulous housekeeper, asked to stay over on her way through our city, and that really lit a fire under me. None of us have been coping well in the murderous chaos, but I was too busy making excuses and being distracted by legitimate tasks. My step-daughter can play chopsticks on the piano again, now that it’s no longer buried under laminate flooring, empty boxes and DVD cases.The office is finished except for the baseboards; who knows when those will get put on so we can move the desk, computer and filing cabinets out of the bedroom. But our living area is clearer, more laundry is cleaned and actually put away, and I’m ready to gradually sort the papers to file taxes. We’ll get there. And we’ll be creative along the way.
http://twitter.com/barbhemphill Barbara Hemphill

Thank you for your wisdom and your eloquent, clutter-free expression. For over 30 years, the theme of my business has been “Clutter is postponed decisions.” Although the grammar is questionable, the message is accurate. In spite of the promise of the paperless world, paper continues to be the #1 organizing challenge in homes — and in many business, though they often refuse to admit it. I look forward to your continuing inspiration.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Hah! Love it.

Anonymous

Jeff, thanks for your very cogent observations. I’m in the midst of a transition and discovering daily just how much clutter has been sapping my creative energies! I’ve quoted you in a blog post (http://www.russwhaley.com/cluttered-life/), publishing 3/15/12 in the afternoon. Appreciate your perspective! Blessings to you and yours!
http://www.drkatherinedale.com/ Dryouareloved

I used to be far worse than I am now. My friends called me a “sulpher” constitution, Homeopathically. I have worked hard to be more organized and tidy. Every once in awhile, I appear a bit dishevelled, wearing my gaucho pants with my curly hair everywhere. What happened to your hair, my student asked, it’s gone “POOF!”. I find my ideas go “poof” and “bamb” and “pam” when I have some clutter around me; it allows my creativity to flow rather than stop abruptly. The momentum can be stunted by cleaning up too much! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I look forward to reading more of your suggestions and ideas. Thanks!
http://worldisoutthere.blogspot.co.uk/ MichB

Hmm, I’ve had to learn this lesson too. I am naturally a ‘spreader’ when it comes to stuff on my desk, but before I can start drawing I have to whiz through my desk, stacking things into To-Do piles and dealing with those little odd tasks. Once that’s done and the work area is organised, I find I can sit down to work with a clear head and no distractions. It also helps me not knock over my water pot quite so much!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Sounds like we’re kindred spirits!