Your Brain on Clutter--Any Questions?

I'm participating in this purge in October, thanks to the bloggers over at A Bowl Full of Lemons. Their blog is a fun resource for people like me who need help getting organized sometimes. I'm a true creative - lots of ideas, not a natural love of order, though I'm learning. The more order I introduce into my life, the more creative freedom I feel, and less stress, too.

I don't know about you, but I am constantly amazed by the amount of things I no longer need. Maybe it's a function of age or wisdom, but every week I seem to find possessions I can willingly part with. And then there are the things I've kept for years that I could never give away--a shabby jean jacket older than my youngest child (who is fourteen), for instance. There's no rhyme or reason to the things that touch our hearts.

In preparation for a class I'm teaching next week on decluttering (in conjunction with my book launch--more on that later), I've been reading about brain research and our relationship to our stuff. Turns out that when we give away something that belongs to us--even if we no longer need it--our brain reacts in a way similar to a paper cut. It hurts. That explains why a trip to Goodwill leaves me feeling so ambivalent--relieved, but sad.

How do you feel about getting or staying organized? How much clutter can you handle in your everyday surroundings? What tools do you use to stay on top of your responsibilities? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What Gets Me On My Feet and Out the Door

Most mornings I head out the back door for a walk around my neighborhood. Some days I walk "unplugged" so I can listen to the birds, ponder an issue (Should I quit caffeine? to which the answer is always NO), or sort out a complication in my work. Other days I listen to podcasts and audiobooks on my iPod -- a great way to stay informed, get educated, and get off my rear end at the same time, because we all know sitting will kill you, and who sits more than writers?

Most podcasts are free, and you can find them on almost any topic. One podcast I listen to frequently is by Todd Henry, author of two great books: The Accidental Creative and Die Empty. He often interviews thought leaders across the spectrum of business and creativity as well as offering his own timely and practical advice. I'll listen to the segment, then shut off my iPod and keep walking, allowing my mind to drift over everything I just heard. This is the important part for me: applying that wisdom in my own life and work. Find out more about Todd's work here.

The eponymous painting.

Sometimes I just need to let my mind relax and escape for a while, so that's when I listen to music or an audiobook. I'm easily bored (not my best quality!), and I get tired of my playlists after a while. Audiobooks, on the other hand, keep me entertained for my daily 2.5 miles. My local library has audiobooks I can check out, and sometimes I splurge and buy them. Lately I've been listening to The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction--well-deserved, I might add. It's awesome, the story of a tiny painting's influence on a man's life. (No, really, it's much more exciting reading than that lame description sounds. I'm serious.) Even better, the prospect of hearing the next chapter motivates me to strap on the old walking shoes.

What podcasts do you listen to? I'd love to hear your suggestions! And if you've got suggestions for a good walking music playlist, share those, too!