Conquering Clutter

Clear your home, clear your mind

by Ranka Burzan

How many times have you said to yourself, “I really have to get organized one of these days”? According to the National Association for Professional Organizers (NAPO), only one-quarter of us are organized. The rest of us struggle to some degree with disorganization and clutter in our homes. In fact, it has been said that the majority of us spend at least one hour a day looking for the things we need and 20 per cent of our annual budget replacing things we’ve lost!

The Chinese proverb “A cluttered space equals a cluttered mind” also rings true for many of us: a reluctance to part with certain items and holding onto things as mementos of past experiences and relationships can prevent us from growing emotionally and spiritually. By clearing the clutter, both physical and emotional, we bring order into our lives, gain energy and clarity to be more creative and productive, and come away with a sense of calmness and serenity.

Let’s Get Organized!

• Organizing your home takes time and energy, so it’s important to know when your energy level is at its peak. If you are an early bird and you have an abundance of energy in the morning, schedule your sorting and purging for then. If you are a night owl, do your organizing at night.
• Schedule a specific date and time to tackle the area you want to organize, and write it down on your calendar to reinforce your commitment. There is power in the written word.
• Establish goals: your house is probably too big a job for one day; break it down into a few days or weeks. Perhaps you will choose your kitchen for your big goal. In feng shui the kitchen traditionally signifies health and prosperity. So keeping it spotless and free of clutter will impact your health and finances favourably.
• Motivate yourself. Enlist a friend to work alongside you or give you encouragement. Upbeat music can help you get into organization mode. Taking before and after pictures as you organize each room is helpful and inspiring.
• Limit distractions from children, pets, telephone, or TV. Hire a babysitter or ask Grandma to take the kids for a few hours. Once you organize one room and see the dramatic results, you will be motivated to organize your entire house.
• Take 30 minutes to get started. Choose the room that bothers you the most and is used often, such as your kitchen or bathroom. Set up three boxes labelled “Donate,” “Sell,” and “Fix.” Every time you pick up an item, ask yourself which box it belongs in. If broken things can’t be fixed, see if you can recycle them.
• Focus on one corner of the room. Sort the things you want to keep; purge whatever you don’t want or need. Set aside items of sentimental value and take some time to reminisce about them. Ask family or friends if they want any of them. Store the items you retain in a beautiful treasure trunk or basket.
• Buy drawer dividers or use old Tupperware containers to store the things you need and use, such as batteries, matches, candles, paper clips, pens, etc. These are small things that need to be visible and contained. Have one consistent home for each type of possession.
• Remember hidden spaces. Get long containers that fit under your bed, creating an ideal place to store extra bedding, out-of-season clothes, shoes, books, etc. To create more space under your bed, buy bed lifters. Before you go shopping, measure the length, width, and height, then measure again in the store—remember to take a measuring tape.
• Think vertical. If you lack horizontal space, consider installing shelves, pegboards, and hooks. On your shelving unit, use attractive containers, boxes, or baskets to store books, videos, toys, and documents. Label everything!

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