Category: Organising Mindset

Five Clever Ways to Let go of Unwanted Possessions with Ease

Many of my clients find it challenging to release the possessions that they no longer use or love, so this guest blog by Anna, from Anna Finn Wellbeing, introduces us to 5 strategies that can help us let go of possessions with ease.

We often consider letting go of items we no longer use only when we become acutely aware of the negative effects of owning too many items.

We may feel:

  • Overwhelmed
  • Unable to make even simple decisions
  • Being cross and over-critical with ourselves

And more.

It may even be the case that we do not recognise those symptoms, but those around us do, and their remarks about our negativity may add to the stress as well.

We may be told to ‘Just get rid of this!’, but even thinking about it can seem stressful to us, no matter how much we try and figure out how to be at peace with letting go. It may even result in shedding some tears as we struggle to control our emotional state.

But it really does not have to be this way.

Our brains can be clever at prioritising when there is a beneficial perspective presented to us, and so we can take advantage of that.

Let’s take a look at 5 different ways to release items with ease

1. Picture the space easy to navigate through

Visualise the space as you wish to have it. Imagine yourself there, using the space with ease.

You may be pleasantly surprised to realise that you have wished to have that kind of space for a long time and achieving it could mean a lot to you and others

2. Imagine the area oozing with the ambience of ease

This could be a true winner, as getting in touch with positive feelings about an action can also result in you feeling good about yourself.

3. Daydream about being proud of yourself for achieving what you hadn’t achieved in a while

Our brains do not recognise the difference between actual and imagined reality. We daydream a lot when we are kids and reconnecting with this fun and relaxing activity could bring you a sense of enjoyment back into your life

4. Utilise your aspiration to help others

We often automatically wish to be kind to others, sometimes even without thinking.

Utilising this learnt responsibility in order to help ourselves at times when we are struggling to do something can free us from feeling too uncomfortable to take action.

So, if it is easier to think that giving away pieces of clothes or furniture, or anything else you have not used for a long time, this may help you let go of those items with greater ease.

5. Give yourself permission to invite newness into your life

Living with a sense of wanting to maintain sameness in our lives can be stifling.

    It has been proven that our brains benefit from a balance of both familiarity and variety, as it can contribute to keeping our outlook fresh in our everyday life.

    So, if you give yourself permission to feel good about owning something new that could replace several old items, this could not only override the negative feeling of letting go but actually bring joy of the newness that you would invite into your world.

    Taking many big actions towards letting go of things we have owned for a long time can feel overwhelming. But if you utilise the above clever ways to take small steps in the direction of inviting more ease into your life this could help you on many levels. It could not only help you start to feel proud of yourself, but also potentially find yourself be complimented for your fresh attitude by others.

    Anna Finn is a coach and therapist who helps people struggling with stress and overwhelm.

    She teaches practical tools and empowers people to find calm and move forward with confidence. Anna is available for online and in-person sessions at her clinics in Beeston, Nottingham and Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire.

    If you’d like to hear more from Anna she is currently offering a complimentary relaxation recording when you sign-up here to receive her regular emails.

    You might also be interested in reading Can Decluttering be Good for Your Mental Health?

    Boost Your Organising Motivation: 3 Must-Read Books

    How can you support yourself when you feel stuck, unmotivated or struggle to get started with your organising challenges?

    When I’m struggling with motivation to complete a project or feel overwhelmed by all the things on my to do list, I love to open my mind to creative ideas, listen to another perspective or learn something new.

    There are so many ways to access ideas. I love to listen to an audiobook (perfect when I’m driving or doing jobs around the house); watch a film; or read inspiring content online. 

    It can really galvanise you into action when you hear amazing, creative and inspiring stories, see what others have achieved, or learn a new idea that you can try out for yourself.

    Lately, I’ve explored some books that have inspired me and I think you’ll enjoy them too. 

    These resources can help you develop new habits, support better self-talk and help you to think differently about the things you spend your money on.

    Small Talk

    In this second book by Richard and Roxanne Pink, they talk about their own experiences of self-talk and that of their ADHD community. They highlight the negative beliefs and lies ADHD people tell themselves and offer ideas for how to overcome limiting beliefs, or support others to do so. 

    This book has really helped me better understand the impact of self-talk on well-being and behaviour and in particular for people with ADHD. It shares strategies that have helped Roxanne transform her self-talk and how we can better support loved-ones to do the same.

    People often say to me that they are ‘not an organised person’ or ‘just awful at organising’. I always find it’s not the case and they have strengths that they don’t recognise. I’m sure this book will help me better understand and support their experience.

    Atomic Habits

    I love this book by the award-winning author, James Clear. In it, he considers how to establish the habits that we want using his atoms model. He says it’s too difficult to make big changes. Instead we should concentrate on creating tiny habits that build and have a compound effect.

    This thinking is similar to my approach when I work with clients who want to become better organised. It can be difficult to sustain big changes. It may be better to make adjustments to the way the home is organised or tweak routines, so that it feels natural and easier to manage.

    James also recently created the Atoms app, available on IOS and Android. It enables you to set tiny goals and track progress as you create your habit. 

    The No Spend Year

    Intrigued by the title of this book – I dived into it on my kindle. 

    Once I started reading it I was instantly captivated by the challenge to not spend money on anything, other than absolute essentials, for an entire year. 

    I like to work out how to enjoy a camping trip whilst taking as little as possible with us, so know how a challenge like this has the potential to get creative juices going. Though I’m not sure I would go to the same extreme, it’s useful to reflect on how much we really don’t need in our daily lives to be happy.

    What have you been reading lately that you’ve loved or found inspiring? Do let me know on Instagram or Facebook – search or tag me @organisedwell.

    And if you want to see what Apps I use to help me be organised – read my blog Discover how the Apps I love could make you better organised

    Here’s How I Organise my Home for Maximum Laziness

    I’m always trying out new things to make my household feel better organised, it’s so satisfying. I know life feels better when we can quickly regain control of the house; find what we want, when we need it and feel prepared for our day. But it turns out, I’m also organising our home for maximum laziness!

    It’s a smart strategy!

    “Conventional wisdom holds that motivation is the key to habit change. Maybe if you really wanted it, you’d actually do it. But the truth is, our real motivation is to be lazy and to do what is convenient. And despite what the latest productivity best seller will tell you, this is a smart strategy, not a dumb one.” – James Clear, Atomic Habits Archives

    It’s nice to hear that my efforts are actually part of a smart strategy! It does make sense that we choose the path of least resistance. Afterall, if you are better organised, it takes less effort and time to maintain, manage and move items to clean and find things. Things you need appear or arrive when you need them, and you can put less effort into doing regular tasks. It’s more efficient.

    Over the years we’ve made improvements that have really made a difference to our lives. Some required new furniture or items, which we’ve bought when replacing things. But most are little tweaks or different ways of doing things.

    I get a lot of satisfaction from making improvements or coming up with ways to save time, energy or money. But, I also like to have more time to do fun things and to relax together!

    32 Things this Professional Organiser Does to Make Life Easier

    Below you’ll find some of the things I’ve put in place as part of my strategy!

    Meal prep

    1. I peel and prepare school vegetables in bulk at the beginning of the week. I store it in containers in the fridge ready to drop into school packed lunches each day
    2. Make up sandwiches, rolls, wraps and bagels in bulk for packed lunches. Freeze them and remove as many as needed each morning to make up lunch. They’ll defrost by lunch (this works great for most fillings apart from mayo)
    3. Store ingredients and equipment that you often use together (e.g. baking ingredients and equipment) near to each other. It’ll be super easy to tidy as you go or at the end of the task
    4. We use a white board velcro’d inside a kitchen cupboard and every Saturday create a meal plan and shopping list. We plan with ingredients from the cupboards and fridge, and may shop for a few additional fresh bits if needed. This way we don’t need to come up with a meal each night when we’re hungry!
    5. When cooking meals, cook more than you need and freeze the excess for an easy meal another day. Or turn the cooked ingredients into another dish to speed up meal prep later that week
    6. We jot a list on the white board or use our Smart Speaker to note foods as they run out. I then transfer them to my phone list when I go food shopping

    Laundry

    1. Hang clean washing on coat hangers to dry to reduce the need for ironing
    2. Schedule days for certain laundry tasks – strip beds Sunday night, change towels Monday morning
    3. We have dedicated days for wash loads so we don’t have to think about it. Towels Mondays, Light load Tuesdays, Uniform Fridays
    4. Wash days are scheduled to allow sufficient drying time between loads. Also to ensure that items are clean when needed (e.g. PE kit or clean towels). These consequences help keep us on track!
    5. We keep washing and dishwasher tablets in clear drawers so the household can easily see where to grab them from. I can also easily see when we are running low
    6. Only have 2 sets of towels for each family member (plus a set for guests) and 2-3 sets of bed linen for each bed. This ensures we have one set out and one in the laundry cycle
    7. Each family member has a location for their towels and their own colour face clothes, so they don’t get mixed up

    Life Admin

    1. Create a post management zone close to the letter box. We have a magazine rack for ‘Action Items’ and Filing. The recycling bin and shredder are stored close by so we can quickly tackle post when it arrives
    2. Only have rubbish and recycling bins in key rooms (e.g. kitchen, bathrooms, teens bedroom) so that we have less to empty
    3. We have recycling and contact lens bins in the bathroom so that it’s easy to separate recycling
    4. When I’m pushed for time, I use Royal Mail door step collection for returns. You can set-up safe place instructions for when you’re out too
    5. I use a password manager because I never remember passwords. I can also securely share them with my hubby as needed
    6. I use an online calendar that I can access on my phone and laptop to keep track of everything and share my diary with family members
    7. I schedule as much as possible in my diary as I think of it. I even add details, packing notes and travel instructions so that I don’t need to hold things in my head. (For more ideas on how to manage your paperwork read Banish Your Paper Clutter in 5 Easy Steps)

    Storage

    1. We store healthy snacks in an easy to reach drawer with small containers to make it easy to eat healthily. This was great when my daughter was young as she could help herself to a portion
    2. I store things close to where we use them – e.g. my hair dryer is stored in the bottom drawer close to where I sit to dry it
    3. We have clear square containers for pasta so that I don’t have to wrestle half-open bags
    4. We only keep the appliances that we use daily on the counter – toaster, coffee machine, milk frother. This makes it easy to clean and tidy
    5. I have simplified cupboards so that ingredients needed for common recipes are together. Tea and coffee are in a clear container in the cupboard above the kettle 
    6. Bedding sets are all folded into a pillow case to enable anyone of the family to easily find a full set to make a bed

    Automation

    1. Use a delivery service to receive milk and other products on repeat
    2. Have other foods you use regularly delivered e.g. a veg box, recurring coffee pod order
    3. Use subscription services for cleaning products, toilet paper and other products you use regularly (such as SMOL, Who Gives a Crap, etc). We also create a recurring order so that we always have products when we need them
    4. Set-up direct debits to pay regular bills and save admin time
    5. Use a bank that enables you to create pots to help you budget for household costs. You can then see what is left for other purchases
    6. Shop online for groceries and use the Favourites or previous order function to help you quickly shop for regulars. You’ll able to focus on what’s on your shopping list rather than being distracted by ‘bargain’ offers

    What could you do?

    How do you organise things to make it super easy for your household and maximise your laziness? What could you do to improve?

    Need some help with your organising strategy?

    I began helping others to get better organised in 2018 because I wanted to share the benefits I’d discovered during my own organising journey. I love to help my clients declutter and organise their possessions, digital world and To Do lists so that they feel better organised and can create calmer homes and lives. Find out more about my services here.

