Conquering Clutter
Clutter is a creative eclectic's nemesis—a toothless dragon that guards our treasure-trove of art supplies. Granted, clutter is a bi-product of our scattered nature, but an enemy just the same. When we cannot clear a place to do a project, the frustration singes our resolve.
So in an attempt to conquer clutter in my creative life, I've categorized mine:
Physical clutter-Those of you who have an arts and crafts room or art studio will relate with the tendency for our creative space to become the dumping ground for household minutia:
The barrage of junk mail stuffed in your mail box fans out on your art table
Your children's clothes, shoes, toys, books, suitcases etc. litter the floor
Unfiled papers, unfolded clothes, gadgets and doodads cover the guest bed
Physical clutter can kill creative inspiration because it throws our minds into sequential mode as we attempt to organize the mayhem. I have found I need to schedule tidying up times apart from my creativity times so I don't kill my innovative ideas.
Digital Clutter – I don't know about you, but I'm drowning in my email's inbox:
Spam emails somehow pass through the filter as if microscopic organisms swimming through a cell membrane
Online community emails grow like Kudzu, a creative vine strangler
Blog comments cry like hungry children tugging on their mother's skirt
Digital Clutter flusters the aspiring creative eclectic. Like physical clutter, we need to set aside times for doing what we dread—the mind-numbing task of sorting, deleting and de-subscribing from unwanted subscription lists
Emotional Clutter – Feelings clog up our creative conduit like slimy hairballs in sink pipes. Often we can't get past the worrisome mind creepers or push away our tendency to obsess, get angry, or entertain angst. Emotional clutter will put a halt to creative flow and needs times of regular removal:
Journal away your worries of the day—a daily practice of writing what wicks you off or causes you consternation will unplug your mind and soul pipes
Vent with a trusted friend—get your gloom and doom off your chest with someone who listens well and provides sound advice
Mental Clutter – We creative eclectics have a mind that works a lot like a skeet slinger. Ideas launch in every which way and we often fail to aim our mental rifles accurately so we can hit the mark. Here's a few tips I've found helpful to get my ideas out of my head and before my eyes:
An idea board is great for visualizing what you want to do or posting projects in process. I use a magnetic whiteboard mounted above my art desk
Artwork by Elya Filler and JoDee Luna
I create lists when ideas come to me and place them where I know I will see them: in front of the shifter in my car, on the refrigerator, on the kitchen counter, and on my dresser
Yes, clutter will always challenge the creative eclectic but with a little bit of management, we can conquer this beast. Then the sun will shine upon our creative endeavors once again.
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