When there is a lot of stuff going on, it can be easy to let things get cluttered and overrun. Small things accumulating over time, until it becomes oppressive. Don’t get me wrong – I am not necessarily talking about some kind of extreme hoarding (though maybe you are) but even if it’s a bunches of glasses on the bedside table, or coffee mugs beside the sofa, or unopened mail on the hall table, it can soon all add up.

Having lots of “stuff” hanging around can disrupt your flow just as much as mental clutter – but often the idea of clearing it all up can be overwhelming and just add to the other stress we have going on in our life.

So start small.

Today, I am going to ask you to tidy up one such area and bring a wee bit of order back into your life.

Pick an area that is small and manageable, but that you see every day. It might be your bedside table, the coffee table in the sitting room, hallway table, the kitchen bench beside the kettle, the unwashed dishes in the sink – whatever it is, choose one of them. Then set a timer for 5 minutes and just get to work tidying it up. Throw out what needs to be thrown out, put the dishes in the dishwasher, or simply wash them up, slippers put back in the bedroom – whatever it takes.

Five minutes can be all that it takes to put a wee bit of order back in your life, and maybe even inspire you to go further.