What is clutter?
In my experience, clutter gets built up because of an indecision. You don’t know where an item goes, so it lands anywhere.
Typically this will be on countertops, desks, dressers, and sometimes the floor. I see a lot of paper clutter when I go into homes, this is because it is something new coming into the home, and if there isn’t a designated place for it, it goes everywhere.I also see clutter getting built up, because the homes the items are suppose to be returned too are not convenient, so you think, I will take care of this later… later all of the sudden becomes months.. Almost to the point where you don’t see the clutter anymore! You know what I mean… It becomes a part of the house whether you like it or not!
Here are a few ways to identify if what you have in your home is clutter… It’s time to start making some decisions!
1) Is it useful, do I need it? If the item is useful and it’s something you want, find a better home for it. One which is easier to get too and put it away. If it’s not useful and has just been sitting there for no particular reason, it’s clutter and it’s time to donate.
2) Do I know what it is? I can’t tell you how many times, I will be working with a client in an area and they will find something and they have no idea what it is, how it got there, or why it’s there. This is clutter.. Get rid of it. These should be the easiest decisions to be made.
3) Does it work? I think it’s fine to want to fix something before replacing it, if it’s fixable, and if you are really willing to take the time to do it. If this broken item has been sitting around the house longer than a year… It’s clutter,it’s time to move on!
4) Have I been missing it? I have also worked with clients before, where we will find something in a closet or drawer and they were thrilled we found it! They had missed it, this is not clutter. This is just a lost item! If you haven’t missed it and even forgot about it, and really do not have any excitement about finding it, then it’s clutter!
Take a few minutes today and go through a pile of “stuff” and see what you can identify as clutter! Then when you are done, take a trip to your favorite charity … Celebrate... You have just cleared your space!
Happy Organizing!
Nikki Kinzer is a Professional Organizing Coach and Owner of Take Control Organizing. She helps individuals and families build new habits and discover the benefits of organized living.