3 Steps to Tackle Your Clutter

Guest post from Jennifer of Pure and Simple Organizing Our garages and attics are often the most neglected areas of our home. How often do you actually get in the garage to sort through your precious stuff? We just pile and stuff, pile and forget. We think that once the garage door is closed, we will forget about all the boxes we have piled and stuffed. However, our sneaky subconscious mind reminds us day in and day out about our clutter lurking in these neglected places. Does the clutter in your home (visible or not) bother you? My guess is that it does. We, as humans, crave order, and clutter is not order. It causes stress and anxiety, not to mention, it packs our homes full of stuff that we don’t really need or use. Thus, your home becomes a storage unit, not a peaceful, relaxing domain. Tackle that clutter! 1. Start with the room that bothers you the most (garage, attic, kitchen) Pick a weekend to tackle the project — it will take longer than you think! Talk to your family and get them on board with sorting, purging, and cleaning — if the clutter is bothering you, then I bet it is bothering them, too. If you have a friend who loves to organize, call her, too! You could treat her to dinner or babysit her children for a few hours in exchange for her help. 2. Take everything out. Yes, everything must come out! Make sure that the space is clear. Sort like with like. (Toys, holiday decorations, pictures, memory lane) Throw away anything that is broken, moldy, faded, and not in great condition Donate multiple items and anything you don’t use, love or need. 3. Evaluate your progress and repeat with the next space! Organizing helps energize and inspire you. You want to live in the moment rather than be succumbed to the past. Treasure your memories as they live in your head and heart, not in your stuff. Display treasured items. If you keep something special, then serve its purpose. Frame your christening gown and hang on the wall! Put your first report card in a photo album. Keep what you love and use. Toss or donate the rest. These pictures are of a garage that was badly overstuffed and forgotten. In four days, I managed to create inventory zones for holiday decorations, pool storage, and memory lane. The owners were thrilled! The husband even mentioned putting a pool table in the middle — he had no idea there was so much room up there! Organize to live simply. Downsize, learn to live in the moment, and you will soon forget about all of the extra stuff. Jennifer is a home organizer in Charlotte, NC. Her mission is to help families and individuals find calm within their home after clearing out the chaos. Giving someone the opportunity to increase their quality of life by cleaning up and out is her passion! She blogs at Pure and Simple Organizing.