Clutter

February 15th 2015

Today was family day and I enjoyed spending time with my husband and our two amazing daughters. We ate lunch at a restaurant, prepared for our trip to Florida, finished homework, had supper together, made construction paper hockey jerseys for their barbies as well as a fake arena, all fun. Now everyone has gone to bed and I see all the messes around the house. I have a choice, do I go to bed and deal with it in the morning or, do I stay up an hour later and clean this place up?

Clutter isn't just about the baskets of laundry, piles of paper, stacks of pots and pans, mountains of stuffed toys and bundles of shoes you see as you walk through the house. It's the mental fatigue that comes with seeing everything. It's knowing that it can't stay like this. It takes so much energy to walk past the mess day in and day out and transfer it to tomorrow's to-do list because you ran out of time today.

These days we have loads of articles in magazines, entire books even, devoted to managing the clutter or simplifying your life by getting rid of excess. There are professionals who can help to cut through the clutter and organize your chaos. Here are some of the tips I have read about in the past:

1-If you haven't used an item in the course of a year, donate it
2-For items that you only use on special occasions, like Christmas decorations, buy tupperware bins and label them
3-Divide your home into areas according to the activities you do in each room: cook, eat, sleep, shower, work etc and organize your items to reflect each zone of activity
4-Only keep the items you use daily within reach. Find a storage solution for everything else. You use your toaster every day but not your steamer or food processor therefore, they shouldn't be on the counter
5-Make storage part of your decor by using beautiful woven baskets or shelving made out of barn board and old plumbing pipes

If you are feeling stuck in your life, de-cluttering is a great way to get energy flowing again. It can be really hard to think in a cluttered room. When my children were young, we had a toy room on the email floor and, periodically, I would de-clutter the room and remove toys that were not being used. As soon as the toy room was clean, the girls would be so excited to play with their toys. They had less toys but they could see everything.

The same is true at the office. If your desk is covered with piles of paper, you can't find anything, you're embarrassed when others see your space and, you can't get anything done. Sorting all the papers into piles and filing them so they are out of sight is energizing. It feels good to have a clear, organized work surface where everything you need is within reach and everything else has its place.

Sometimes, we just have too much stuff. It is heavy to be surrounded by excess. Making life simple means donating clothing that no longer fits or suits your style, shredding documents that are ten years old, recycling empty bottles of shampoo and body lotion (you know the drawer full of bottles with an inch of liquid at the bottom), discarding pieces of paper with grocery lists etc. On a bigger scale, it can mean downsizing. There is a trend right now with people living in "tiny houses" where they only have space for necessities.

Having less in each room creates a calm, simple, open and relaxing ambiance. When you walk into a de-cluttered room, you feel light and serene, every item has a place and a function. There is room for people. You can rest and enjoy the space because your attention is not distracted by the clutter that needs to be organized.

Moving or breaking up from a long term relationship can be perfect opportunities to de-clutter. It feels so good to lighten the load as you get rid of items you don't like or don't need. De-cluttering is an emotional experience. As you sift through your belongings, you are sure to find old photos or receipts, letters and birthday cards. Letting go of old items can help you make space for new adventures or simply grieve the past.

If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of de-cluttering your home, consider having a de-clutter support group. You can take turns going to each other's homes and undertaking one room at a time. Others are not attached to your things and can help you see that it's time to say goodbye. If a party is not your style, try to work on one space per month (kitchen, living room, bedroom, washroom). Keep a garbage bag in that room for the month. Every time you see something you no longer want or use, toss it into the bag. What is left by the end of the month gets a space assigned to it.

My goal is to de-clutter my home by March Break. Who is with me? Happy de-cluttering!

Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org