Decluttering Archives - Page 6 of 6 - OrganisedWell - Professional Declutterer & Organiser

Buying feels good but holding on is the problem

It’s easy to buy more things (and get a real buzz from bagging a bargain) so it’s not surprising that we accumulate so much in our homes. As we accumulate more we also need to manage our storage and declutter more frequently to avoid being overwhelmed by stuff.

In today’s world the Consumer rules; it’s so easy to buy anything and everything to meet our wants and needs. Often we don’t really even need the item but it makes us feel good to buy something new. It’s amazing how we can buy clothing, easy-build furniture, electronics and goods from all over the world and have them arrive at our home within a few days. We don’t even need to leave the comfort of our own home to make the order.

I’ve been asked how we can prevent this overwhelm so here are my top tips to help manage possessions:

Be mindful about what you bring into your home. Consider your motivation for buying that new item. Do you already have a similar item at home? Do you really need it? Why do you need it? What will you gain from purchasing the item (and does the desire to purchase it outweigh the space that it will take up in your home)?
If replacing items that are old or damaged, before you think about buying new, explore if it’s possible to repair the item before you purchase another. If you need to buy new, always ensure that you remove the old item – avoid the temptation to put it to one side and deal with it later. Recycle, donate, throw away asap – you already decided that it needs to go when you replaced it!
Clothes purchases; consider if you can repair damage or have ill-fitting clothes adjusted. Review your wardrobe before shopping so that you know what you have and can avoid buying duplicates or similar items by mistake. If you still want to buy new clothes, ensure that you remove something that is now out of fashion or doesn’t fit as you’re adding the new item to your wardrobe. Sticking to a one-in-one-out rule will really help you to focus on maintaining rather than growing your wardrobe.
Test yourself. If you just have to have it, maybe a cool down period of a day or two will help you clarify whether you really need it or are just feeling that initial passion. It’s easy to be seduced by clever marketing and pricing strategies that create that feeling that you must have it there and then or you might miss out if you don’t! I find taking a photo and walking away a great strategy. I give myself a few days and if I still have to have it, then I go back for it.

We will always buy new things, but the key to successfully managing the flow of possessions is to consider purchases carefully and remove unwanted items to make space for the new.

If you would like support decluttering your home of those old purchases contact me. I’m based in Nottingham, work all over the Midlands, and can be part of your support network!

Email me at laura@organisedwell.co.uk or call on 07970 989955.

UPDATE: I went clothes shopping and thought I’d share how I ensure that I don’t get wardrobe overload!

About OrganisedWell

Would you like help getting organised?

If you need guidance, ideas and practical support to make more of your home, organise your possessions in a way that supports your best life or to get started with your decluttering project, then give me a call.

We provide tailored advice and practical support to clients looking to make changes, to create calm, ordered space and free up time and money to focus on the important things in life. We specialise in organising rooms, garages, wardrobes, paperwork and much more; see our services or get in touch.

Spring clearing!

Spring clearing ideas and my exciting new competition to win time with a professional organiser!

I love snowdrops. I saw these and just had to take a pic of them!

What a beautiful first sign of spring, peeking through the grass after the recent snow. Snowdrops are a delicate announcement that Spring is truly here! They bring promise of better weather, longer days and a renewed energy after what feels like a loooong winter (and a renewed inclination to get out my running shoes!).

Spring cleaning; thoroughly cleaning or organising ones home, is traditionally carried out at the end of the winter. As the weather warms, it’s an opportunity to throw open the windows, wash curtains, shake out rugs and freshen the whole house!

It’s also a great time to use that spring in your step to do a bit of Spring clearing – have a good sort out and get organised for the year ahead!

Here are some projects to try:

Give bedrooms a good clear out. Pull everything out from under beds and on top of wardrobes and have a good look through – do you still need it all? Give away any winter clothes and shoes that have not been worn recently. Re-organise your wardrobe to make sure you can see your clothes easily and can choose easily as you navigate cooler and milder days in quick succession!
Ask the children to review their toys. If they didn’t have a sort out after Christmas, now is a good opportunity to pass on any toys that they no longer play with – ask them the questions below and get them to make some choices! They will appreciate having move space to play!
Sort through the books and possessions in your living room. As the weather improves, the light will change and you will see the possessions that are cluttering up your space. Rather than feeling cosy and comfortable, you’ll want the room to feel more airy, spacious and inviting for guests. Are there any books that you’ve read during winter nights that you can now pass on for someone else to enjoy? Are there any other items that you want to remove or replace for a fresher look?

Freshen up your kitchen? Empty out cupboards, give them a good clean and exam items you’ve removed – does it all need to go back into the cupboard or are they better off with someone who will use them? Or are you going to start using them and cooking up new delights? Let’s face it, we always want more space in our kitchen not less! Anything that won’t be used needs to go!

If you’re having trouble deciding on whether to pass an item on, ask yourself these questions:

Is it useful? When was the last time you used it?
Is it precious? Do you love it?
Why are you taking up valuable space in your home storing it?

If you need positive, non-judgemental, practical help organising your home this spring, contact Laura.

What does a Professional Organiser do?

Professional organisers work with clients in their homes, taking time to understand the client and what they want to achieve. They support with making decisions about items that are no longer useful and develop storage solutions that will work for them.

The more I look into what organisers do, the more fascinated I become.

If you think about it, we are all so different, we all have different preferences, skills and interests. Marie Kondo makes an excellent point in her book (1), tidying is not a skill that we are born with and we are not taught how to organise ourselves by our parents or at school. If we learn through trial and error, it’s a wonder that we are all as organised as we are!

Sometimes, our mental or physical health can affect our ability to manage our things. It can be incredibly difficult to maintain an organised environment or manage possessions as we once did. Our surroundings can also negatively impact our health; ‘messy homes and workspaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless and overwhelmed’. (2)

This is where a professional organiser can help. Experts in their field, professional organisers are insured, trained, experienced and passionate. They know how to organise, maximise storage and put systems in place to stay well organised. And they like to help others learn to do the same!

Professional organisers work with clients in their homes, taking time to understand them and what they want to achieve. They support with making decisions about items that are no longer useful and develop storage solutions that will work for them. The client may want to develop new habits or ways of doing things, or make things simpler and easier to manage and the professional organiser can help them to do this.

We all have busy lives and can’t be knowledgeable in everything, so it makes sense to save valuable time and effort by getting help from an expert when we need it.

Keep an eye on my website for details of my Spring Clearing Week competition to win an organising session worth £120!