Space Required

Today while washing dishes between writing projects, it occurred to me how much space creativity requires.

For example--over the holidays, Christopher and I slacked on keeping the kitchen clean. Dishes would be left out on the counter or pots and pans would sit waiting to be washed. Eventually we'd clean up, only to let it lapse again. I thought we were being indulgent--it's the holidays, after all. But we didn't cook very much. Our meals were slap-dash: lunch was a peanut butter sandwich, dinner might be leftovers--nothing that took any creative energy.

When it stopped being indulgent and started to drive me nuts, Christopher and I agreed to maintain the kitchen more regularly. Dishes are now washed frequently, the kitchen trash gets taken out before it ends up with a life of its own, our long-overdue recycling has been removed, the counters and tabletop are wiped clean. Even the refrigerator has shed long-forgotten leftovers and recipe remnants.

As I dried the last pan and put it away, I was surprised by how much I wanted to cook. All the obstacles that--in this case--laziness put in my way (a full trash bag, a cluttered fridge, a sink full of dishes) had been completely removed. I could think of no reason not to cook. And the space created opened up my desire to create.

Creating physical space can have a lot of benefits. It's said to reduce stress, encourage clearer thinking, even help sell your house. Lisa Lelas, professional organizer, life coach and author of the blog The Organization Diet: Lose the Clutter and Drop the Weight, sees a correlation between extra stuff and extra pounds.

There are lots of things we use as roadblocks to creativity. Clearing physical space may be one of the easiest stumbling blocks to remove simply because it's physical.

Try it for yourself. Think of your primary creative space, then make a list of those areas in that space that could use your organizational attention. Think small (toolboxes, drawers) and big (bookshelves, closets). Then start working your way down your list. As you cross an item off, visualize that space in your mind and make a note about how you feel when you think about it. How does your newly organized art supply cabinet make you feel?

If you're on a roll and ready to tackle a much larger space (entire office, storage unit, basement, garage, personal dwelling, etc.) check out these organizational tips adapted by Annie Bond from Donna Smallin's Unclutter Your Home.

However big or small your list, go at your own pace. This is not about housekeeping or impressing guests. (Chances are visitors might not notice these changes--unless they typically rummage through your junk drawers.) It's about giving yourself the space to be creative. And maybe have a freshly baked corn frittata for dinner.