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When it comes to creating order in your workspace, sometimes it’s the smallest changes that have the greatest positive impact on your work and well-being.

I discovered an assumption recently that I consider it “free time” when I don’t have a task or appointment scheduled on my calendar. I was frittering away perfectly good work time watching Ellen videos and reading Facebook – and then wondering why I wasn’t getting anything done. Yipes!

Three weeks ago, I started a new practice that is benefiting both my productivity and spirituality.

It has so revolutionized my focus, that I thought I’d share it with you in case you want to try it.

A disclaimer

Now, before you go thinking I’m a genius, I’ll tell you that someone else thought of this before I did. In Abraham-Hicks, they call it the ‘placemat technique’. What I’m doing is a variation on that theme… without the manifest-y stuff. And also with a different outcome. But it’s similar. Aaaanyway…

Big, colorful, and grape-scented

I needed some structure with my work flow.

Since I’m a tactile learner, I love to use huge pieces of paper and sweeping movements with my whole body to think and plan. I am also a raving fan of those fruit-scented magic markers. Mmm. Strawberry… Lime… Blueberry… Sorry, I digress.

Anyway, I like to use these tools and methods because they’re so natural and fun for me. So I decided to use them with the intention of focusing better when I have unscheduled work time.

Monday morning magic markers

At the beginning of the week, I reflect on what goals I want to move forward. I check my calendar to see how much free time I actually have to work on these projects.

Then, using 2′x3′ Post-It(c) flip chart paper, I create two columns. The first column says “Jen” – and I write down the things I’d really like to do in the next 5 days. This week, for example, it looks like this:

Jen:

• Plan steps for 4HS
• Meet with Marketing Director (me)
• Prep for smARTist event
• Plan to update December expenses/income
• Update pricing on website
• Write article for newsletter

I hang this colorful, fruity paper on the wall next to my desk. When I find myself getting distracted or confused about what I want to be doing, it’s right there. When I finish something, I use another marker and cross it off.

It’s amazing how something so simple can help me be so focused and productive.

What’s in the other column?

I mentioned that there are 2 columns. The second column says “God”. This is one of the most amazing, radical things I’ve ever done in my business. I’m delegating stuff to the Divine.

Now, maybe you’re thinking I’m being blasphemous or that all the recent retreats to the Abbey have made an impact on me. Maybe both are true.

But here’s the thing. Stuff happens every day that I cannot handle. I can’t handle it because I don’t understand it, or it frightens me, or I feel huge resistance to dealing with it. This happens for everyone. Every day. Conflict happens. Surprises happen. Things fall through.

All the stuff I cannot handle

At 3:45am, guess what I do? I wake up and start to worry about all of it. It sucks. Maybe you can relate.

Lately, I’ve started to realize that not a single bit of worrying I’ve ever done has ever changed a thing.

If anything, worry has made matters worse. “What if I don’t make enough money this month?” turns into awkward conversations with loved ones. “Do I have anything to wear tomorrow?” turns into a panicky morning and an uncomfortable day. “Is she mad at me?” et cetera – you know what I mean?

Worrying, no matter how skilled I am at it, is not helping me – or my business.

Drrrrrop it…

As a kid, I remember playing with a friend’s young golden retriever. “Sensi, drop it.” She had a tennis ball, but she wouldn’t obey. I didn’t yell, I just said it calmly, persistently, over and over, “Drrrrrop it, Sensi. Drrrrrop it. Drop. Sensi, drop it. Drrrrrrrop it.”

And some days, I think that’s exactly what God must be saying to me. “Drrrrrrop it, Jen. Drop. Jen, drrrrrop it. ”

My ego really, really wants to hang on to control and try to handle everything. Yet there’s a deeper place in me that wants to hand over the scary stuff and the confusing stuff and the hard stuff. And maybe pick it up later when I feel more ready.

So I started this practice of writing a God List every week, along with my own to-dos, to practice dropping it and actively handing it over.

This week, it looks like this:

God:

• bill paying system
• my week “off”
• hard drive backup
• too much to do

If it’s on this list, it means I have NO idea what to do about it and I’m not sure what my next step is. Because it’s on God’s list, I don’t have to worry. I delegated it. It’ll get dealt with.

