How To Overcome The Helpless Feeling Of Clutter

There is nothing worse than coming home after a long hard day at work to a bunch of clutter.  Oftentimes, it seems as though there isn’t enough time in a day to do it all, and the mess can get out of control quickly.  How do you overcome the helplessness that clutter can make you feel?  Get rid of it!  Your home should be your sanctuary, and you can absolutely reclaim your space!  It may take a little time and a lot of effort, but you can achieve serenity by overcoming the helplessness!

One Room At A Time

Attempting to tackle your whole house all at once will cause you to feel overwhelmed and defeated, which in turn will cause you to give up.  In other words, take one room at a time following these steps:

1. Be prepared to toss some things.  Seriously, the only way to overcome clutter is to get rid of it.  Start by stocking up on boxes (I get them free at the liquor store) and large garbage bags.
2. Choose your starting point.  Decide which room in your home interferes most with daily function and start there so you will reap the rewards quickly.  I like to start at the top (shelving or cabinets)  and work my way down.
3. Roll up your sleeves and get ready.  Make four piles:  Keep, Donate, Trash, and Recycle. Add a Sell pile if you intend to have a yard sale.
4. If you need to, rent a dumpster.  Do what you need to do to get your house back!
5. Next, attack the room as if you are moving.  Decide what you love enough to take with you on this imaginary move.  Then, if you come across an item that does not meet this qualification, donate it.
6. Once you have it all sorted out, box or bag your items to be donated and put them in your car.  Immediately.  I mean right now.  This way, you will not second guess your decisions.  At the end of the day, deliver the boxes to Goodwill or your donation location.
7. Take the trash out as you fill a bag. This will get you excited about the open space you are beginning to see!  Same goes for recyclable material.
8. When you have been through absolutely everything, take a good look at your keep pile.  Think about where you will store everything.  Assess the usefulness of the items you want to hang on to.   If anything is questionable, it likely needs to go.
9. Spring clean the room from top to bottom and everywhere in between.  As a result, you will feel like a million bucks when you’re done. 
10. Add a fresh coat of paint to complete the room. Paint really freshens up any space for a small amount of money and time.

Set Reasonable Goals

When you make the decision to overcome the helplessness of clutter, be aware that the process takes time.  You may spend an entire weekend (or more) tackling one room.  Once you have followed the steps above and see the results of your hard work, you will begin to feel motivated, inspired, and empowered.  This will help you to stay focused.

• Get out your calendar.  It’s time to make a declutter schedule and stick to it.  For the next month, do a little every day.  Save the heavier stuff for the weekends.  Schedule your yard sale and advertise it, so you won’t change your mind.
• Once you clean out a room, keep it that way.  Then, implement a system for your paperwork and everything else that comes through the door (Click here to subscribe to Just Organize My Life via email and receive free tips to get rid of clutter for good).

Emotional Benefits Of Overcoming Clutter

I can’t explain the peace you will feel when you decide not to let your “stuff” weigh you down.  You will need to experience that on your own.   When you are free of physical clutter, and mental clutter for that matter (read “How To Have A Breakthrough Toward Inner Peace”), a newfound feeling of lightness will take over.  You’ll laugh heartier and get more enjoyment out of life.  Why? Because you have simplified everything!  Clutter is a burden.  Once you relieve yourself of that burden, a weight will be lifted from you!

The process of overcoming the helpless feeling of clutter is simple for everyone to follow.  It may not be easy to carry out, but having the determination to change the way you live and react to your belongings is the only way overcome the helplessness.   Above all, remember this: stuff is, well, just stuff.  It is replaceable.  Essentially it is meaningless.  Therefore, it doesn’t define us, nor should we let it.

Consequently, when your clutter is under control, you can harness all the energy and time you spent worrying about the possessions that consumed your life and redirect it to your loved ones.   You’ll be glad you did!

Until next time,

April

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