4 Ways I Can Help You Let Go of Emotion and Cull the Clutter in Your Home

As a professional organizer, I’m trained to help clients deal with the emotional clutter piling up alongside the physical possessions that are filling their homes. Today we’re going talk about ways to remove the emotion from the decluttering process, leaving you with a joyful and junk free home that’s ready for creating new memories as well as honoring the past.

1.) Leave the Past in the Past, But Preserve the Memories

As time goes by, you will naturally accumulate trinkets, decor, and family keepsakes. While beautiful memories may be associated with these items, they are now taking up valuable space in your home, creating stress in your current life. Taking photos of bulky items, keeping only one representative item of a collection, and limiting keepsake storage to a predetermined space are all ways to keep the memories without the clutter.

2.) Just Say No to the Junk Drawer, Opt for a Utility Space Instead

Did you know it’s possible not to have a junk drawer? If you have one of these pesky spaces, usually in your kitchen, consider this your cue to clear it out. Rename it as a utility drawer, and use it to store things like scissors, a screwdriver, and a few frequently used items. Just remember, nothing goes in this drawer that doesn’t belong. As you’re clearing it out, notice if you need to create a space for specific categories like receipts, stamps and mailing supplies, paper clips and other small office supplies. Set up categories that make sense for your household, and reap the rewards of finding what you need when you need it!

3.) Designate Well-Defined Spaces for Confusing Clutter

Leaving the house in the morning and returning at the end of a long day both tend to be stressful and hurried. We are usually pretty unmotivated to put things away. Make it easy on yourself by having realistic on-site spots for your work bag, backpacks, shoes, keys, and mail. That way you can drop things upon entry, but they actually have a designated space. It’s pretty unrealistic to insist every family member take all their belongings back to their rooms the instant they walk in the house. Reduce frustration in your home by creating clear landing spots for frequently used items.

4.) Make a Family-Wide Plan, Then Practice Home Maintenance

Clearing the emotional clutter from your home includes shared responsibilities for family members. Set up systems for who tidies up what space and when. Remember, it’s not nagging if you’re reminding someone to do something they’ve already agreed to do! You may be surprised that family members have solutions you never thought of, and if they are part of solving the problem, they may be more motivated to maintain the system. If you have kids in the home, this is a great opportunity for them to learn skills that will serve them well in life. A little training up front pays huge dividends in the long run!

The beginning of the new year is a great time to let go of the clutter and guilt that’s been dragging you down. Eliminating physical clutter often helps to eliminate emotional clutter as well. And don’t just fill those spaces with a new purchases. Instead find creative ways to use what you already have, and you’ll be surprised at how much less time it takes to maintain a reasonably tidy home!

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Cheers,

Karina