Hey, Hi
You've got the plan. You've got the system. You've got seventeen apps that promise to organize your life.
So why is your desk still a disaster?
And more importantly, why does it matter?
Here's What's Really Happening
Two weeks ago, I told you your resolutions were bullshit. Last week, I gave you the science behind why goals fail and how to fix it.
You did the work. You identified your values. You built your 90-day action plan. You set up your daily system.
And you're STILL stuck.
Want to know why?
Your environment is sabotaging everything.
The Defense You're Using Right Now
I can hear it already:
"This is just how I work." "I know where everything is." "I'm more creative in chaos." "I'll get to it when I have time."
Stop.
That's not confidence. That's a defense mechanism.
And it's costing you more than you think.
Take The Clutter Test Right Now
Look at your desk.
Can you clear it completely in 10 minutes? Not organize it. Not make neat piles. Not shuffle things around.
CLEAR IT.
If you can't—or if the thought of doing it makes your chest tight—your clutter isn't just physical.
It's psychological. And it's holding you back in ways you haven't connected yet.
The 3 Ways Your Clutter Is Sabotaging You
How Much Time Are You Losing Every Day...
The average professional loses 1 hour of productivity EVERY DAY searching for missing information.
That's 5 hours a week. 20 hours a month. 240 hours a year.
That's six full work weeks you're losing to your mess. WHOA
Your Brain Is Exhausted Before You Even Start
Princeton's Neuroscience Institute found that visual clutter competes with your brain's ability to pay attention and tires out your cognitive functions over time.
Every pile on your desk. Every stack of papers. Every "I'll deal with this later" item.
They're all open loops draining your mental energy.
That's why you feel exhausted even when you haven't done anything yet.
The Pattern You Can't See
Here's the cycle: Job stress → Emotional exhaustion → Decision fatigue → Clutter builds up → More stress.
Research shows that people who procrastinate on decisions are more likely to have cluttered workspaces. And that cluttered workspace makes the procrastination WORSE.
You're not lazy. You're trapped in a feedback loop.
Here's The Part That's Going To Blow Your Mind
You know what's wild?
The person who can't throw anything away AND the person who constantly buys new organizing systems are running from the SAME fear.
One extreme: "I can't let go of anything because what if I need it?"
Other extreme: "I'll buy this new planner/app/system, and THEN I'll be organized."
Both are saying the same thing: "I'm not enough as I am right now."
The hoarder thinks scarcity will catch them.
The constant buyer thinks the right system will fix them.
Neither one is dealing with the real issue.
And It's Not Just Your Desk
It's your inbox with 3,847 unread emails.
It's the text messages you've read but haven't responded to.
It's the voicemails you keep meaning to return.
It's the commitments you said yes to but haven't followed through on.
And it's not just your office.
It's the closet you can barely close because it's stuffed full of clothes you haven't worn in two years.
It's under your bathroom sink—come on, how many extra towels do you really need?
It's the cleaning supplies you bought three years ago that you're "definitely going to use."
It's the storage unit you're paying $200/month for because you can't let go of stuff you haven't looked at since 2019.
See the pattern?
It's all unfinished business. It's all the same avoidance pattern. And it's everywhere.
How To Actually Fix This in 3 Stupid-Simple Steps
Forget the apps. Forget the organizing systems. Forget waiting until you "have time."
Here's what you're going to do TODAY:
STEP 1: Clear ONE Surface Completely (10 Minutes)
Not your whole office. ONE surface.
Your desk. Your kitchen counter. One shelf.
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Everything goes into one of three piles:
- Trash (you know what this is)
- Action (requires a decision/response within 48 hours)
- File (keep it, but not on your surface)
That's it. 10 minutes. One surface. GO.
STEP 2: Close ONE Loop Today
Pick ONE thing you've been avoiding:
- That email you've read 47 times but haven't responded to
- That text message sitting on read for three days
- That phone call you keep putting off
Close the loop. TODAY.
Every unfinished thing is draining your energy. Start closing loops.
STEP 3: Notice The Pattern
For the next three days, every time you're about to add something to a pile or avoid responding to something, STOP and ask:
"What am I actually avoiding right now?"
Is it a difficult conversation? Is it admitting you don't know something? Is it saying no? Is it making a decision you're not ready to make?
The clutter isn't the problem. It's the symptom.
Figure out what you're really avoiding, and you'll stop creating the mess.
Your Challenge This Week
- Take the test: Try to clear your desk completely in 10 minutes
- Close 3 loops: Respond to 3 things you've been avoiding
- Track the pattern: Every time you create clutter (physical or digital), ask "What am I avoiding?"
You're not a bad person for having a messy desk. You're just human.
But that mess? It's keeping you exactly where you are.
And you're ready for more.
Start today. Right now. Clear one surface.
That's where everything shifts.
Next week, I'm going to show you something that's going to blow your mind: how this exact same pattern shows up in the relationships you attract—the clients who drain you, the friends who take but never give, the people you keep trying to fix.
Your clutter isn't just about stuff. It's about who you're letting into your life.
xoxo - Tonya
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P.S. If you caught yourself getting defensive while reading this ("I'm not THAT messy" or "My situation is different"), that's your sign.
The truth lands differently when it's YOUR truth.
Do the work. You already know you need to.
See you next week!
GET THE WORKBOOK
Still haven't downloaded the "Lead From Where You Are" workbook?
Stop putting it off. You need:
- The values exercise that shows you what REALLY matters
- The Wheel of Life assessment (get honest about where you are)
- The Gap Analysis (your exact starting point)
- The 90-day action plan (turn awareness into momentum)
[GET IT HERE - IT'S FREE]
Because you can't build a life you love when you don't even know what you value.
And you can't clear your clutter until you know what you're avoiding.
Do the work.
