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 all about my clients' lifestyles and how they use their homes, what's working for them and what isn't. What's getting in the way of their day to day lives. What the vision for their ideal home is.
The same holds true if you're planning your own decluttering session, those questions are a really great place to start. Grab a notebook and take a few minutes for a bit of quiet reflection!
So notebook out 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 is it that has made you to want to declutter now? 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, it may be that mornings are completely chaotic and you can't find what you need for school or work, 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? During a Dunmow Decluttering consultation, we have a really good look around at the areas we plan to work on, so the same follows if you're having your own declutter - time to have a look around. Start at your front door. The entry way is often a busy and cluttered area. Next 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 look at it and note down anything that comes up. Spend some time in each room identifying an area that you would like to start in.
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. A strong vision or purpose for a room or area once it's decluttered can be a real motivator.
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. And of course, if you feel that you need a helping hand along the way, just get in touch and we'll get it sorted together.
Happy decluttering!
Nikki
Dunmow Decluttering Essex Professional Organiser
Dunmow Decluttering Essex Professional organiser offers home organising services, home decluttering services & house move preparation & unpacking for the areas surrounding Great Dunmow - Saffron Walden - Stansted - Bishop's Stortford - Sawbridgeworth - Ongar - Chigwell - Colchester - Chelmsford - Brentwood - Braintree - Cogeshall - Tiptree - Witham - Maldon - Halstead - Sudbury - Haverhill
Comments