It's Time to Tackle That Clutter!

Published in Niagara Life -January/February 2012
Now that the holiday decorations are all put away, it’s a perfect time to tackle the clutter in your life and get organized. If just the thought of declaring war on your clutter is exhausting, here are a few tips from experts to help make the process a lot less stressful.

“Tip one would be to pick the room that bothers you the most because once it’s done you’ll feel really happy,” says professional organizer, Julie Stobbe of Mind over Clutter. “And set an amount of time that you think you can work, whether it’s half an hour a day or half an hour a week. A pitfall is that a lot of people think they’re going to get a whole room done in one day, and they either get burned out or don’t even start.”

Stephen Burt, owner of Easy Storage Solutions, says if you’re not using a professional, at least make sure you have a friend helping you.

“I’d say number one would be to have a friend help you. It’s tough enough to work by yourself, and because it’s your clutter, you are going to always find a reason to keep it. A friend is going to have less attachment to things and can help you decide what to get rid of and what to keep,” he says.

Both agree that it’s important to have specifically designated bins or boxes ready as you begin sorting through an area.

“Start out with categories,” says Burt. “Set up bases where you can put things. What to keep; what to throw away, and what to donate. Always separate the three things as you put them in each pile.”

“And probably keep a box handy for things that belong to other people,” adds Stobbe.

Once the bins are ready and you’ve set a time frame, it’s time to dig in.

“You’re simply going to go around the room and start with the things you can see,” says Stobbe. “Things on counters, floors or chairs, depending on what room you’re in. Don’t open up cupboards or drawers right off the bat. Make a really big impact first by sorting the things out in the open. Once that’s done then start with one drawer at a time.”

As you put things away keep items you use frequently accessible and make sure you label totes.

“Another tip would be to store things in clear containers,” says Burt. “That way you can always see what is inside. Usually people put something in a box and put the box on a shelf and never know what is in it. And then it’s easier to just say ‘I don’t know where it is, so I’ll go buy another one’. So then you buy another one and end up with three of four of them eventually. But with a clear tote you can see exactly what is inside.”

It’s also a good idea to keep meticulous lists of what is in each tote, he says.

“Make yourself a list of what is in each tote and make two copies. One copy is to put in your filing cabinet or somewhere easy to find, and the other copy will go in the top of the container. This way you will have a detailed list in the container and for yourself,” he explains. “And always label the containers by numbers so they correspond and you can keep everything straight.”

And once the clutter is gone, a lot of stress disappears as well.

“Sometimes people don’t even realize how stressful it is until we are done,” says Stobbe. “Then they feel so much more relieved because everything has a place. They know where their things are. They’re not coming home to their place and having a feeling that they need to clean up or put things away or sort through things. They are coming home to a place that is ready to live in.”

The biggest obstacle when it comes to clearing clutter is the emotional attachment people form with their things.
"I really try to tell people that they are not attached to that specific thing; it’s that the thing brings the memory. It reminds them of a really good time in their life. But you’re not getting rid of the memory if you donate it,” says Stobbe. “You can take a picture of things or put a collection in a shadow box and then mount it on the wall and relive the memory that way.”

And if the thought of getting organized is just too much to bear, you can always leave it to the professionals. You can contact Julie Stobbe at
Julie@mindoverclutter.ca or 905-563-7200 and Stephen Burt can be reached at www.easystoragesolutions.com or 289-296-9541.