When you think of decluttering what comes to mind? Untidy rooms, overstuffed cupboards, unruly wardrobes? A quick flick through my dictionary* gives the definition of
declutter as:
Declutter - 'to remove superfluous objects (from)'.
Simple then, all we need to do is remove the superfluous objects. But if it was truly that simple, all of our houses would be clutter free models of organisation and calm. So how do we decide what's superfluous? Back to the bookshelf for that dictionary again:
Superfluous - 'above what is enough; redundant; unnecessary.'
And that's the thing, what's unnecessary and what's enough is going to be different for each of us. As a professional organiser, when I work with clients a key part of the initial consultation and my subsequent planning for the session is listening - finding out about my clients' lifestyles and how they relate to their homes, what's working for them and what isn't. So if you're planning your own decluttering session, that's a really good place to start, on the sofa with a cup of tea or coffee, a notepad and a bit of quiet reflection! So feet up and off we go ....
Here are some suggestions for questions you might want to consider:
Why - Why do I want to declutter? Have a really good think about this question. What has brought you to want to declutter? Is it because you feel like you don't have enough space? Is it because you can never find what you need to put your hands on? Is it because you're disorganised on a day to day basis or perhaps because the visual clutter in your home is affecting the way you feel? The more you can drill down and find out your 'why' the easier it will be to focus your efforts. It may be that you have a general feeling of clutter or it may be that there is a certain area in your house that is particularly affecting you, so that's the next thing to think about ...
Where - Is there a particular area that I want to concentrate on? Close your eyes and imagine yourself at your front door. Have a really good look around. Now in your head, walk from room to room noticing exactly what's around you and identify if there are any areas that particularly stand out - hot spots for clutter or areas that just aren't working or could be better organised. Think about how you feel in each room as you visualise it and note down anything that comes up. Spend some time in each room identifying an area that you would like to start in. If you're feeling energetic, you could move away from the sofa and the brew and do this for real!
What - What do I want to achieve? The first couple of steps are all about the why and the where. Next to consider is what you want your outcome to be once you've decluttered. Your 'why' is about the way things are now. Your 'what' is about the way you want things to be in the future. It might seem to be a very simple question with a simple answer - I want to declutter - but the more that you can visualise what you want your end result to be and see the details, the more likely you'll be to achieve that result.
So, for example if your why/where is disorganised, chaotic and overfilled kitchen cabinets that make it impossible to find what you need, food is often out of date and wasted and being in the kitchen has become a chore rather than a joy, your what might be:
I want to have kitchen cupboards that are well organised and not overstocked, with space to see exactly what I have and what I need. I want to have a system to be able to find and use food before it goes out of date and I want to have only kitchen equipment and utensils that I will use. I want to be able to relax in the kitchen and enjoy cooking.
Or, if your why/where is an overfilled wardrobe, piles of clothes where they don't belong and you often feel like you still can't find something you want to wear , your 'what' may be something like:
I want my wardrobes and drawers to be properly organised with plenty of room to be able to clearly see exactly what I own. I want be able to quickly and easily find an outfit that makes me feel great. I want to own only clothes that suit my lifestyle and that I love wearing.
Spending time considering these questions before getting down to the physical decluttering and organising will help you to really focus in on the areas that are important to you and allow you to prioritise your time and effort when you begin.
*Chambers Dictionary - 13th edition
Comments