I recently read the excellent book, The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life by Dr. Robin Zasio. In a similar fashion to Dr. Zasio’s clarification of the distinctions between a collection and a stockpile (see my previous blog post), she also outlines the differences between “savers” and “pack rats.”
Do you have lots of stuff? Maybe you'd just call yourself a prudent saver, but do others accuse you of being a pack rat? You’re a SAVER if…
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If you’re struggling with clutter, I recommend you read The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life by Dr. Robin Zasio. Don’t be scared off by the title, this book is not just for hoarders but for all clutterers great and small.
I just finished the audiobook version – a great way to learn while on the go! Because the author is a doctor of psychology, the book provides great insight into the motivations behind why we hold onto things and get into trouble with clutter. One part that I found particularly helpful details the difference between a collection and a stockpile. As I see it, a collection is an intentionally curated (and routinely culled) group of like items of value to you. A stockpile, on the other hand, is an accumulated mass of vaguely similar items. The distinction lies both in motivation and in method. Here’s my synthesis of Dr. Zasio’s distinctions: with clutter I urge y Happy New Year!
This year, if you want to resolve to be more organized, you’ll need to start by resolving to get rid of the clutter. Stuff has no hope of staying organized and in its place when there’s just too much of it. My favorite de-cluttering tool is the 2017 in 2017 Challenge Chart by Rachel Jones of Nourishing Minimalism. It’s a great visual motivator to help you pare down. Even if you don’t achieve the 2017-item challenge, it’s fun to try and you’ll be amazed to see how much you can de-clutter. If you have kids, let them have fun with it by using different colors to fill in the boxes. The other tool you’ll need: a disposable box or bag placed near the door of your home that is designated for outgoing items. Mark it “donate” and whenever you come across something you no longer need, want, or love, toss it into the bag (or into the trash, if it’s not worth donating). When the bag is full, don’t delay! Put it right into your car and bring it to a donation center, preferably one that’s near your home or on your usual route so you’ll actually go there. Can’t make it to a donation center? Call any one of a number of charities that will schedule a pick up of donations (Salvation Army, Goodwill, Savers, etc.). Resolve to tame the clutter chaos! Yes, you read that right. I'm not telling you to reach for the stars or aim for the highest peak, I'm saying your goal is to be average…at least when it comes to your housekeeping, and probably more than a few other things too.
Are you struggling with clutter and disorganization? Do you feel as if dealing with your stuff rules your life? You might think that, as an organizer, the goal I would set for you would be to get rid of it all and be a minimalist. Absolutely not! Think of it this way, would a doctor tell an obese patient that her goal is to become anorexic? No way! Being excessively underweight is just as unhealthy as being overweight. The goal is to attain and maintain an average, healthy weight. This is the same with your housekeeping and decluttering. While a few people today are embracing a minimalist lifestyle, that's not for everyone and can be just as burdensome as having too much. For example, some minimalists keep a list of their possessions and restrict them to a specific number. Doesn't that seem a bit obsessive? Isn't stuff still ruling their lives? The goal for your home should be to create a comfortable, livable space that contains the things you need and love, expresses your (or your family's) unique personality, and is easy to maintain. In other words, an average home. Sounds like home sweet home to me. Want to minimize the pile of mail you get? Try the PaperKarma app.
This app helps you control clutter in two ways: 1) It reduces the amount of mail you get. 2) It helps you avoid the temptation to shop by unsubscribing you from catalogs. With your phone, just snap a photo of the address label of the catalog or mail solicitation that you want to unsubscribe from, and PaperKarma notifies the company and takes you off the mailing list. It may seem fun to browse through catalogs, but constantly being confronted with the newest products is highly tempting and can create a sense of anxiety and dissatisfaction with the things you currently own. You can always look at that stuff online if you really need to shop for something. Letting the catalogs go will help restore peace. There's a small fee for using the app (I believe after a certain number of free unsubscribes), but it's well worth it to help you get the influx of papers under control. NOTE: The PaperKarma link given here is an affiliate link. At no extra charge to you, I earn a small commission when you purchase through this link. If clutter is driving you crazy, you might think the first step would be to start paring down and getting rid of things.
But how can you control the clutter when more keeps coming through the door? Step one: Stop the mindless purchases. Instead of buying on impulse, try this technique to give yourself a little more time to consider new acquisitions. 1. You see a dress/power tool/throw pillow that you really like (online or in a store) and have a strong desire to throw caution to the wind and buy it right now. (Excuses abound: It's so cute! I deserve a little pick-me-up! This would make things so much easier! It would pull together the whole look of my living room!) 2. Don't buy it! Instead, enter it into your list app (Use my link to get TickTick, my favorite list app) or calendar app with a reminder set for one month from now. 3. When you receive the notice a month later, check in with yourself to see if you even still remember the item, much less still want to buy it. More often than not, you'll realize you really don't need that thing and maybe not having it has helped you better appreciate the things you already own. If you're still undecided, postpone the decision again with another reminder set for one more month. If you find you still really want the item, it's OK to give yourself permission to buy it. Feel good about having made a considered decision not a mindless purchase. "A decision delayed is a decision unmade and a decision unmade lets clutter invade." -Sandra Felton, Organizing for Life
I love this quote because it so clearly states how clutter is created by the inability to make a decision. We let things lie around or pile up because we just don't want to deal with them and confront them. Unfortunately, this only makes us have to deal with them even more as they mound up and invade our lives. Improving your ability to make a decision about what to do with any given item (mail, paperwork, knick knacks, gifts, leftovers, etc.) in the moment will greatly reduce the amount of clutter that builds up around you. If you're having trouble making these decisions, ask why that is. Do you not have a place for the item? Is there guilt, sentimentality, anxiety or another emotion associated with the item? Why are you letting it sit around instead of putting it away? If you're having trouble answering these questions for yourself, consider scheduling an organizing session with me! I just found out that there will be a showing of the minimalism documentary in North Attleboro on Tuesday, May 31st at 7:30PM. Tickets can only be purchased online, not at the theater, so click here to reserve your seat today!
If enough people reserve tickets, there will be a showing of Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things on Thursday, June 2nd, at Showcase Cinemas Warwick Mall. It's a fascinating look at the current minimalist lifestyle movement and explores the question,
"How might your life be better with less?" Whether or not you embrace minimalism, we could all learn more about how to clear clutter (physical, time, emotional, etc.) from our lives and make more room for the things we value most. Will you join me? [Click here to watch the trailer.] |
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