Funny watching this video I recorded a few weeks back and how much the space has improved since then. I will not lie, this space is a mess! It is embarrassing.
Time flies when decluttering.
Reframe The Brain
As we head back into our learning spaces this week, we must stay committed to the journey. I have often found that it is this week where I struggle most. The easy things to toss are becoming less. The items I should part with but have avoided so far are still lingering in my peripheral.
We struggle to let go of items. As an educator we want to be prepared for any situation. We know that working with kids we must be ready for anything. But that does not mean we have to keep everything.
Other times we have attached value to inanimate objects that make it hard to let go of. In theory land, it is possible to toss out every single possession we have in our space. I call it theory because we all know that we have some things that we just could not function without, but we must acknowledge the fact that this only exists because we have created this reality.
As we continue to explore this lens of letting go of items, we can continue to look at objects such as
1. Books
2. Gifts
3. Mementos
4. Just in Case Items
Over time, we will explore more of each of these, but for now consider:
1. Books – I am not talking about getting rid of books that your students read. I am talking about the books you have read for PD, book clubs, to be read piles, etc. We hold on to every book even if we don’t like the book, fake read it for our work, or think we will get to it one day although we have had it on our shelf for 2 years. What can you clear out of your professional collection that needs to go?
2. Gifts – We get gifts from our students all the time. We feel bad if we let them go. We also get gifts from our colleagues. We don’t want them to feel bad if we don’t have it on display. Unless there is some huge emotional attachment, let it go. Take a picture and clear the space. It will be okay. If you are doing amazing work, then you know more will come, anyway.
3. Mementos – These are the little knick knacks on our desk, shelves, walls, display cases we think are essential to the space. Consider the space these things take up. While they may not be huge, they are like clutter dust bunnies.
4. Just In Case Items – This is probably the one area we can all improve. I might need this cardboard for this one project. I can never have enough glue sticks despite my collection of 567 of them. I have these bins. You have these bins. Or maybe it is a drawer or closet. Let’s purge some of these items.
What are you tossing today? Keep on working hard. You got this!
Leave a Reply