Friday, March 27, 2009

National Clutter Awareness Week


I just learned that the 4th week of March was National Clutter Awareness Week! (thank you @clutterdiet on twitter for making me aware of it.) The beginning of spring and spring cleaning does make sense for the perfect time to declutter.

The biggest reason for most people to have clutter is because you do not have a place for everything you own. So it gets set down on a table or desk and then just continues to accumulate, and accumulate and accumulate.
You may think.."I don't have clutter". But look around. Are the surfaces of your counters and side tables clear? Can you find the surface of your desk? If you can't..then you too may be guilty. LOL....heck, we all are at some point!
If it is past a point that you can't take 10 minutes and pick it up and put it away...then you may have a clutter problem.
Generally it is because we have more "stuff" than we have room for the "stuff".The solution is simple - decrease the stuff. Simple. Right? No..it usually isn't that simple.
Start small. Set a timer for 15 minutes and pick a small space. A junk drawer maybe, or small desk top. Think fast and don't ponder on one item for more than a few seconds. (you have to "depersonalize" it)
Decide 1) Do I use it?
2) Do I need it?
3) Does it add value to this space?
4) What is the worse thing that will happen if I don't have it?

Then you can decide if you need to keep it, can donate it or throw it away.
Give it a try.
Wouldn't you rather work in an space like this instead of the above? (Yes it is the same space after we sorted, decluttered, painted and moved furniture.)

5 comments:

Two Little Lambs said...

I love this post! It just makes me feel good to talk about getting rid of clutter. I have my family on a "Clean House Mission." I am so happy we are simplifying our lives.

Deni said...

That's actually part of what we are doing today. We completely reorganized our living room and started on our bedroom. It's lovely now, we have a long way to go, but it already feels a ton better.

Donna B said...

I am on a mission to declutter too. We are slowing getting through the house. My goal is to have the entire house decluttered by the end of the year. The main floor is mostly completed. (Well except for the girls toys.)

chaotic kitten said...

"What is the worst thing that will happen if I don't have it?" is an ingenious question! Thank you. I love it!!

Kimberly@PrettyPinkMomma said...

That first picture is a pretty close resemblence to my kitchen counter. I keep trying to clear it but I am just to darn busy blogging I guess!