What the Olympics Teach Us About Decluttering: And Why It Matters

I’ve been thinking about what it takes to do hard things.

How do we find the energy, enthusiasm, and focus to get things done?

How do we achieve our goals when we feel stretched too thin and burnt out?

How do we manage the distractions, restrictions, and clutter (physical and mental) in our lives?

These questions bring me to the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.

With the Winter Games recently ending, I’m left thinking about “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” (as Jim McKay used to say on The Wide World of Sports as the ski jumper crashed) that transpired in Beijing.

I tend to get excited when the Olympics come around. As some of you know, I competed for the Canadian gymnastics team at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, so displays of athleticism, artistry, and sportsmanship remain inspiring.

I’ll be honest, with Covid-restrictions, demonstrations, boycotts, and ongoing commercialization, it was challenging to be in 100%.

However, just thinking about throwing down a quad cork 1800, hurling down sheer ice at 130 km/hr, or trying a quad axel, makes my head spin and I wonder, “how the hell did they learn, and do, that?”

(I suppose people watching gymnastics think flipping upside-down on 4 inches of wood without falling is a bit crazy…and honestly, it’s a bit of a mystery how it’s done or how I did it. For me, that was in a land – and body – far, far away!)

Back to the Beijing Olympics, where I saw:

So what do the Olympics have to do with decluttering?

This is where the “Marie Kondo and an Olympian walk into a bar” bit makes more sense…

Determination and a supportive community inspire successful Olympic performances AND successful decluttering.

The skills needed to commit, focus, overcome, and create are the same for sports as they are when tackling physical or mental clutter.

To be successful in decluttering our physical spaces and minds, we must:

Just like Olympians.

But when clutter is piling up, stress is increasing, and disappointment is mounting, it’s important to remember that…

Doing hard things alone is, well, hard.

Just like Olympic sports.

Imagine preparing to ski down the Olympic course at 140 km/hr all alone? No way! There’s support behind every athlete at the Games.

If someone is feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and frustrated by physical or mental clutter, the first question I ask is, “do you have any support?” as going it alone as a team of one makes things so much harder. You need someone in your corner cheering you on!

What I know as a decluttering coach is this:

My job is to channel determination into focused effort and inspire, motivate, teach key skills, and be the accountability needed to succeed.

As a decluttering coach and organizer, I’m determined to help clients overcome the obstacles that get in their way, just as Olympic coaches set up optimal conditions for their athletes to be successful. Just a say coaches pushed me to my limits training to be an Olympic gymnast.

As an athlete, there’s no way I could have reached the Olympics without support from my coaches, parents, friends, school, and community.

As such, when I work with clients, I see myself as part of their community, tackling what comes up together.

Determination and community are essential – we need both to succeed.

As the medals were handed out in Beijing and national anthems reverberated through the stands, let’s remember this:

Determination can get you to the hill, but it’s a supportive community that gets you to the finish line – at the Olympics and in a clutter-free life.

About the Author: Jesisca Tudos is a Canadian Olympian turned life design coach, decluttering expert, and mindful organizer on a mission to optimize how we live, work, and learn so we can thrive. Find her at Jessicatudos.com.