Chapter 44 from “The ‘Keep It Simple’ Book” by Simon Tyler
So many of us are cluttered and whatever steps and practices we undertake it doesn’t prevent the clutter from re-accumulating, its constant. That is life!
I continue to notice distinctions between people who are happy and performing (whatever that means in their world) and people that are ‘efforting’ - working hard to find and maintain performance and happiness levels. One clear distinction is their relationship to their clutter (or the stuff that their jobs and life seems to gather), and how well they become liberated from clutters cluttering drag effect.
Control-Alt-Delete still works today as an easily translated metaphor for clutter, specifically that which slows down our thinking and mindfulness (as distinct from our minds simply being full!). I use it regularly in coaching, talks or workshops to help individuals and teams understand how they can free themselves from that which holds them back.
C-A-D often and free-up your capacity to be fully available to what life brings.
“We cannot change anything until we accept it.” – Carl Jung (1875-1961)
One of the first actions I take when my PC becomes irritatingly slow is “Control-Alt-Delete”. This rudimentary step displays the processes running and the amount of the computer’s memory taken up working on each. The absence of further useful knowledge means that I rarely do anything with this information but remain curious about what the processes are. Are they important, are they good for me, does my PC need to eb running them at all?
Just like my cluttered PC, your list can be incredibly long. Every item uses some of your power/focus/RAM. Every loose piece of paper on your desk, notes around the home, calls yet to be returned, active tasks, dormant tasks, old mistakes, new ideas, plans, dreams or doubts – all use up part of your processing power.
Your brilliant capacity means that much of this goes unnoticed and you go about your day comfortably, largely unperturbed. As the list grows beyond normal and acceptable levels, your capacity to be at your best and energy to work on new challenges can become exhausted.
My challenge for you in this Simple Note is to press your personal Control-Alt-Delete. Grab a pen and paper and make the list. Stay with the list and go beyond the obvious. What are you running/carrying/holding in your mind?
Return to your list over the course of a few days as you become conscious of new ‘processes’.
After three or four days, review your list. There may be obvious items that use up the majority of your memory power, and necessarily so, and that tends to be where we apply our focus.
Next give attention to the long, long list of seemingly insignificant things that, when combined, are taking up space in your capacity and using up yet more energy. This list requires an immediate purge.
What can you complete, let go of, consciously ‘press-pause’, or otherwise address right now?
Make these decisions and you WILL notice the difference.
Consider incorporating ‘Control-Alt-Delete’ as a monthly personal maintenance programme or more often if the list seems long or you frequently experience a memory-is-full emotion!