    51 Tiny Tasks to Help you Feel More Organised

    Does your home feel untidy, disorganised and a struggle to keep under control? Do you feel frustrated by your lack of progress? Or tell yourself you should be able to keep on top of it all!

    I know if you feel disorganised or stressed out by your home, it can really affect how you feel about yourself. 

    Be kind, it’s not easy to get to everything.

    If you could dedicate a big chunk of time to organising and streamlining your home and habits that would be great, but not everyone has the time, energy or headspace. 

    But you can regain control of your home over time by focusing on the tiny tasks.

    Don’t Underestimate the Tiny Tasks

    “Making a choice that is 1 percent better or 1 percent worse seems insignificant in the moment, but over the span of moments that make up a lifetime these choices determine the difference between who you are and who you could be. Success is the product of daily habits”

    – James Clear, Atomic Habits.

    I love this quote because it sums up the importance of the little actions we take. In the moment it’s easy to overlook or underestimate the impact they can have, but they all add up. And this applies to organising your home too.

    Every tiny step you take to get organised and keep your home under control, or to anticipate and plan for your day, can have a huge cumulative impact on your life. The more you do, the more organised you’ll feel and the more you’ll want to do.

    And as each task is so small you’ll be able to take action regardless of the restrictions on your time, energy and resources.

    Over time, you’ll feel better organised, less overwhelmed and like you’re in control of your day.

    When is the Best Time of Day for you to Take Action?

    I feel more energised in the morning. So I know this is a good time to take quick action to make our home feel better organised. And it gives me a sense of achievement early in my day when I make the house feel calmer for when we return home later, or progress an organising project.

    If you are interested in understanding the best time of day to take action you may like to find out about your chronotype by doing this quiz.

    51 Tiny Tasks to Help you Feel More Organised

    Below is a list of tasks that will help you move forward.

    Make each action matter:

    • pick one task that you can fit into your day or fancy doing
    • remember to choose the optimum time of day that works for you and your energy levels 
    • try to do it mindfully – be present in the moment (feel the warm soapy water as you wash up), observe what you are doing and enjoy the process. 

    Repeat if you can – if you can, choose another task to move on to. But if you don’t have time or energy, that’s ok, you’ve achieved one thing already!

    Invest in these actions because the cumulative benefit will come. I promise it will make you feel great, give you a sense of achievement and help you feel that you are making the best use of the small amount of time you have available.

    What will you pick from the list?

    Kitchen

    1. Empty the dishwasher
    2. Wash up/load the dishwasher
    3. Tidy up and wipe around the sink
    4. Tidy jars, packets, containers into cupboards
    5. Clear and wipe counters
    6. Put a laundry load on
    7. Empty washing machine and hang up laundry
    8. Put away appliances you don’t use often
    9. Tidy a cupboard shelf, removing expired items
    10. Empty recycling and rubbish bins
    11. Put reusable shopping bags into the car/your handbag

    Bedroom

    1. Make the bed
    2. Hang or fold clothes that you have worn and can get more wear out of
    3. Tidy creams and make-up so that they are easy to find again
    4. Put away items that you aren’t using today
    5. Put away any clean laundry
    6. Tidy away items that live elsewhere

    Bathroom

    1. Fold/hang towels
    2. Display products used daily so they are easy to access
    3. Tidy away products you don’t use daily
    4. Restock toilet rolls
    5. Empty bins
    6. Quick clean round sinks and toilet

    Hallway

    1. Tidy shoes / put away lesser used
    2. Hang coats and bags
    3. Tidy away seasonal accessories
    4. Remove items that live in other rooms
    5. Create a home for school books & PE kit bags for easy access
    6. Hang keys and dog leads

    Lounge

    1. Tidy books onto bookshelves
    2. Gather magazines & recycle old copies
    3. Remove items that live in other rooms 
    4. Tidy remote controls and gaming tech back to their home
    5. Fold blankets
    6. Tidy up the sofa
    7. Stow childrens’ toys
    8. Tidy items from surfaces to their homes
    9. Vacuum round

