Mind over Matter How to De-clutter

Mind over Matter.

How to De-clutter

As someone who works with people on moving forward in their lives I would like to offer a bit of a mind set to try on prior to jumping into any organizing or de-cluttering project. Once you are committed to moving forward the rest is just the doing. 

1)  Live the life that you want to live.  If you have something in the garage because it is not your style, or your color, or it doesn't make you feel good then it is not meant to be yours.  We all learn and get better as we go along.  Maybe we are a better version of ourselves and the item is not. Let it go.  Be the person you want to be.  Would you rather have a house full of ugly things or very few things but items that reflect who you are.  Would you rather give a gift wrapped in crinkly paper or spend a few more pennies (really, it is just pennies at you can get cute stuff at the dollar store) and give a gift that reflects who you are or even who you would like to be. Do you need 10 cookie sheets or can you get by with 4 of your nicest?  Do you need 15 coffee mugs with varying logo's designs etc or do you want to use the ones you love?  William Morris was a smart man when he said,  "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” 

2) Follow the 3 year rule.  If you have not used something in 3 years you will probably not use it again.  Some people believe that you should go by the one year rule but I know that realistically people will not do that. I know that life sometimes lives us, we don't live it.  Give yourself a break. There are some years that you don't use something you normally would have at a certain time or point because someone in your family was sick or hospitalized, or  "you weren't home a lot that summer" or whatever else it is that made the past year or 2 unusual.  3 years and you will know for sure.  After 2 years put the item in a box in the garage/basement/attic.  Mark it with the date.  If during the next year you pull the item out and actually use it, it is safe, if not at the end of that year it is no longer yours as you don't need it.  If you pull it out because you want to use it or think you will but you don't use it, put it back in the box.  I know this may feel like you are moving boxes around and you will in the first year but each year when you do it you will have boxes you are taking out, not just items.

There will be some items you don't need to put in a box and wait the three years for.  You know you haven't used the item in a long time.  Release it.  Set it free.  Maybe someone will give it the use you never could. Make it easy.  Have boxes marked  'Trash' 'Garage Sale' 'Charity' and then your 3 year box. Pick a closet/drawer/room and have at it.  I promise that with each area you complete you will feel better.  Even a drawer getting organized makes me feel accomplished.

3)  I was raised in a lower to middle class family.  I HATE not being thrifty and not using items or discarding them due to non use instead of something wearing out. This is my biggest hurdle when cleaning out.  When I say to get rid of it or it is not yours that does not mean to throw it out.  It always makes me feel as though I wasn't a spend thrift if I find a home for it where the item will be used and wanted. You can sell it, you can give it away to a charity, you can give it to friends you know who may want or need it.  I love excuses for a get together with friends and family so I prefer having a trade party.   Everyone brings decent items that they no longer use or want.  For each item that you bring you get a ticket and you can use these tickets to buy an item that someone else brings.  You each agree at the end of the night that if someone doesn't want you item or you don't want someone else's item it goes to charity.  If several people want the same item you can draw for it or bid another ticket but establish the rules at the beginning.  Make it a potluck and have fun.  Know there will be laughing at some items or bidding wars over others.

4)  Do not save things for other people.  There will be no 'so and so will use this' in a few years.  Ask if they want it now.  If they do, they can store it.  

5) Throw some of this out the window when you are dealing with heirlooms or family items. Sometimes that falls under the Willliam Morris quote of usefulness and beauty.  It may be useful because it maintains family ties or may be beautiful as it brings to mind wonderful family memories.  This is a part of living the life you want to. 

6) Organize by how you use the item, where you use the item, season, color, etc.  Have a plan.  If it makes sense it will make it easier for you and allow you to remember where it is and therefore help you with actually allowing it to be a useful item.  All crafts should be in one area.  If you can't fit them into the area find a different area.  It makes no sense to have them in different spots, even if they are organized.  How many times have you gone out and bought something because you didn't know you had it and you looked in the area you thought it should be?  Make it make sense.

7)  I have a friend who follows the 'In and Out' rule.  If she buys a new broom, pan, picture,etc she then has to get rid of one of the same.  You may not be able to do this every time, or want to especially if you  buy based on what you need but it might be something to keep in mind when you do have multiples.  Especially when there is a lot of wear.

8)  Make a list as you clean and de-clutter.  Write down what you could use and what you have a need for.  You might not be able to run out and buy every item but at least you will know.  Write down what is broken and needs to be fixed.  Write down anything that comes up in the form of a 'to do'  If you don't you will pull the item out to use and find that you may as well not even have the item because you can't use it. 

I hope that helps.  As I said, as I work with people on changing things that don't work in their lives I find the biggest hurdle is their own mind set.  People usually have the ability or can learn what they need to do.  It is freeing them of the thoughts and patterns that they want to continue on with even when it isn't working.

Your wardrobe closet brings a whole new set of rules- more on that to come.