Clutter and Creativity Quiz for Artists

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How Cluttered is Your Creative Life?
The Clutter and Creativity Quiz for Artists by Linda Dessau

Take this quiz to uncover the many different faces of clutter, and which ones are getting in your way the most.

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Is your creativity being blocked by clutter? Take this quiz to uncover the many different faces of clutter, and which ones are getting in your way the most.

Take a look around you right now. Look away from the computer screen and scan around you – the surface of your desk or table, now scan farther to look at the rest of the room. Close your eyes and imagine the rooms you can't see from here; particularly the space where you most often work on your creative projects. Take a deep breath and really take in the image. What's the impact?

If you're like me, a reformed pack rat and clutter-magnet (and I think many creative people are), you might even find it difficult to breathe - almost like the piles, mess, unwanted and un-useable items are taking up air. Well, they are!

Clutter, essentially anything you don't need, use or love, affects your creativity on many levels. In your workspace, it's messy and makes it harder to find and use what you need to get your work done. In your schedule, it creates chaos and a feeling of a lack of time. In your mind, it clogs the pathway to your intuition and feeds fear and self-doubt.

In your heart, it blocks out love and peace by hanging onto negative emotions from the past. In your body, it weighs you down by making it harder to take care of yourself and harder to hear the messages your body sends you. In your relationships, it clouds your communication and affects your ability to give and receive.

The Clutter & Creativity Quiz

For accurate scoring, be sure to only select one answer for each question. When not sure which answer is correct, choose the one answer that fits best. Enjoy!

PHYSICAL CLUTTER
Under the category of physical clutter, we'll look at three elements: organization, inspiration and deflation.

Organization

	Everything I need to produce my creative work is right at my fingertips or very easy to find.
	My creative workspace is fairly neat, but I still spend time digging around for what I need.
	I'll answer you as soon as I find my computer!

Inspiration

	My creative workspace is full of inspiring colours, words, images and materials.
	I can find inspiration in my creative workspace if I'm really motivated.
	I don't have a creative workspace to call my own, or it's so uninspiring that I avoid being there.

Deflation

	There's nothing in my creative workspace that has a negative association for me.
	I sometimes feel bogged down by the mess in my studio.
	The unfinished projects and unpleasant memories that I'm surrounded by in my creative workspace make me want to run screaming from the room.

TIME CLUTTER

Productivity

	I'm satisfied with what I accomplished today. I focused on one thing at a time and completed each thing successfully.
	I managed to get a few things done, but I'm not sure how.
	I started many things, got distracted by many others, and finished nothing.

Use of time

	I consciously chose how to spend every minute of my day today – I was in charge!
	I gave in to a request for my time and sacrificed something I really wanted to do.
	I was led around by other people's demands and schedules the entire day.

MENTAL CLUTTER

Future thoughts

	I let the future take care of itself, and concentrate on the task in front of me.
	When I catch myself worrying about the future, I remember that it's out of my control so there's no point putting my energy there.
	I'm constantly worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow, next week and years down the line.

Past thoughts

	I learn from what's happened in the past and then move on.
	When I catch myself worrying about something that already happened, I remember that it's already finished and all that matters is what I do now.
	I'm constantly criticizing myself or worrying about things that already happened.

EMOTIONAL CLUTTER

Forgiveness

	There's no one I wouldn't be comfortable running into on an elevator.
	I mostly forget about arguments after they happen, but there are a few people I've had a hard time forgiving.
	When someone lets me down, I never forget it!

Satisfaction and Gratitude

	I'm grateful for everything I have in my life, and everything that happens to me. I celebrate my successes and learn from my "failures".
	I focus on the positive things in my life.
	I often feel bitter, disappointed, sad or angry when things don't go my way, and can't think of anything else.

RELATIONSHIP CLUTTER

10.

Giving

	Once I've taken care of my own needs, I focus on what I can do for others. This makes me feel good and enhances my well-being.
	I try to help others, but sometimes lose the balance between my own needs and their needs OR I try to help others, but I get wrapped up in my own thoughts and situations.
	I say "yes" to everything that's asked of me, regardless of my own needs, desires and obligations OR I'm too caught up in my own life to think about anyone else.

11.

Receiving

	I gratefully receive compliments, support and suggestions.
	I sometimes accept help, but I'll turn down or dismiss offers of support or suggestions that aren't exactly what I had in mind.
	I can do it on my own OR I always answer a compliment with "it was nothing" and think the person is just saying it to be nice.

12.

Choosing and Letting Go

	I enjoy a balance of peaceful solitude and loving, supportive relationships with like-minded people who help me realize I can do anything!
	I'm happy with my relationships, but I wish my loved ones understood me better - especially my creative side!
	I need to constantly guard myself against negativity, criticism or other harmful words and behaviours of others.

HEALTH CLUTTER

13.

Exercise

	I exercise twice a week
	I try to exercise once a week
	Isn't rushing to get out of the house on time exercise?

14.

Healthy Eating

	I eat three healthy, balanced meals every day, with healthy snacks in between when I need them.
	I try to limit my unhealthy foods to a couple of times a week.
	I can't find my kitchen counter so I'll just stop at the drive-thru.

15.

Body Talk

	I listen to and obey my body's signals of hunger, thirst, fatigue, illness and injury.
	I try to keep a regular routine, but sometimes I push myself too hard.
	It takes a serious illness or injury for me to slow down or take care of my health.

End of Quiz.

Your Clutter Score is:

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SCORE

If you scored 40-45 - congratulations!
You're on top of your clutter situation. To keep it that way, read through the Tips for Clearing the Clutter for some insight into the different types of clutter, so you can catch them early if they start creep in!

If you scored 25-39 - your clutter could build to an unmanageable level if left unchecked. It might already be blocking your creativity in some ways. Now that you're aware of it, you can work at increasing your awareness and applying some strategies to start clearing it out. Read our Tips for Clearing the Clutter.

If you scored 15-24 - I'm so glad you found this quiz! Let's work at Clearing the Clutter so you can find your creativity again.

**********

More from this author:

Tips for Clearing the Clutter
Breathing out Stage Fright
7 Things Sapping Your Creativity Right Now

© Copyright Linda Dessau, 2005.

Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. For more creativity and self-care solutions subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, "Everyday Artist" at http://www.genuinecoaching.com/artist-newsletter.html - also includes the free course "Roadblocks to Creativity".

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