Last night I completed my class series called “Declutter Your Home NOW!” It was amazing to work with those 25 people, helping them learn what it really takes to declutter and organize.
So often we are given “three easy steps,” or told “all you have to do is…” But if you, like me, are not born organized, the process really starts with an internal shift.
One participant summed it up like this: “I also am working hard to pretend that I’m organized and keep my kitchen clutter free. [It occurred] to me – that it really is work – more mental than physical – it is a commitment to clutter free living…I realize now that you are talking about a change in mindset. I plan to keep practicing because I do like the declutter, the feeling of accomplishment, the lack of concern that someone may stop in and see my house, and the sense of peace when I can find something easily. Actually I’m looking forward to a bigger sense of peace as things get clutter free.”
When she mentions that she is “working hard to pretend that I’m organized” she is referring to a technique I recommend, which is to act as though your systems are already in place. That means, from this day forward, instead of throwing your clothes across the back of a chair at night, you hang them up or put them in the clothes hamper. Rather than piling the mail on the dining room table, you take it to the office (or wherever you prefer to handle the mail) and sort it there. Yes, you will still have the previous clutter to deal with, but with this method, you are not adding to it. Productivity expert Barbara Hemphill calls this principle, “Today’s mail is tomorrow’s pile.”
While there are innumerable books and websites about decluttering, the bottom line is that it takes time and effort. That’s the “dirty little secret.” It can be frustrating because the process seems so slow at first. But that changes once decluttering and organizing becomes a habit.
Do you have a sense of peace and a feeling of accomplishment where you live? Please share your comments below!
Brenda Spandrio, The Declutter Lady
Great advice, Brenda. Understand the value of the technique when you wrote, “…she is “working hard to pretend that I’m organized” she is referring to a technique I recommend, which is to act as though your systems are already in place.” It’s similar in concept to when I recommend to clients they stop stating their wants and goals as “I want to” or “I need to” and instead use a phrase that indicates they are already in the “doing” mode. For example, “I want to lose weight.” becomes “I love being healthy and choose to eat healthy food that I like and that nourishes me.”
Thanks, Kat! I hadn’t connected this with affirmations, but you are right. I appreciate your comments…
Flylady is a great resource and I recommend her site all the time. Thanks for posting the link…
I decluttered my house about 6 months ago and used http://www.flylady.net to do it. It was amazing and because of those techniques my house is very clean. It was a spiritual experience for me. It not only helped with the physical side, but it seemed to be a spiritual cleansing as well.
Nope, no peace even though I’ve fooled my friends into thinking I’m organized. Need to create new habits so I can find true peace.
Thanks, Kimberly! You’d be surprised how many homes that LOOK organized are really in chaos. It’s not about looks so much as function…
Great post! I’m one of those organised people guess I was born that way 🙂 My philosophy is that it takes just as much energy to put things it the correct place as it does to put them in the wrong place in the first instance. Now if I could only convince my husband of that!
You’re right about the time and energy required to put things away, We who are not ‘born organized’ have to learn that…
Everything always starts with a internal energy shift. change your energy, change your life.
Good thought, Mark! Thanks…