Get Organised Australia

There is clutter and then there is CLUTTER! ALL of us have a secret stash somewhere in our houses that we can’t clear out, be it the small drawer in the kitchen that all the “stuff” gets shoved, or the linen closet that doesn’t hold towels and linen anymore because there is no more room from the “stuff” that’s been put in there.

Out of sight out of mind is the catch cry of the modern home dweller; if visitors can’t see it, well it doesn’t matter does it. As long as for appearance sakes the shell of my home looks tidy well that is all that matters. Right?

WRONG!

One small pocket of clutter can quickly spread to the WHOLE house, Clutter is Cancer of the home, it is a by product of our neediness for THINGS. Our materialism that is fed by the advertisers and marketers of everyone trying to SELL us something that we just HAVE TO HAVE!

As soon as we consumers realize that we DON’T NEED things, the sooner we will live more fulfilled and happy lives.

I’m a participant in consumerism too, don’t get me wrong, I’ve bought “stuff” just because – not of any NEED just a WANT feeling. Do I use that “stuff”? some of it does get used, some of it gets taken out of it’s box and placed on a shelf, the rest of it CLUTTERS my cupboards until I sell it on EBAY or gift it to someone.

I’m not talking here to the people with “hoarding” issues of a psychological nature, I’m not qualified to help you if you are in this category. All I can say is for these people there is a need to find the true reason for your hoarding. Only a trained professional can help you clear your clutter.

I’m talking to the majority of us that have a “stuff” issue. Be it your husbands car magazine collection of the last 5 years cluttering your once beautiful antique bookshelf, or the kids toys that they have outgrown that still live in the toy box in the toy room, SHOES yes ladies yours, there does come a time when you must say goodbye to them.

Ask yourself these questions?

• Why am I keeping it?

• Does it have a use?

• Am I keeping it because of the memories attached to it?

• Is it special for other reasons?

• Is the item replaceable if I find I do need it AFTER I have given it away?

• Is it valuable in a monetary sense?

• Was it a gift?

• Am I keeping it because it was expensive but I bought it on impulse?

When you work out the TRUE reason it is in your house then and only then can you make the decision to clear it out.

I’ve been through the how to sort clutter in a previous article so I won’t bore you with details, but a quick overview for those of you just joining us.

1. Trash bag – for broken or unusable items

2. Charity bag – for things that still have a use and are in good condition.

3. Keep bag – for the FEW items you choose to keep.

The rules for the first two bags is to get them OUT of your house immediately. Bin them or donate them straight away that same day or first thing the next morning.

Now the trick is to find new homes for the items in your Keep Bag. You should have heaps of room if you’ve been thorough and ruthless. BEFORE you put these things on shelves or in cupboards ask yourself the questions listed above first and if it doesn’t fit toss it.

You MUST LOVE IT to KEEP IT.

Do not keep things around you that you do not LOVE. They are soul draining, little by little they zap your strength, why waste time dusting things that you don’t really care about? Pay attention to what is surrounding you. Do you love everything you see? Is it there because you are too lazy to move it? Does someone else in your home love it but you can’t stand it? Put it in their room out of your sight. Make it THEIR responsibility to take care of it.

My almost 9 year old son has a skull (yes just like the ones the doctors have in their surgery with brains and all) the thing gives me the willies but he LOVES it. I allow him to keep it on the shelf in his wardrobe BEHIND his games so I can’t see it. This is compromise and sharing space. That is OK, we must learn to share our space, however we do not have to suffer in our sharing.

As for hubbies car magazine collection they now live in plastic tubs in his garage, I refused to live with them in MY space anymore. You don’t ALWAYS have to share. “Wink”.