More than having a tidy home
When you think about decluttering, what comes to mind? Is it the amount of stuff piled up in various places, cupboards that are overflowing, or the frustration of never being able to find what you are looking for?
Perhaps there is a room you no longer use because it has become a storage space, or you don’t enjoy being in your home anymore because there is simply too much stuff around you.
We often think about decluttering as getting rid of stuff and making our homes look tidier, but have you considered the impact that properly decluttering and organising your home can have on your wellbeing?
How can clutter affect us?
When we are surrounded by an abundance of disorganised belongings, it can be difficult to feel calm and in control. We can feel overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious or trapped just by looking at it.
For some people, the impact goes much further. I have worked with people who could no longer use their bedroom because it had become a storage room, and others who couldn’t use their oven or kitchen worktops. One client had not had a tradesperson into their home for over a year because they were worried about being judged. This meant they had gone through a winter without proper heating.
There can also be a financial impact. When we can’t find what we already own, it is easy to buy something again. Relationships can become strained because of disagreements about belongings, and people can feel anxious about what will happen to all their possessions in the future.
It isn’t necessarily about being untidy or lazy. Life happens. Health problems develop, bereavement, emotional distress, trauma and a busy life can all affect our ability to manage our homes.
What happens during the process?
Decluttering and organising isn’t a one-off event. It is a process of learning to think differently about our belongings and developing small routines that enable us to maintain our homes more easily.
Making the decision to have support from a Professional Declutterer and Organiser can be a huge first step. People often begin feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed or worried that they should be able to do it themselves.
People often say to me that they ‘don’t know where to start”. But as we work together, something often changes. People become more comfortable making decisions about their belongings and start to feel more confident about continuing the process themselves.
For example, one client had several boxes of kitchen equipment on their bedroom floor and crockery stored in their living room. Mobility difficulties meant they couldn’t easily use the lower kitchen cupboards. Together, we sorted through the kitchen, letting go of items they could no longer use, and reorganised the cupboards around their needs. For the first time, the worktops and tops of the cabinets were completely clear.
What was particularly lovely was that the change didn’t stop when our session ended. Having a tidy, functional kitchen inspired them to do a little more tidying each day and gradually put other ideas into practice. They described it as not just making their kitchen usable, but giving them the push they needed to sort out the rest of their home in their own time.
Another client was able to have a decorator into their home once we had sorted their living room. They then felt confident enough to invite friends round. They were so pleased with the difference that they started thinking about their dining room and planning to host “Friends and Feasts” evenings again.
These changes aren’t simply about having a tidier room. They can mean being able to use your home in the way you want to.
The difference it can make
The emotional changes can be just as important as the practical ones.
People often tell me they feel lighter, relieved and more in control. They may find things more easily, save money because they aren’t buying duplicates, sleep better and have more time for things they enjoy. They can move around their homes more safely and feel less anxious about someone coming to the door.
For some people, one of the biggest changes is being able to invite others into their home again. One client told me, “Thank you for all your help and guidance. You were very patient and kind. As you know I was embarrassed to have tradespeople round before because of all my things. But, the plumber has just left and I felt comfortable and proud to show him around.” That feeling of pride can be a huge step forward.
There can also be a lovely feeling when unwanted belongings find a new purpose. I’ve taken wool to someone who knitted to raise money for a local hospice, craft supplies to care homes and schools, and toiletries and gifts to a refuge supporting women and families experiencing domestic abuse. Knowing that something you no longer need will be useful to somebody else can make letting go feel much easier.
It doesn’t have to be perfect
My own home isn’t a show home and I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as a minimalist. It is a lived-in home, but my belongings have a place to live. This means I know where things are and have simple routines that help me keep everything manageable.
For example, my jumpers. I have just the right amount for the space I have for them and they are all stored together which means I can see them all at a glance. If I see another jumper I want to buy, I ask myself: Have I already got something similar? Do I really need it? Is it better than what I already have? And if I buy it, which jumper am I prepared to let go? This helps me focus on what I already own rather than automatically buying something because I like it. One client told me, “I don’t feel the need to keep buying things anymore – only when I need them. I saved so much money.” Like learning any new skill, it takes time and practice for new routines to become natural. But once they do, the benefits can last.
Why ask for help?
People often tell me they expect to be able to maintain their home themselves, and are frustrated when they are unable to. Why do we expect ourselves to know how to do something we may never have been taught? We are quite comfortable asking a mechanic to look at our car, a hairdresser to cut our hair or a decorator to improve our home. So why not ask someone who is skilled in decluttering and organising to support?
A Professional Declutterer and Organiser will work alongside you without judgement. You remain in control of decisions about your belongings, while they provide practical support, encouragement and guidance.
For some people, that practical support is particularly important if mobility or other physical difficulties make moving things challenging. You can work as a team, with the professional doing the practical sorting while you remain fully involved in the decisions.
Most importantly, the aim isn’t simply to leave you with a tidy home. It is to help you learn ways of thinking and simple routines that you can continue using in the future.
So, could decluttering change your life?
Perhaps it isn’t really about creating a perfect home at all.
It could be about sleeping in your bedroom again, cooking in your kitchen, finding your clothes easily, inviting a friend in for coffee, having family stay for Christmas, spending less money or simply feeling comfortable in your own home again.
One client had her family stay for Christmas after we had cleared the bedrooms — the first time this had happened for five years.
The comment I received “I love being in my home again now.” is priceless.
Changing how we think about our belongings can change how we use our homes — and sometimes, that can change how we feel about our lives too.
Charmain Felts – Let’s Sort Your Stuff. Member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers.