Top tips for decluttering your home
As years go by you tend to collect stuff, and when it comes to the point where you have to let some of it go, it becomes highly stressful.
See your life as a book with yourself as the author, and decide what the new chapter in your life will be about, and what you will need to make it such.
I want my clients to choose items and activities that will be the most relevant to their next chapter.
They need to make space for new opportunities, but this leaves them in a predicament of finding a balance between hastily tossing everything and hanging on to too much.
By examining why you have the stuff in the first place you can create an opportunity for self-discovery and liberation.
Just getting rid of stuff as you see on many TV shows is not the answer, as this might just lead to depression, emptiness and a deep sense of loss as every item you own is part of who you are.
When I assist people to declutter after a life changing event, like a death in the family, divorce, a move or the birth of a new baby, I notice that they cannot distinguish treasures among all their possessions and find it difficult to let go of whatever they no longer need.
My question to them is, “Do you really need all this stuff?”, wanting them to realise that many of the items are redundant as they have already moved on in life or are on the verge of change.
A happy transition will only be achieved if your action is intrinsic and is not forced or influenced by anyone.
Tackle an area where you will reach the largest space benefit first.The challenge is that you still might see potential in every item you own.
Either you still want to make something with it, you fear that you might need it or fit into it later. You might even be panic stricken by the thought of change without your stuff.
Establish the origin of your attachment to enable you to release it. Free your space and time. Realise that not everything is a treasure and will probably not be of relevance in your next chapter.
Is your clutter filling a void?
Try and understand the root cause of your clutter. When did things change? Was it always this way, or can you figure out when the behaviour of accumulating stuff started?
What kind of stuff do you have?
1. Useful items, which includes anything that portrayed who you were and wanted to be. Stuff that made you feel good, assisted in what you did and gave you a sense of achievement, for example varsity books and notes.
Sentimental items are difficult to deal with and just keeping them in a cupboard makes no sense.
2. Sentimental objects or activities that brought you joy and or inspired you, like hobbies, gifts from loved ones and memorabilia.
Looking at both of these you need to establish if these attachments are real or if they are the product of a deep-rooted insecurity, filling a void or if you still need to prove something.
Is it really worthwhile keeping all those torn out magazine articles of things that you still want to make? Just looking at the pile of paper, will you realistically even have time to organise them into folders, let alone, still make the stuff that inspired you years ago?
How to let go?
Give yourself a new lease on life. Commit to change and take the steps to do it.
I can see clearly now…
Give away any useful, clean items that you no longer want.
See your life as a book with yourself as the author, and decide what the new chapter in your life will be about, and what you will need to make it such.
Now you can structure your life, space and time towards it. Put a title to your new chapter and write it down, for example “embrace creativity”.
When you get excited and energised about it, you will be able to let go of the clutter that is no longer relevant.
Where to begin?
Tackle an area where you will reach the largest space benefit first. It took time to become like this; lots of stagnant energy with overstuffed cupboards or boxes you haven’t looked at in years.
Remember your title to your new chapter when looking for any useful or meaningful items that you’ll need from that room as you take a tour of what needs to be accomplished.
Enlist the help of a family member, a friend or an organiser who can keep you from getting lost in the menial decisions, someone to share memories with and to help you focus on the task at hand.
Sentimental items are difficult to deal with and just keeping them in a cupboard makes no sense. Remember the person who gave it to you and let go of the stuff, unless it has place in your new life and your unique style. Display or use the items that you love.
Dig for your treasure
Work through your possessions room by room. Treasure is anything of value among your possessions that gives you sense of your being, that brings you joy to look at and use. It gives you energy and inspires you.
If there is any guilt or mixed feelings involved with an item, it should go. Keep only one of a kind. Keeping five dolls from your childhood means not any one of them is a treasure.
Create guidelines for what you need and is practical and meaningful. Then it will be easy to let go. Examples of treasures are mementos from your childhood, critical life documents, special gifts and collections, heirloom furniture and art objects, keepsakes, books and tools for the next phase.
Let go of ‘I wish or just in case items’, anything that you still want to do and never get to, might fit into and never do. Get rid of anything that you haven’t used in the past season and stuff that was stored in boxes for years just in case the need arises.
Give away any useful, clean items that you no longer want.
Recycle trash, you know what I’m talking about. Yes, all those plastic bags sitting at the back of the cupboard.
Stick to the space limit
Always keep in mind how much space you have wherever you go and limit what you take or acquire.
Celebrate your life
Accept the unique you, acknowledge your successes and failures and decide what you want it to be like, without all the irrelevant attachments that no longer serve you.
Listen to your instincts
During this process of unearthing your treasure, work carefully and pay attention to what truly excites you and brings you joy, don’t just get rid of everything. Only then, will you be able to move forward, to spread your wings and live the future you dreamt of. – Heidi Meyer
Property News Courtesy of Premier Real Estate