Combating a Clutterbug Infestation

Tell me if any of these comments strike a familiar chord in your heart:

You cannot recall what your teen's bedroom carpet looks like because it has been so long since you last viewed it with your own two eyes.

You cannot fit your car into your garage due to the Christmas decorations sitting in the middle of the space as well as innumerable Hefty bags of things you cannot part with.

You have more estranged pot lids than pots in your kitchen cupboard.

Your "junk drawer" has been relocated to a "junk closet."

If you nodded "Yes" to any of the above examples, first, let me assure you that you are not alone! I continually combat the clutterbug syndrome my house with my own family members. As I write this, my daughter is probably cursing me under her breath as I have held her Friday night plans hostage until her room is clean and her laundry is put away. Believe me, it could be a long and unpleasant night. My husband is thanking his lucky stars he has missed out on this particular stand-off due to a last minute business trip.

What do you do about clutter in your own environment? How does clutter affect your mood? Does the clutter in your home impact your relationships with others--Do you have arguments with your loved ones about the "stuff" in your home or does your clutter impede your social life because you don't want to invite people over because of the mess?

One of the things I do as a coach is to help my clients declutter their heads and their environment. In many ways, these go hand in hand as when our physical environment is decluttered and organized, a direct benefit to this action is that our internal environment achieves a place of calm and peace. When the physical space is chaotic and jumbled, it is difficult to feel in control of one's life.

Now let me get this straight--I am not talking about "white glove" worthy cleanliness--I am talking about improving organization and letting go of emotional and tangible items that no longer serve a purpose. "Does this item or habit continue to serve a purpose in your life in the here and now?" is a question I ask my clients over and over again whether they are doing some Spring cleaning or contemplating giving up a life-long habit. We develop habits and accrue clutter over time and most likely at the beginning of the process, the items or habit did serve a purpose of some sort. For example, in a new relationship, most folks are sentimental and hold onto any ticket stub, stuffed animal or gift that their loved one bestowed upon them. As the relationship progresses, what you have to show for it is an enormous collection of stuffed bears from each Valentine's Day!

Many of the women clients I work with hold on to items from a past love relationship. One of the questions I ask them is whether these items hold positive "energy" or memories, or whether these items bring them down psychologically. Oftentimes there are negative feelings associated with such items, especially if the relationship did not end well. There is an immense sense of freedom that follows when you clear your space of such items and release yourself from the negative "energy" or bad memories. When a client frees herself from the prison of negative self-talk and bad memories by letting go of furniture, clothing or what-have-you collected from a now-defunct relationship, it is like having a 100 lb. weight lifted off their shoulders. Think about how much pleasure another person will receive from your gifts as you declutter and donate your items to your favorite charity! The next recipient will experience only positive energy associated with your items and you, in turn, will free yourself and create more space in your environment in the process!

"But I don't know where do I begin!" is a refrain I hear repeatedly. I realize the thought of beginning to organize and sift through years of accumulated stuff is daunting and that's probably why you haven't already done it! So here's four of my many tips in a nutshell:

1) Get a clear mental image of what the particular space will look like when it is completed. Break it down: What will the kitchen drawer look like when it is organized? What will the hall closet look like when you are done? What will your bedroom look like when it is completed? Most of the time we don't break the steps down into manageable and measurable mini-steps. Instead, we focus on the big picture and become overwhelmed and give up before even starting. Break the process down to the smallest increment and CELEBRATE each step of the way! For example, put all the working pens and pencils into a holder and toss the dead and broken ones--Whoo-hoo!!!

2) When should I begin? Think about any major events that are going on in your life right now. If your workdays are spent racing through the day toward fulfilling a big deadline, the last thing you want to focus on is getting your closet reorganized. Be reasonable in your expectations: start small and begin only when you can devote some undivided time to the project. Remember: Set yourself up for success not failure!

3) Get out the monthly calendar--take a look at the events coming up and block out time in 15-30 minute increments on a specific task. It may look like this: Monday from 6-6:30, remove the stuff from under the bathroom sink and throw all items away that I haven't used in the last 6 months. Tuesday from 5-5:15, put all the shoes I haven't worn in the last year into a bag for donation drop-off. Saturday 9-9:30, go through the linen closet and donate any old, frayed towels to my local veterinarian. This all looks pretty basic, but it's a good start. I usually suggest to stick with one room until it is done, then move to the next. Some clients like this approach, while others prefer to jump around from room to room. Try it out each way and see which one works for you. In general, I suggest clients work on the room they spend the most time in as once this room is organized, this will help them achieve internal calm.

4) "3 Bags Full" approach. As you sort through your stuff, continue to ask yourself these questions: Have I worn it, used it, enjoyed it in the last six months? If not, it goes into one of the three bags: Give Away, Mend or Put Away. Honestly, if you haven't worn it or used it in at least six months (barring ski or some other weather-related equipment or clothing), chances are someone else could be getting a lot more use and pleasure out of your stuff than you! You can even recite "Baa-Baa Black Sheep" as you work for additional entertainment.

Hopefully the tips above will help you as your aim to exterminate your own clutterbug infestation! If you would like more organizational tips, I am currently enrolling people for a 6 week telecourse entitled "Declutter Your Environment--Declutter Your Head." If you would like more information, email me!

Thought for the Day: What items are you holding onto which no longer serve a purpose in your life? What steps can you take this week to create more calm in your internal world by organizing your external world?

"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." --Author Unknown