“There’s just too much stuff!”
The way out of feeling overwhelmed by stuff is to reduce the amount of it. If there is just too much stuff, it’s time to remove some. Whether you donate it, hold a garage sale, advertise on online auction sites, or just throw it away—the goal is to reduce the amount of stuff.
“I don’t know where to start.”
Just pick a place to start and go for it. Don’t try and do it all at once, as the saying goes “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”.
“I don’t have time”
Lower your expectations. It took you longer than over night to get where you are now and making it go away won’t happen overnight either. Be realistic. Set a time or plan a schedule and take one step at a time.
“I don’t know how to go about getting organised.”
You could get advice from books such as our own book HOME. There are also many other online resources to help you. If you need the support of a professional, we can connect you with a caring and understanding professional organiser.
“My spouse won’t toss anything.”
So, start somewhere else and don’t worry about your spouse’s belongings just yet. You may get a surprise when you start achieving organising success in other parts of your home, the rest of the family may just get on board!
“I get it organised, but it doesn’t stay that way.”
…And it won’t unless you put routines in place to help you maintain it.
It is much the same as maintaining a weight loss program; you have to consistently monitor your calorie intake and exercise regime. Once you achieve your weight loss goal, you won’t maintain that weight if you return to your old habits. Likewise, establishing routines ensure that you maintain new, beneficial organising habits.
“My children undo whatever I do.”
No matter what age your children are, they can have responsibilities around the home. Hold a family meeting and discuss all of the things that need to happen to keep your home running smoothly. Let your children choose which age-appropriate chores to do. If they choose them, they are more likely to complete them. Let them know that they can re-negotiate which chores they prefer at the next meeting.
Remember, you are the parent; you are in charge. Teach them what they need to know to be a functioning, responsible adult.
“But, I might need it someday.”
The reality is that you won’t miss much of anything that you part with at all. In fact, you may not even remember that you’ve tossed it. The goal right now is to clear the clutter and regain your life. The value of creating an organised and functioning family home is far greater than potentially having to replace an item that you may have gotten rid of in the process.
“I don’t know what I should get rid of.”
In short, there are two simple questions to ask yourself when making that decision: 1. Do I absolutely love it and 2. Do I use it—regularly? If you answer yes to both questions, that item should be retained. If not the item should be thrown away, donated or sold.
Extract: HOME by Adele Blair