Feeling overwhelmed? Banish clutter from your desk, head and day for an instant lift

Tidy your desk

Distracted by the pile of papers to your left and lunch leftovers to your right?

Bogged down by busy work schedules it’s easy to let clutter creep up.

According to a recent study, we spend 35.7 million days a year looking for missing paperwork – the equivalent of 1.5 days per worker. Plus, almost one in 10 people have lost a new client, customer or a contract as a result of the state of their workspace. Eek! Take 10 minutes to tidy up at the end of the day for a happier work life.

Go digital

The idea of swapping your beautiful notebooks and diaries for their electronic cousins may not appeal, but going digital is the way forward. Using the diary on your phone, accessing your bank statements online and keeping notes on your smartphone is a great start. ‘Send yourself electronic reminders so you can keep on top of things every day,’ tips life coach Louise Presley-Turner (thegameoflife.co.uk). ‘I particularly like the HiFutureSelf app (free, for iPhone).’

Cut the crap

Physical mess can leave your mind cluttered – a massive seven in 10 adults get stressed out about by mess, according to a report commissioned by laundry brand Ariel. ‘A clear house equals a clear mind,’ agrees Louise.

‘When we are constantly dealing with mess, it drains our energy.’ Electrical items you no longer use? Unwanted Christmas presents? Sell them on eBay and make a quick buck!

Dry your shoulder

Being an agony aunt is great for your friends, but it can drag you down if you’re always providing a shoulder to cry on. ‘We all have what I call “energy vampires” in our life,’ says Louise. ‘As much as we want to be a good friend, sister or daughter, but it’s important that we don’t allow other people to stress us out. You don’t have to cut people out of your life, but ensure you also spend time with those who lift your spirits and make you feel good.’

Power down

The ability to check emails, Twitter and Facebook at any moment can leave your brain feeling frazzled – especially if you’re checking in before bed. Research from the Lighting Research Center in New York showed that using a tablet (set to its maximum brightness) for two hours or more can affect melatonin. This important hormone tells your body when it’s time to go to sleep, so messing with it can make it much harder to nod off. Give your brain some time to switch off from the electronic world and you’ll feel more relaxed.

Blitz the boring stuff

Everyone loves a to-do list, right? They’re one of the best ways to get those pesky errands off your desk and out of your life. Need to pay the energy bills? Sort out your insurance? Pay the car tax? So far, so boring. Write a list of all those niggling tasks and assign yourself one or two to do every lunchtime to clear the backlog.

Double up

Trying to fit in regular workouts, drinks with mates, family time and extra projects at work can leave life feeling a little messy and leave you feeling overwhelmed. Save yourself some time by combining commitments. Catch up with your mates on a run around the park and grab a quick coffee afterwards; write emails on your commute; or cycle or run to the office to get your exercise done.

Learn to prioritise

Technology has made multitasking an easy feat, but it can mean we take on too much – both at work and play. ‘Over-committing, whether socially or professionally, can eventually lead to burnout if you’re not careful,’ says Louise. ‘Prioritising creates calmness and space in your life so that you can focus your energy on the things that really matter. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, write down the five most important activities that need your attention right away. Focus your energy on these and don’t allow yourself to get distracted.’

Clear the rails

Wading through old jumpers and dresses you’ve never even worn to get to the stuff you wear every day is tiring! Clear out your wardrobe – and be brutal. Still hanging onto that LBD with the broken zip? If you haven’t worn it in the last year – and if you’re not going to fix any defects – it has to go! Grab a big bag and take it all up to the local charity shop. You can declutter your wardrobe and be a do-gooder in one fell swoop.

Read smart

At WF we love books! Dog-eared, coffee-stained or shedding pages – we can’t bear to part with them, but they don’t half take up a lot of room. Consolidate your library in electronic form with a Kindle. We’re relatively new converts to the e-reading trend, but even we can appreciate the fact it’ll save us buying that second bookshelf. Plus, the super-light reader means you can take a whole library on your hols!