Most of us live with it, yet we want to get rid of it: Clutter. It is one of the most common hurdles that stops us from simply enjoying our homes, our time, finishing (or starting) our work and achieving peace of mind.
“Clutter can crowd us out of our own lives as it infiltrates our physical and mental space. Mentally, it can make us feel overwhelmed, frustrated and out-of-control,” said Katherine Gibson, author of “Unclutter Your Life.”
You can be a neat freak and organized person, but still be living with a lot of organized physical and mental clutter. The key is to have less – at home and on your mind. Less is really more. “The fewer possessions we have the more time we have for what matters in life: The people and experiences that enrich it,” said Paula Jhung, author of “Cleaning and the meaning of life.”
Where to start
Getting started is the hard part, so start with the “ten-minute toss,” suggested Gibson. Throw away what you don’t need, use or love. Take a garbage bag and go through the house tossing old magazines, newspapers, dead plants, broken things, and empty all trashcans. Choose just one drawer or shelf and take everything out and only put back the items you actually use.
Decide on the maybe items
Decide what to keep and what to get rid of by asking yourself: Do I love it or am I using it? Anything you don’t love or don’t use is clutter, said Denise Marek, worry management expert and author of “Calm.”
Worry is one of the main reasons we hold on to too much stuff. The most common worry thought is: What if I need it someday? A better question to ask yourself is: When is the last time I actually used it? Clutter experts agree that if you haven’t used something in the past 12 to 18 months, chances are good you won’t need it in the future because all of the seasons have passed by, explained Marek.
Items you like but have no use for, such as gifts and souvenirs, should be given to someone who will use them. “Instead of adopting a practice of hoarding, pass on what you don’t use to those who can,” said Gibson. “Bless and release.”
Remember you can donate these items to charities, sell or exchange on the Internet or toss by contacting a service that will pick up the items right from your door.
When you shop
Shop with intention rather than with impulse or for entertainment by determining what you are going to buy before you go shopping. Don’t bring anything into the house that does not have a purpose or is a duplicate of something you already own, explained Gibson.
Another trick is to have a screening process: “one in, one out.” For each new item you bring home, you have to dispose of a similar item that you already own, suggested Marek.
Mental clutter
“Your surroundings affect you emotionally, physically and mentally. That’s why when it’s a challenge to maneuver around the clutter in your environment it’s nearly impossible to manage the clutter in your mind. Cluttered minds can create things like stress, worry, indecisiveness, and procrastination,” said Marek.
Unclutter your schedule
People also clutter their schedules and to-do lists. “The latest status symbol is how busy we are. We need to recognize the value in down-time and put firm boundaries around our day to be sure we allow for pauses,” said Gibson, who also wrote the book “Pause.”
So allow yourself down time by asking yourself which activities your really enjoy as opposed to the ones people expect you to do. Also, make sure that activities, such as emailing, texting and Twittering, do not eat up your time, but help you save it.
“One surefire way to unclutter your life is to add the word NO to your vocabulary,” said Susan Newman, Ph.D., social psychologist and author of “The Book of NO.”
For example, one technique is to “Thank and Decline” by saying: I appreciate your asking me to volunteer. Regrettably, I’m unavailable to help this time, suggested Marek.
Emotional clutter
This kind of clutter may include guilt, doubt, anxiety and grudge, according to Gibson. So surround yourself with positive thoughts and friends. And be wary of people who suck the energy out of you and leave you drained out.
Sometimes what you eat is also considered clutter. Consider these questions before having another piece of cake for example: Are you going to bless my body? Do you fit into my healthy way of eating? said Marla Cilley, author of “Body Clutter.”
Moving forward
Uncluttering can help you regain a sense of control, let go of the past, and move forward into today and tomorrow with clarity and peace of mind, said Marek. So get rid of ALL the clutter in your life and set yourself free!