I’ll bet you know what’s coming next, but I’m still amazed. After 3 weeks, everything I’ve delegated to God so far has gotten resolved. Inspired Spouse’s broken laptop. Feeling overwhelmed. Snarly budget stuff. I don’t know why it has worked out this way. In fact, I don’t need to know. It just has.

All from writing God a to-do list in watermelon-scented marker.

A word on names: If you wanted to try this yourself, it doesn’t really matter what your religious views are. Instead of a God List, you could write a to-do list for the Universe. Or the Divine. Or the Earth. Or Love. There are thousands of names for the Thing That is Bigger Than Us. I just picked one that works for me.

The lesson

Practice taking conscious ownership of the things you can handle – and purposely giving away the rest to Something Bigger. Scary? You bet. But it’s worth it. It’s clutter-clearing for the spirit.

Thoughts? Yeah, buts? Me toos?

My break was great. It wasn’t perfect, occasionally disappointing and even annoying at times. But over all, it was 17 whole days to focus on the big picture, on my heart, and on my loved ones. It couldn’t help but be full and good. You were definitely in my thoughts.

Although I’m not a fan of resolutions, several useful intentions came out of my time away. It might very well be a “big” year for Inspired Home Office if some of these intentions become reality. If you’re still thinking about what 2010 might hold for you, I offer these areas of focus for your consideration.

5 areas of focus for 2010

1. Hand over more stuff to the Divine. (Worry less.)

Maybe you can relate: if something isn’t quite right, I tend to worry it to a fuzzled nub. Obsessively. Day and night. This habit frays my nerves and splashes icko-energy on anyone within a 15-foot radius.

When you’re running a small business, delegation is an effective strategy at making the best use of your skills. So I’m delegating my worry to someone/thing that has more skill at dealing with problems than I: the Divine.

I’m beginning what may become a daily practice of writing a to-do list for God. I don’t really know if the things I write will get done, but I’ve got 36 years of worry that has proven completely ineffective. So, it’s a new experiment for me: delegating worry. I’m handing it off to the most skilled.

2. Take more time off.

My two recent retreat experiences have been so positive that, this year, I’m planning to go on a 4-day retreat every quarter as well as overnight once each month – retreats away from home for rest and contemplation. So much is gained from putting life on “pause” and coming back to it renewed.

I’m also planning to spend one week each month focused on the growth and operations of my business. Instead of focusing outward, I’ll focus on the creative projects I’ve put off because “there’s no time.” I’m setting it aside. I’ll be talking about this more in a future post. It feels pretty radical.

3. Do things slowly.

Recently, some researchers found that when participants chewed an almond 40 times before swallowing, they reported feeling fuller and more satisfied with fewer almonds. That’s like, 20 seconds of chewing. Per almond. I could down a bowl of mac ‘n’ cheeze that fast.

The part of the research that really intrigued me was the second part. With all my heart and soul, I want to report feeling fuller and more satisfied from consuming less. I don’t mean just food, either. I mean everything.

I’ve thought a lot about slow. It doesn’t mean pokey. It means present. I’m giving slow a whirl this year because going fast and speeding through everything with half a brain cell just isn’t feeding me or my spirit.

4. Say yes less.

And on that topic, I can only slow down if I am doing less. If I am less committed. If I am juggling 3 balls instead of 2 dozen.

My intention is to be conscious of all the things I’ve already said yes to wholeheartedly. It’s to honor that saying “no” to one thing means a big “yes” to something more important. It’s also to release the “why nots” and the “I guess sos”. Half-hearted acquiescence doesn’t make a life.

In the midst of saying yes less, it will be important to remember that it’s a practice, not a destination. Like many, I’ve over-committed all my life. There has been a pay-off, a reward for doing life this way. So it’s my intention to say less less, be willing to do it imperfectly, and learn from what the practice teaches me.

5. Bring more spirit into Inspired Home Office

In the coming year, you will continue to find comfort and insights on my blog, in my newsletter, in the social networking I do, and from the products and classes my business offers. The topic will continue to be about running your small business with creative order and sanity.

This year, look for an infusion of spirit and heart, a deepening of the reasons for creating order  that will help sustain you after initial enthusiasm wanes. It is my hope that this year’s offers from my business help your business grow and your life become simpler and more fulfilling.

