Let’s Talk about Clutter

Dawn Howlett is a Personal Organizer in the Cowichan Valley. Reach her at 250-701-5046

Ioften say to my organizing clients with a chuckle, that I spent the first half of my life accumulating stuff and the second half trying to get rid of it. And let me tell you, it’s much more effort getting rid of something as opposed to acquiring it. Why do many of us seem to have so much stuff?

I’ve learned a thing or two from my own journey. As a young adult I had many interests and so had plenty of stuff for hiking and camping, musical instruments, books and magazines, art supplies, costumes and clothes. I was also creating a home for myself, and was picking up furniture and decor from garage sales and stores. Later when I became a parent, the stuff seemed to double overnight. I gradually became more and more overwhelmed and discontented. Why didn’t I enjoy my home anymore? It felt like a giant crammed locker. Stuff piled up in corners and on the floor. Not a calm feeling nor beautiful. Organization seemed difficult to maintain. It was challenging to clean the house properly.

Can you relate? I think this is a very common occurrence these days. Without a thoughtful plan, our possessions build up over time until at some point they just become too much to manage.

That’s when a good clear out becomes necessary. But it can be overwhelming and difficult to know where to start. Do you struggle with letting go of things? Perhaps you feel strongly that you might need to save an item to use in the future? Or someone you love gave you a gift but you feel guilty getting rid of it? This paired with decision fatigue, can make letting go of unwanted items a real challenge. Steady on. It can be done. If you choose to tackle your clutter, you’ll be glad you did.

Clutter clearing is one of my favourite things to do…I love seeing the transformation in a home. I’ve seen my clients start to breath easier. They can find items quickly. They feel like they can manage again. I’ve also noticed that clearing and organizing their home also seems to free up mental space. Bonus. If you feel the call to dig in, here are some tips to get you started. Begin by writing down your ideal day at home. Jot down every pleasurable activity that you’d like to do, and where in the house. Fill in as much detail as you can. This exercise helps to reestablish your current interests and will determine your priorities around what to keep. Start sorting easy categories first. Warm up with simpler groupings such as clothing, kitchen stuff or books. Pull everything out from your closets and cupboards and clean each space before adding back those items you are keeping. Only keep those items that spark joy (thanks Marie Kondo for making this a mainstream principle) or those pieces you know to be useful. Set up 4 boxes for recycling, donations, garbage and one for returning items to their rightful owners. Load donation items into the car right away so you can drop them off at your earliest convenience. You’ll feel the progress when you get these out of the house. Take some time to organize what you are keeping. Every item deserves a set place so you always know where to put it, and where to find it later. Ask for help. If you feel stuck, get support. You’d be surprised how much more you will get done with another set of helping hands. Don’t give up. Find a pace that works for you, but keep going. Clutter clearing can take time. Be patient with yourself and the process.

Whenever I do a deep dive into purging and organizing, I emerge feeling completely revitalized and focused. My productivity increases and I notice a bubbling up of contentment. Every step of the work gives back tenfold, and I am rewarded with a home that nourishes my spirit and functions smoothly on a practical level. I feel able to manage my life much more effectively, and that makes me a calmer and happier person.

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