The word "clutter" is a loaded gun. It brings up a visual of a mess, stuff everywhere, things being kept for no reason, or too many reasons. Things. Stuff. Junk. But it does seem to be a major issue in the country. There are great tv shows with a sole mission of getting rid of people's clutter. There is tons of information on line and in book stores on how to get rid of clutter (and here is another posting on just that, and I wrote an EBook too!)
If you are keeping things you don't have room for, or making room for it, too much for the space, or are renting storage units for the stuff!, have unfinished things lying around, cannot find a space to relax in your own home, don't want to have people over, etc..then you have a clutter problem! I remember years ago I heard about one of my neighbors--he had so much stuff all over his house, there was nowhere to sit down, and it was like pathways walking around in the house. It was something I had to see. I knew when he went to work, and I had the excuse of dropping of an invite to a holiday party...so I was able to peek in some windows...it was beyond my belief. Stuff was everywhere. It was something I had never seen in my life. There was NO way he was ever having people over, let alone I don't know how he lived or existed in that house. One thing that struck me, and I still remember so clearly, was he had Mr. Pib cans everywhere. And it looked like a little maze for a rat, there were all these pathways cleared with junk on both sides. He clearly needed help. And he was the nicest brightest computer guy, I really liked him. He was funny and very polite. His home certainly did not match the persona he had in his public life.
Getting rid of stuff is easy for me, because it is like a hobby for me. I know it can be a daunting task for many. But you will be amazed how much more you enjoy your home and feel better about something in your life being organized! It is hard to have everything in order, but there are things we CAN control, like what we keep in our 4 walls.
Like anything, it is best to plan ahead. i.e., "this Saturday, from 9-12 I am going through my stuff." And you may only be able to tackle one room, or maybe even just a section of a room at a time.
Whatever area you are cleaning up, place all the stuff in an area that you can easily view it, and then start to sort through it. We all have heard the categories, Keep, Trash, Give Away or Sell.
If you really love it, and there is some use for it, keep it. But this is not always easy. You cannot love and use everything if you have 100s of things staring you in the face. This may take awhile, you may really have to come to grips with getting rid of stuff. Give yourself time, but not enough to get totally sucked into a whole new drama. You are at this step because you want to get rid of the clutter in your home.
Trash is easy. If it is broken or falling apart, get rid of it. Goodwill does not take broken items and for the most part nobody wants something broken. Now it you happen to have, let's say, a broken lamp, and you know your neighbor loves to fix things and sell them, whatever, see if he wants it. But don't find a home for all of the trash, most of it is trash, but use your discretion.
In the world we live it, so overloaded with trash, recycling is a great way to go if at all possible.
Give away or sell. Clothes that don't fit, old furniture, kitchen stuff, baby clothes, toys, there are so many things just sitting in attics and garages and closets and STORAGE UNITS (I don't for the most part see the point of those things!) SO many people need help, please give this stuff to charity. Or go ahead and have a yard sale or post online and sell it, either way is a great way to go as you are getting your stuff into the hands of someone else (and hopefully not another person just accumulating too much stuff!)
If this is all too overwhelming, hire a Professional Organizer. For about $60 an hour, they will come to your home or office,etc.. and help YOU go through everything and come out on the other side clutter free. This is what I am meant to do. I could do this all over the place. It is so easy for me.
However you go about it, make it a priority to live clutter free. One easy thing to tackle is just getting rid of mail as soon as you receive it--so much is junk mail. Your counters will thank you when they are not covered with a week or more of mail. It is just one step, but will get you going.
If you are keeping things you don't have room for, or making room for it, too much for the space, or are renting storage units for the stuff!, have unfinished things lying around, cannot find a space to relax in your own home, don't want to have people over, etc..then you have a clutter problem! I remember years ago I heard about one of my neighbors--he had so much stuff all over his house, there was nowhere to sit down, and it was like pathways walking around in the house. It was something I had to see. I knew when he went to work, and I had the excuse of dropping of an invite to a holiday party...so I was able to peek in some windows...it was beyond my belief. Stuff was everywhere. It was something I had never seen in my life. There was NO way he was ever having people over, let alone I don't know how he lived or existed in that house. One thing that struck me, and I still remember so clearly, was he had Mr. Pib cans everywhere. And it looked like a little maze for a rat, there were all these pathways cleared with junk on both sides. He clearly needed help. And he was the nicest brightest computer guy, I really liked him. He was funny and very polite. His home certainly did not match the persona he had in his public life.
Getting rid of stuff is easy for me, because it is like a hobby for me. I know it can be a daunting task for many. But you will be amazed how much more you enjoy your home and feel better about something in your life being organized! It is hard to have everything in order, but there are things we CAN control, like what we keep in our 4 walls.
Like anything, it is best to plan ahead. i.e., "this Saturday, from 9-12 I am going through my stuff." And you may only be able to tackle one room, or maybe even just a section of a room at a time.
Whatever area you are cleaning up, place all the stuff in an area that you can easily view it, and then start to sort through it. We all have heard the categories, Keep, Trash, Give Away or Sell.
If you really love it, and there is some use for it, keep it. But this is not always easy. You cannot love and use everything if you have 100s of things staring you in the face. This may take awhile, you may really have to come to grips with getting rid of stuff. Give yourself time, but not enough to get totally sucked into a whole new drama. You are at this step because you want to get rid of the clutter in your home.
Trash is easy. If it is broken or falling apart, get rid of it. Goodwill does not take broken items and for the most part nobody wants something broken. Now it you happen to have, let's say, a broken lamp, and you know your neighbor loves to fix things and sell them, whatever, see if he wants it. But don't find a home for all of the trash, most of it is trash, but use your discretion.
In the world we live it, so overloaded with trash, recycling is a great way to go if at all possible.
Give away or sell. Clothes that don't fit, old furniture, kitchen stuff, baby clothes, toys, there are so many things just sitting in attics and garages and closets and STORAGE UNITS (I don't for the most part see the point of those things!) SO many people need help, please give this stuff to charity. Or go ahead and have a yard sale or post online and sell it, either way is a great way to go as you are getting your stuff into the hands of someone else (and hopefully not another person just accumulating too much stuff!)
If this is all too overwhelming, hire a Professional Organizer. For about $60 an hour, they will come to your home or office,etc.. and help YOU go through everything and come out on the other side clutter free. This is what I am meant to do. I could do this all over the place. It is so easy for me.
However you go about it, make it a priority to live clutter free. One easy thing to tackle is just getting rid of mail as soon as you receive it--so much is junk mail. Your counters will thank you when they are not covered with a week or more of mail. It is just one step, but will get you going.
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