We all have Stuff. All those things we simply can\u2019t part with \u2013 family mementos, old photos, trinkets from vacations that remind us of happy times. When you have too much stuff, however, it ceases to be just stuff. It then becomes clutter. Unlike having a little bit of stuff, clutter makes finding things harder and cleaning more difficult. It takes up valuable space and frequently depresses us. Clutter becomes the stuff you no longer enjoy because there\u2019s just too much of it.<\/p>\n
People often justify hanging on to clutter by saying, \u201cThis is my daughter\u2019s stuff, but her place isn\u2019t big enough to hold it all,\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s not my style but it belonged to my dad so I can\u2019t get rid of it\u201d or, or \u201cYou never know when this might come in handy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Do any of those sound familiar?<\/p>\n
Getting rid of clutter can be a huge task, so let\u2019s talk about what ridding yourself of it can do for you. Getting rid of clutter can transform your life. You may not realize how much your physical environment affects the rest of your life, but it does. Experiencing joy and peace within your physical environment can help you find the same things in the other parts of your life. How would it feel if you could . . .<\/p>\n
\u2014\tBe able to find things easily?
\n\u2014\tFree yourself from the past?
\n\u2014\tEnjoy coming home?<\/p>\n
By ridding your home of clutter, you can achieve these goals and more.<\/p>\n
Best Ways to Remove Clutter<\/p>\n
Clutter can literally sneak up on you, and it\u2019s not just purchasing too many things that can become clutter. The death of a family member can mean taking on their stuff, which may seem difficult to part with. Or, you might find it difficult to dispose of handmade gifts from your children. And, of course, there are old photographs we proudly display.<\/p>\n
So that the process doesn\u2019t seem overwhelming, it\u2019s wise to break up the task into small chunks. For example, if you have a cluttered room, start in one corner and, once it\u2019s clean stop. Or, set a timer for 15 to 30 minutes. When it goes off, stop. Try another 15 minutes tomorrow.<\/p>\n
When dealing with emotional items such as things from a parent who\u2019s passed, an old marriage, etc., it\u2019s best to wait until you\u2019re less emotional so you don\u2019t toss something you will wish you still had later. Emotional decluttering can be easier if you have the assistance of a professional organizer or friend (who\u2019s not a relative). The organizer or friend won\u2019t have the emotional attachment that a relative might. They can be objective and help you sort through your clutter, making the process less painful and more productive. The true trick with emotional decluttering is to give yourself permission to let things go. You will always have your memories; the physical stuff is just taking up space.<\/p>\n
In Part 2, we\u2019ll discuss ways to manage the clutter you\u2019ve identified.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We all have Stuff. All those things we simply can\u2019t part with \u2013 family mementos, old photos, trinkets from vacations that remind us of happy times. When you have too much stuff, however, it ceases to be just stuff. It then becomes clutter. Unlike having a little bit of stuff, clutter makes finding things harder […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n