CLUTTER, CLUTTER EVERYWHERE

CLUTTER, CLUTTER EVERYWHERE

(A WAY TO GET YOUR TIME BACK) 

When I think, what will others think about my clutter? It really does bother me, even though for the most part I have given up worrying about what others think. It is more about my mental wellness because I am the one who must live in it. Actually, for the most part, I would not want to have a picture-perfect home. A comfortable, lived-in home looks and feels much more natural. What I would like is to have is everything in a designated place. There is no need to have clutter and mess everywhere. We lose things and therefore waste time searching for items that, if they had a designated place, we would not have to search for. We can organize in small steps to accomplish this. Example: When we come in from the garage, there is a special basket to put our keys in. No need to pass the basket up and toss them someplace in the kitchen.  

Getting organized brings us freedom. Wasting time searching around for misplaced items: Who needs that? It is also a time to stop shaming ourselves about our mess and clutter. Stop asking ourselves what is wrong with us. Begin small. Start with a junk drawer that most of us have in the kitchen. Take everything out and make a pile for what needs to be tossed, what needs to be donated, what needs to go to a designated special area, and what should stay. If it is not needed, then off to the trash can, especially if it has never been used and never will be.

Physical clutter creates mental clutter. Organizing is about making our lives easier. Chaos and clutter do not make us feel calm and confident. Organization is a form of self-care. Mental clarity is what we need, not our energy drained.

The best part is that we must not think this is a one-and-done deal. It is not done in a day. Take 30 minutes to an hour. Break it up into small tasks. Remember that the definition of clutter is items that don't have a designated home or an organized system. Sort of like the 80/20 rule of thumb. The good news is that it does not cost money. 

So many of us say that we don't have time. Organized people are just too lazy to look for things because they want things where they belong. They don't want to be searching. Things like the daily mail pile up. Most of the time, we know by the envelope whether it goes in the trash; if not, have a special place to look at it when we have a moment. (such as a basket with a folder labeled, 'MAIL') Glasses, charging units, keys...all things that we waste time searching for should have a designated space. Create systems that work for you and others living in the house.

If we believe that we are too busy with kids, school activities, pets, our own workload, then it is time to realize that organization can take things off of our plates. It is just a small investment. It removes a burden. If 5 people live in the home, then all 5 must put their shoes where they belong instead of where they take them off. Here is how the 80/20 rule works. Put them on the staircase to take up next time a trip is made up the stairs. Everything should have a place.

Have you ever gone to someone's home, or perhaps it is your own home, and it is hard to get a drink of water because the sink is filled with dirty dishes? They can't put it in the dishwasher because the dishwasher is full of dishes (or they could be clean, just not put away yet?) Or maybe there is nowhere on the bar or countertop because there is clutter from end to end. Sometimes, even the barstools are loaded with clutter?

If we find ourselves always looking for things, then we have time to organize. Find places where items can all live. Don't fight the tide. Keep it simple. Hooks for kids' backpacks, a rolling 3-4 tier cart for special items like lunchboxes, a basket to put items in, which is cleaned weekly, and what needs to go to its designated spot, then send it on its way. (or trash it) The rule of: do we need it - do we use it - do we love it? If all are yes answers, then it deserves a special place.

If it is something sentimental, then it can be difficult. I find that I must ask myself: am I keeping the item out of obligation? If the item is not displayed, then it may not be of use. China and crystal are good examples. How many sets of grandmothers' and great-grandmothers' china can one person hold on to? I must decide if I need the items or the space. How many mugs from special places can I drink out of? Tidying up is temporary. Organizing is creating the space where items belong.