Clutter, silently it creeps into our lives little by little overtaking every horizontal surface. Soon we are completely inundated by it. It takes some conscious effort to control clutter.
Feeling overwhelmed by clutter is natural. We want it gone and we want it gone now! Clutter keeps us from performing our work duties with ease, stops us from truly enjoying our leisure time and costs us financially every single day. And clutter effects our health in a really big way!
Clutter doesn’t happen overnight and it won’t go away overnight. However, with a plan of action, we can get it under control and keep it that way for good. No more clutter means no more frenzied searches for those very necessary but always elusive items, no more duplicate purchases, no more missed opportunities. Freedom from clutter is possible and it feels fantastic!
People get caught up in how to go about the physical act of clutter clearing, but if you follow these simple steps and you will be on your way to controlling clutter it for good.
1. Gather nine good sized boxes, bags or bins, and label them:
- Current Use,
- Memorabilia (to be properly archived)
- Return/Borrowed (to be given back to rightful owner, or moved to a more appropriate location)
- Seasonal (to be stored elsewhere)
- Six Month Test
- Repair
- Donate
- Recycle
- Trash
2. Decide how long you will work. A few hours is ideal, longer than fours hours and you risk losing focus and energy. But don’t let lack of time be your excuse for letting clutter pile up. You can accomplish a lot in blocks of fifteen minutes. Set a timer; knowing that you will stop at a preset point will alleviate the angst of getting started. Most CD’s play for about an hour, so they are a good choice when you can dedicate that much time. Listening to something enjoyable can take the edge off the “ugh factor” that is often associated with decluttering. Consider treating yourself to something you really enjoy listening to and reserve it just for your work sessions.
3. Choose a focus area. Ask yourself where you spend the most time looking for misplaced items, or which area causes you the most stress. Maybe it’s the clutter in your kitchen or perhaps your bedroom is the place where your de-cluttering efforts would have the greatest impact. Choosing an area such as this to start in will give you an immediate and appreciable return on your efforts. Pick a specific starting spot, such as a drawer, shelf or cupboard, in your focus area.
4. Now it’s time to start sorting. Remember to completely finish one area before moving on to the next. I suggest you start small, focus on a very discrete area so you don’t get overwhelmed. (I’ve got a step-by-step clearing clutter guide that show exactly what I mean right here.) As you take out each item ask yourself:
a. Have I used it in the last six months?
b. Do I plan to use it in the next six months? (“I might need it” doesn’t count, it must be a real plan)
c. Do I really love it? (Would you buy it again?)
d. Does it have serious sentimental value? (Serious means you would be genuinely upset at its loss)
If you can’t answer a resounding yes to at least one of these questions, then the item needs to leave your space. Donate, toss or recycle it. If you are really in doubt, place it in the six month test box. This box will be stashed away for six months. If at the end of the six months you haven’t needed the items or can’t remember what’s in the box you need to let it go. All other items should go into the appropriate category (see Step1), and be dealt with accordingly. The only exception to this process are the items that you must keep for legal purposes.
5. As you fill each box, take action with it. For example, if the donate box is full take it to your car and schedule time to drop it off (intentions that aren’t scheduled rarely get done). It takes effort to keep on track, but it’s well worth it.
6. As you put away your Current Use items, make sure you are placing them in the appropriate area. It’s counter productive to put something away in a spot that doesn’t make sense. Just because it came off a shelf or out of a particular drawer doesn’t mean it should go back there. Ask yourself where and how you use the item. Make it accessible for those scenarios. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you. If you always write letters in the living room, put your writing supplies in the living room. If you clip coupons in bed, put scissors in your night stand. Whatever you do, make it intuitive to you. If your child likes big bubbles in the bath every night and you’ve resorted to using the egg beater to make that happen, put the egg beater in the bathroom. Buy a second one for the kitchen if it’s something you regularly use, if not, don’t feel obligated to replace it. Things you have and don’t use are clutter.
7. Put everything back in its home after you use it. If you have made your items easily retrievable, you have also made them easily returnable by default. There is joy to be had in using something, and putting it away properly. Knowing that you are on the path to long term organization will bring a great deal of satisfaction to your life.
Soon you will be able to relax and enjoy the calm that freedom from clutter and disorganization brings!
Want to keep the momentum going? Then sign up for the free E-Course that teaches you How To Clear Clutter, Simplify Life & Get Organized. You may also want to check out Clutter Control 101. It’s an online workshop that will take you through the entire process of controlling clutter for good.
