I used to be quite a pack rat. I seldom threw anything away. I loved to take home everything I could get for free, such as promotional items from work, or odds-and-ends donated from friends. Maybe I was influenced having grown up in a communist country, where everything was limited and nothing was thrown away. Basically, I had accumulated a ton of stuff from years past. Not only was it difficult to find things, but my mind was constantly filled with thoughts about what to do with all my stuff. Each time a closet was opened, I was reminded of the stuff I had, and the endless organizing I still needed to do.
I believe that we are a product of our environment. The physical environment in which we spend most of our time affects how we think and feel. When I am surrounded by mess and disorganization, I feel more mentally cluttered, less decisive, slightly anxious, and more easily annoyed. I’ve learned that in order to be at my best, I needed my physical surrounding to be clean, organized, and clutter free.
The following are tips and tools I’ve used in my journey towards a clutter free home. The mental clarity and personal satisfaction is worth the effort of cleaning. I promise!
Tips ...
Give each item a home. If you don’t know where something belongs, it can easily become part of the clutter in your house. You have to think about where to put it, and it will always conveniently find its way to the top of the nearest surface or the first drawer in sight. You know what I mean? Each time you see an item out of place, you are reminded once again that you still need to find it a home. Over time, putting things on random surfaces or drawers makes it difficult to find things when you need them.
Assign each item a home. Not only does this create a place where it belongs, but it also saves mental processing when you need to put stuff away instantly, or locate them later.
Keep the flat surfaces empty. The flat surfaces in your home are likely to be the easiest targets for clutter. Clearing off a surface (tables, counter tops) are also the easiest way to create an environment that appears clean and organized. Sometimes I get so tired of looking at a particularly messy surface that I throw everything on the surface into a box or bag. I then find homes for each item in the bag. Clearing off surfaces seems to have an instant calming effect on me.
- Whenever you need to choose, always choose to put things out of sight.
- Make it a point not to place mail on an open surface when you come home. Keep your mail in a box, or in a cupboard.
- Make it part of your daily ritual to remove items from flat surfaces. Put them in places where the eye cannot see, like a drawer. Make quick sweeps whenever possible.
Clean as you go. One major tip for keeping your home free of clutter is simple—when you’re done with something, put it away immediately. When you finish a project, put everything away. When you take off clothes, do not drop it on the floor—toss it in the laundry basket or a closet instantly. This habit gives two things. First, you won’t have to clean up after a pile accumulates. Second, a clean home discourages others from leaving their clutter around (proactive de-cluttering).