Thoughts? Yeah, buts? Me, toos?

Away from what? Good question. I made the mistaken assumption that my sources of anxiety were outside of me. I believed if I left them behind for a few days that all would be well. I can hear you chuckling. The only thing that all my problems have in common is me.

I’m going on a picnic and I’ll bring…

Remember that game? I’ll bring an apple, banana, carrot, etc.? Well, I started with the b’s. I brought my brain.

What I realized after my first day on retreat is that although I was physically removed from my life, my head came along with me. You know that thing that offers a running narrative on your moment-to-moment actions and thoughts? That. And considering that my brain also runs all my bodily functions, I just couldn’t leave it at home.

Removing myself from my life gave me the opportunity to pay attention to and listen to what was going on in my mind. Let me tell you, there’s a reason why we delay taking time off or time alone – it’s hard to sit with those voices.

During our daily lives we do a lot of things that push down or pacify those voices. For me, it’s Twitter, email and Facebook… but it can be a lot of things. Television, web surfing, gossiping, arguing, sudoku, eating, and busywork can all help us push away our thoughts – at least temporarily.

When you get quiet or get away, there they remain, waiting for your attention.

I’m also bringing my heart.

In addition to my brain, I also brought my soft, squishy lub-dubber with me.

The distracting activities I mentioned above are also effective at preventing feelings from coming up. Especially emotions that are uncomfortable, sad, or painful. It’s a way of caring for yourself, these activities, if you don’t have room for them in your life or support to deal with them.

While I was on retreat, I felt anxious at times, sad, reverent, peaceful, irritated… just like in my normal life. Being “away” didn’t change that.

What was different, though, is that on retreat I had the spaciousness to sit with all the feelings that arose and treat them as honored guests. Or at least as tolerable visitors. I don’t always have room in my life for this. My heart wasn’t confined or busy. As the days went by, I felt lighter and lighter.

I got quiet enough to listen to to my heart’s wants and needs without skepticism and really honor them. By listening well, I discovered that this fall, my heart wants to focus on clearing out, saying “no”, pruning what isn’t life-giving, and allowing some things to pass away in my life. Considering that I often focus on growth and expansion, this was a refreshing surprise. And a relief.

Well… and you, too.

Here was the most surprising thing: when my brain had had its say and my heart felt open and expansive… well, I started feeling really rested and happy. I stopped thinking about me and started thinking about and sending loving thoughts toward my loved ones, my friends, and eventually all the people in my community including you. This came naturally and I couldn’t help it.

When I got filled up, it easily overflowed to everything and everyone else. That’s how it’s supposed to work.

The moral of the story

You may have read the first and second part to this mini-series on retreats as self-care. If you have, wow… thanks for hanging in there with me. Now that we’ve reached part three, I’ll tell you the moral of the story: you are nature.

Woah, what?

That’s right: You are nature. And nature rests. Look at any garden in the northern hemisphere right now. You’ll see they’re all settling in for a nice 3-5 month nap without guilt or excuses or even a solid timeline for recommencing.

I waited two-and-a-half years before I took a much-needed rest. I’m committing here and now to retreating for 4 days every 3 months – even though I’m not yet sure how I’ll make it happen. I’m worth it – and so are you.

What are you needing rest-wise?

Even before I got out of bed, I knew I’d waited too long to nourish my spirit. Last Monday, Day 3 of the long weekend, I woke up with an almost-desperate need to be in the woods, under the trees, breathing in the scent of earth and fir needles and mountain air.

My need to be free from my desk and work and conversation was so urgent and real, I felt like I could grab it with my hands. I had to get to the woods. Immediately.

Obstacles. The furry kind.

My first clue that things were not going well should have been the squirrel that ran away after I started our infrequently-used truck. But, as I already mentioned, I was a desperate woman on a mission.

Clue Number 2 should have been that when I started the truck, the engine seemed to run a bit raggedly. The closer I got to the gas station, the more roughly it ran. Then I started to notice a vaguely sweet, burning-paper smell.

By the time the truck was fueling up, I already knew I wasn’t going to make it to the woods. Not in this vehicle. And with mild curiosity, I opened the hood (knowing squat about engines) to see what the trouble might be.

