Reclaim Your Dining Room Table!

I just came back into my dining room after making a phone call. Today is the day my assistant is working in my office so I took all my “to dos” and spread them on the dining room table. As I looked at the table I thought, “This is what happens to my clients! They need space so they spread out on the dining room table. After all, it’s only used for eating two to four times a year! And, because they are not as compulsive as me, when it’s time to do something else, they just leave the stuff on the table. Stuff attracts stuff, so more stuff gets piled on the table. Then, clearing it seems like a nightmare job. The energy of the stuff is chaotic and negative. And, of course we all want to avoid that! Unless you are anal like me!

How many of you having dining room tables that need to be excavated? Does it bug you? If it does, bite the bullet and clear it off. If it takes getting a friend to help you, get it done. We really cannot afford to have large parts of our house feeling chaotic and burdensome. If we have that type of energy in our house, we are attracting that type of energy in our lives. Besides which, do you want to feel your spirit drop every time you pass the dining room? That’s what happens! And, I’ll bet many of you also experience a stream of thoughts like, “What a slob you are! Why can’t you get that table cleared?”

Once you get the table cleared, make a commitment to keep it clear. You may want to write a reminder to keep it clear and post it on the refrigerator. If you live with other people, make sure you let everyone know of your new commitment. Ask for their help to keep the table clear. Check it every day. Clear whatever accumulates on it every day. If you clear daily, it won’t seem like a big deal. If you wait until the weekend, you run the risk of then finding a task that seems to big to handle and go shopping instead.

If you use the table for a project, make a deal with yourself that you will create a new habit of picking everything up at the end of the project. Beware, however, the longer the project lasts, the more likely it is that other things will be dumped on the table. And, the longer the project, the harder it is to get the stuff of the table. It’s as if the papers and tools associated with the project grow little energy tentacles.

My preference is to work on a project, or as is the case today with my many little projects, and pick up everything every day. By this evening my dining room table will once again be clear. All the bits and pieces of my work will be back in my office. And, I will be able to look at my dining room table and smile.

You may decide that they only way that you can keep the table clear is to use it only for its intended purpose, eating. But, you may also be worried about how you can change your automatic habit of dumping on that wonderful flat surface. My recommendation is to place a beautiful flower arrangement (silk is OK), ornamental ceramic decorative item or piece of glass on it, something with so much positive energy that it communicates, “Don’t dump here!” The item has to be striking, beautiful and big enough to get your attention. When you put it in place, you want to be thinking, “I don’t want anything to distract from this special piece!”

Start now. Clear your dining room table in preparation for the holidays. Then, commit to keeping it clear all year long. It’s a commitment guaranteed to reduce stress and create another peaceful place in your home.

My passion is helping people discover the profound impact that environment has on performance. I want people to know they can change their lives by changing the spaces in which they live and work. Check out my blog or my book, Rock Scissors Paper: Understanding How Environment Affects Your Performance on a Daily Basis.