Last week I linked to a post over at Fat Chic in which the writer pondered possible connections between home clutter and body clutter. Now, despite stereotypes by the Big Bad Media, not all obese people are alike. I know plenty of obese people, and plenty of skinny people, who are extremely neat and organized in their homes. I also know plenty of fat people and plenty of skinny people whose homes are cluttered. So I do not think that weight and messiness are necessarily causal one way or another. However, like Fat Chic, I notice that when my environment and my schedule are in order I tend to make more time to eat healthy and exercise more, regardless of whether I’m trying to lose inches.
Francesca lives by the motto of “a messy desk is a sign of a creative mind.” (Did anyone catch the study that came out several weeks ago, to the effect that this is actually true?) She is too busy writing and drinking coffee in sweet little cafes and generally being superfantastic to worry about banal chores like putting things back where they belong. One of Francesca’s favorite magazine articles was by a mom who said that when she dies, she wants her epitaph to read:
Here lies mom.
Her day is done.
The housework waited
but we sure had fun.
However . . . Francesca has noticed that several life factors tend to improve or devolve all together in her life:
- The management of the living space, with surfaces shining and no messiness.
- The management of the finances, with all bills and other monetary chores being dealt with on a regular basis.
- The management of body health, with fruits and vegetables and protein making their way regularly through the tummy, and the body getting the exercise it needs.
- The management of the work, with all tasks being finished before deadline.
- The management of the social life, with time set aside often to see friends, meet new people, and explore new places.
Francesca notices that when one or all of these elements are ignored for too long, a tipping point is reached and all the others begin to degrade as well. Similarly, for Francesca to improve in one area, often she must make small strides in each of the other areas as well, so that everything works together.
Managing one’s life is very difficult work.
So, let us begin with a baby step! Do you remember the video by Joy Nash, in which she encourages us not to hang on to clothes which do not fit?
Francesca wants you to open your calendar and make an appointment to do the following:
Go through your closet and storage spaces, and get rid of anything in your wardrobe that does not fit you, or which you have not worn in the past 2 years.
If you need to lose or gain more than 5 pounds for the garment to fit, get rid of it.
Please donate it to charity, or auction it off on ebay (perhaps donate the funds to charity? or use it to buy new clothes!), but get it out of your house.
You will be so happy to have the extra space (for brand new clothes, inspired by Manolo for the Big Girl!) and you will no longer have your brain cluttered with pressure to lose weight, or fear of gaining.
If you lose weight, you can buy new clothes. If you gain weight, you can buy new clothes.
Until that day, live in the present, and declutter your closet and your mind!
And then, if you want to take more baby steps, click here and learn more about decluttering your house and your schedule, one tiny step at a time.
The last time I tried to clean out my closet, Mr. Twistie kept putting things back in. Sigh. He’s become inordinately fond of certain of my old clothes and won’t let them go, even though I want to be rid of them.
Grrr Arrgh.
Comment by Twistie — October 8, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Ah, Francesca – our minds are thinking alike!
http://class-factotum.journalspace.com/?cmd=displaycomments&dcid=2357&entryid=2357
Comment by class-factotum — October 8, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
I have recently been on a cleaning binge, giving away bags and bags (and bags!) of clothes and shoes that I don’t wear anymore. I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels to get rid of things that have been taking up space in my closet and drawers. My inspiration came from watching Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style on Bravo, which is such a fantastic show. I keep saying I’ve “Tim Gunn-ed” myself, and I highly recommend that others do the same. Of course, the big difference is that I don’t have Tim Gunn and Bravo to pay for my new wardrobe, but such is life!
Comment by Amy — October 9, 2007 @ 10:40 am