For those like me who did the 40-day declutter challenge, how did it go?

Lessons learned for me:

• Regular maintenance and routines are important for keeping clutter under control. It can easily get out of hand even with the best of intentions.
• Remembering the difference between records and reference helps me limit paper files.
• That I can challenge myself to continue to reduce clutter even when I think I have previously gotten rid of a lot.
• Organized clutter is still clutter.
• That this annual 40-day challenges really helps me as part of my clutter-free maintenance plan.

What did you learn?

If you did a 31-day March declutter challenge, how did you do? If you are continuing the 40-day challenge, how is it going?

I am continuing with the 40-day declutter challenge.

I wanted to do a deeper dive into one of the reasons we keep clutter. One of the reasons we keep clutter is because of the value we place on our items. We may value something because of the memories associated with the item or because we paid good money for it. Or someone gave it to us as a gift and we value that gesture even if we don’t use or like the item. We may also keep something because it is part of our legacy.

So, I wanted to speak to the value of our items by using my experience as an example. I have regularly taken clothing, purses, and shoes to consignment shops (yes plural) because in my opinion there is still value in them or because I bought them on impulse and didn’t end up even taking the tag off or because I paid “good money” for an item. What I have learned through this process is that what I think has value and what the stores take on consignment are two different things. And that is okay. It is okay because I keep the goal of having less clutter in my home at the forefront. [Read more…]

As you look to declutter and purge your items, it is also important to engage in developing a way to stay “organized” or to prevent the clutter from reemerging.

Here are some tips to help you avoid cluttering your space again.

• Make sure you have a place to store it before you buy it
• Don’t buy warehouse sizes if you don’t have the room
• Use multipurpose products
• Make a list before you shop
• Plan your wardrobe around two colors
• Schedule maintenance activities
• Employ consistent daily practices or a routine
• Don’t allow it in your house in the first place

A plan for not acquiring clutter and letting it in your house in the first place is the best insurance to avoid clutter.

Additionally, scheduling a weekly, monthly, and yearly routine for maintenance can make an enormous difference in corralling clutter and not allowing it to pile up. Hence my annual 40 Day Declutter Challenge.

Which one of these tips can you start using today?

As we go through this year’s Declutter Challenge, I thought it might be advantageous to discuss why we keep clutter.

Some of the reasons why people have clutter include:

• “Just in case”
• It’s part of my identity
• It shows status
• It provides me with a sense of security
• It’s mine (Territorialism)
• I inherited “Clutteritis”
• More is better
• “Scroogeness”
• My clutter is a manifestation of suppressed emotions

Do any of these ring true for you? Or you may have other reasons. The important thing is to note is that we often use clutter as an excuse. [Read more…]