Imagine my astonishment when Obstacle 3 presented itself. Technically, they were Obstacles Number 3, 4, and 5 – namely a grassy nest and two very pissed off, very frightened baby squirrels. Inside the engine compartment.

(Note: no animals were harmed in the making of this story.)

The signs and symptoms of overwhelm

As I mentioned, I was already emotionally stretched. I had been working 72 hour weeks, putting a lot of pressure on myself to produce, and was profoundly aware of a widening spiritual gap where my heart ought to be.

My first response? Hysterical laughter. Tears sprang to my eyes. I laughed so oddly, I think the fueling station guy was afraid. Incredulous, I called him over to look at the squirrels’ nest and he kept a safe distance. From me.

After I’d called Inspired Spouse for backup and two nature-loving friends for ideas, I sat in the cab of the truck at the gas station and burst into tears. Yup. While the poor squirrels cowered in the engine compartment, Inspired Spouse sat with me as I sobbed, “I just needed… a day… off.”

Folks, this is what we call overwhelm.

And you know it’s arrived when an event and the resulting response are significantly out of proportion. Shock and laughter, okay, that’s pretty normal. But sobbing about squirrels? Yeah. That’s overwhelm.

The rest of the story

While the following section has nothing to do with an inspired workspace, it would be unkind not to tell you how it all turned out.

After the crying, we attempted to make use of the enormous red ski gloves and cat carrier that Inspired Spouse had ingeniously brought. I will also confess my not-so-rational fear of wild animals. The 5-ounce baby squirrel proved no exception.

If you’ve never heard a baby squirrel scream and grunt and make as if it’s going to take your face off, let me tell you, it makes one’s blood run cold. At least it did mine. But Inspired Spouse, bless her, attempted the same maneuver and they skittered away among the hoses, out of reach.

Now out of options to rescue them, I decided to drive the 2 miles home. With the squirrels still under the hood. Shrieking with fear.

The lesson of the baby squirrels

We all arrived home safely and about an hour later, Mama Squirrel had relocated the nest (after telling us off). Whew.

Fortunately, I did get to the woods that day. It wasn’t the day I’d hoped for, but I ended up getting what I needed. No more sobbing for a while.

The lesson at the heart of drama is how important it is to pay attention to the subtle signs of overwhelm, before the big sobbing thing happens. In the weeks previous, I noticed but ignored, my short temper, the need for solitude, annoyance at loved ones, erratic driving, holding my breath, and eating weird food at weird hours.

I kept telling myself and others that I was “fine”, but the baby squirrels helped me see what was true. I needed a break. So do you.

Get out in the woods, your way

If you’re self-employed, or are caring for elderly relatives, or raising children, or managing an illness, or other things that consume physical and emotional energy, there’s an urge to keep pushing through. To deal.

However, refusing to take a break and get out in the proverbial woods leaves you empty and unable to respond when action is called for. It’s ironic that I needed my tank filled, just like the truck did. Except it’s so easy to forget.

So I invite you to inquire how close you are to overwhelm today… and notice if there’s something you need to stop for, so that you can fill up too. Before you get squirrely.

Do you have a beloved corner in your workspace that radiates inspiration and intention?

Although it can sometimes become dusty and neglected, many home offices have sacred corners or little altars that remind of of who we are, of our place in the world, and provide us with a glimmer of transcendence in the midst of our harried lives.

My home office altar of inspiration

What is currently working well for me:

Lovingly chosen objects displayed together. A few months ago, I re-created my sacred space and took a photo to share. There are just a few things on a bookshelf – a painting my grandmother did, a finger labyrinth I made with some cherished friends, and a sign I made that reminds me of Who’s In Charge.

I add objects periodically, significant ones that remind me of people I love and cherished moments and places.

Big, fat collages all over. I make a collage for each of the 9 areas of life – about every year – and I hang them all over my office. I love them. They’re beautiful to look at, inspirational, and they turn my whole office into sacred space.

All office, all the time. A while ago, I decided that I didn’t want my clothes to live in my office closet anymore and moved them out. Now everything in my office relates to my business. This helps me feel more focused and my office is less sloppy.

