Make space

ALUMNI ADVICE

AMANDA SCHWENGEL

HOW TO

Jennifer Hanzlick, a 1996 graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver with a degree in business management, was climbing the corporate finance ladder when the 2008 Great Recession struck. Finding herself out of work and helping her family clean out her grandmother’s hoard, Hanzlick decided to use her severance check to buy a dump truck, launch a junk-removal company, Clutter Trucker, and dedicate herself to becoming a voice for those suffering from hoarding disorder.

Whether you need to organize a home office or deep-clean your entire pad, these tips from Hanzlick will help you create a space you deserve. /// BY ALEX PASQUARIELLO

Get inspired

Figure out why you want to transform your space. Want to do more cooking? Start with the kitchen. Do you need to create a home office? These are really good reasons to get inspired and be drawn to a vision in your head that’s pleasant.

Set time aside

Set a timer or even a song of a certain length and spend that time working toward your vision. As little as 15 minutes a day can make a difference. Or you may have tons of time — make it a marathon, and at the end you see huge progress.

Connect emotionally

Everybody’s different in how they connect with this work. If you want to have fun with it, turn on your favorite music, make it loud and have fun transforming your space. Or if it’s more emotional, play sad music, light a candle — really get involved emotionally.

Purge

There’s no one right way to do this, and it’s the step where people usually have a hard time letting go. Your mind is going to tell you, “You’re going to need this one day,” or, “This was my favorite, even though it doesn’t fit.” This is where you have to be in contact with what your thoughts are saying versus what you really want.

Design

This is when the fun begins. Clean your space; make it fresh; rearrange furniture; add new features to the room. Make it a space that brings you joy.

Celebrate

Do something in your space you’ve always wanted to do, whether that’s something productive or fun. Pay attention to what’s going on in your head. I’ve heard it said, “A clear space creates a clear mind.” I think it’s the opposite: A clear mind will help you create a clear space.