What I’m currently working on

Outdated inspiration. My collages are about 2 years old now, and starting to feel a little stale. I’m planning to remedy that over the Christmas holiday, but I notice that they don’t inspire me the way they used to. They represent who I was, not where I’m going.

Dust. It’s right up there with vacuuming.

What do YOU do to put the sacred in your space?

What works really well for you? What are you working on?

Share your insights and ideas! Your comments on your own process are welcome. I also request kindly, firmly, that you not give advice to me or others unless it’s specifically requested. This makes exploring safe and learning possible for every reader.

Two Birds by Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes. Used with permission.

What feelings and sensations come up for you when you look at this image?

Razzle Dazzle by Carol Nelson. Used with permission.

What feelings and sensations come up for you when you look at this image?

Integration by Autumn Skye Morrison. Used with permission.

What feelings and sensations come up for you when you look at this image?

Sand Sea Sky by Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes. Used with permission.

What feelings and sensations come up for you when you look at this image?

You might have wondered what on earth art is doing in the middle of a newsletter about organizing. Technically nothing. Nothing, that is, if your goal is to have nothing more than a meticulously, painfully spotless workspace.

If you want a workspace that inspires you, though, beauty is of tremendous creative and energetic value.

A good example of functional beauty

Since several readers asked, I’m coming clean about the about the blue rose wallpaper in my office mentioned in the last newsletter.

Really (no offense intended to my landlord), the stuff is horrid. The pattern is blue-on-blue clusters of roses that stagger up the wall in diagonal lines. The paper was hung so the rose bunch patterns don’t line up at the edges. When we first looked at the house I said, “That’s got to go.”

Chances are good that you have something like this in your house. A bad view, dark paneling, odd colors. Whatever it is, after a while it becomes invisible. Sort of.

“Making do”

Let’s not get into why I tolerate the wallpaper. We all have projects that don’t get done – me included.

Here’s the secret that helps me tolerate the crazy rose wallpaper: I have a lot of beauty around me.

Outside my window is a garden view. On the walls I’ve displayed inspirational collages that mean a lot to me and evoke good feelings when I look at them. There’s lots of natural light. One day, I’m even going to buy one of these to add a feeling of serenity and calm in my office (and I’ve told her so).

The beauty I’ve created in my space balances out the wallpaper. That’s the secret.

The other secret: clutter’s not always The Problem

I’ve done many 1-on-1 sessions with people who want to deal with clutter “once and for all” in their session. Instead, they end up excited to create beauty and inspiration around them. They find that even if clutter remains, the space they work in becomes more pleasant and enjoyable to work in.

Beauty might sound superficial. I used to think so myself. But when there’s beauty in your space, it balances out chaos and clutter. Beauty feeds the spirit and creates a container that nourishes your heart.

It’s in your budget

Most people resist creating beauty in their space because they assume it’s expensive. We assume it must look like a designer did it and is ready for the cover of House Beautiful. If you believe this, think again.

Beauty is by your definition alone. You are your own authority on what is beautiful to you. Not Martha F. Not your mother in law. Not Pottery Barn. Beauty is defined by what you love.

Love pink? Buy a gallon of paint for $18.Love flowers? Cut some from the yard.

Want inspiration? Post images you love on your walls or collect magazines and make inspiring collages. Many of the artists I feature offer prints of their work, making their beauty accessible to many.

Beauty doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive – it’s there to nourish you and make you feel loved.

And aren’t you worth it?

As I’ve said time and again, you matter. Your work matters. When you create a space that nourishes you, your creativity and productivity flow. You have more fun. You like going into your space to work.

If you’re still not convinced that beauty matters, remember that there are people in the world who are waiting for you to show up. People who need your special gift and the way that you share it.

Having a space that nourishes you (with its beauty and inspiration), gives you the energetic resources you need to reach the people (and organizations, animals, and planet) that need you most.

Beauty is fuel.

My plea/challenge

If time were no object, think for a moment about one thing you would do to bring beauty into your space.

It could be as simple as adding a cool, shimmering glass of water or as complex as ripping down all the wallpaper.

Just reflect for a moment about one thing that would nourish you.

And, in the next two weeks, commit to taking one step toward creating it. When you do, let me know. I’d love to know what happens.