    Planning

    1. Create a meal plan for the week
    2. Look through cupboards and make a shopping list
    3. Plan out what you need for the next day
    4. Book appointments
    5. Complete forms
    6. Check your emails and schedule any follow-up tasks
    7. Recycle/shred/file any documents hanging around
    8. Plan any journeys
    9. Write any cards, address, stamp and put on the front door
    10. Book an online food shop
    11. Set-up a subscription for toilet rolls, cleaning products or other regular items
    12. Set up a direct debit for a regular bill
    13. Fill a bag with donations from around the home that you can take to a charity shop as you pass by this week

    For questions to ask yourself when decluttering a room, get my free Declutter Guide download here.

    Read next – Sunday Evening Organising

    Do you give yourself permission to declutter?

    If you experience resistance to reviewing your things, you may not be giving yourself permission to declutter.

    I’ve worked with lots of clients who find it difficult to get started or complete their declutter project. If things have built up, it can feel overwhelming, you might don’t know where to start, may find it hard to make decisions about what to do with things and may worry about the decisions you have made.

    Often, the items have crept in or hung around too long; thoughtful gifts; items inherited from loved-ones; purchases made with hard earned money; items from a special event or era. You might feel obligated to keep them or be the custodian of these special objects. And once they arrive, they outstay their welcome, but releasing them can feel like an impossible task.

    One way to overcome this barrier is to give yourself permission to declutter.

    When you give yourself permission to declutter; you take control of the situation. You allow yourself to make decisions and to take action. Whereas the stuff around you might represent the past, others wishes or preferences and weigh down your home; giving yourself permission to make a change removes a barrier, enables you to put your wishes first, and to focus on the things and activities you love.

    Give yourself Permission

    Below are three ways to that permission can help you to declutter your home.

    Permission to release the things that no longer serve you

    It’s so easy to shop, acquire things, and we receive gifts or inherit things all the time. Often things build up and we don’t even notice it, until we do!

    When it’s time to work through it all, it can feel hard to let things go. There are many reasons we feel like this, not least because it’s a normal human trait to place a high value on the things we own – even if we might not wish to acquire them again, given the choice!

    Give yourself permission to let the go with these useful phrases:

    • I don’t use this but if I need it again in future, I can borrow/hire/buy second-hand/buy it again
    • It’s wasted by not being appreciated in my home, if I release it someone else can enjoy it
    • I am freeing up my home for the things (or space) that I value the most
    • There are lots of other things that are more important to me
    • I can hold on to the memory by taking/finding photos, keeping a diary entry about the item, but I don’t need to keep the item itself

    You have permission to let it go.

    Permission to get some support

    I know that asking for help can sometimes feel like giving up, but getting support with a task that is important to you can be the difference between achieving your goal and not. Whereas you have other strengths, you may not have the expertise, energy, time or headspace to work on everything yourself. It’s more efficient to find someone who can help you.

    We all have natural preferences or styles that can make it easy or more difficult to get things done – for those of us (I include myself here) that need deadlines, accountability and extrinsic reward, a professional organiser can provide this kind of support too.

    If friends and family have the skills and interest, ask them for help. They may be able to give moral support or practical help. You’ll also find online groups, forums, podcasts and TV programmes that can offer ideas and encouragement.

    Much like hiring a gardening, a personal training or a cleaner; a professional organiser lives and breathes their specialism. Professional Organiser’s have the knowledge, skills and experience to help make a changes. And because organising and decluttering is their favourite thing to do, they have the headspace to think about these things and come up with creative ways to do things, where you may not.

    You have permission to ask for help.

    Permission to prioritise your needs and wishes

    Decluttering is a difficult task because we get attached to the things we own. They are familiar, may be comforting and we may feel obliged to keep them for a whole range of reasons.

    Give yourself permission to prioritise the things you love and want around you. To create an environment that supports your mental health, the things you love to do the most, your favourite things and happy memories and your personal style.

    Focus on keeping the things that you love, that make you feel great and that support you and your lifestyle, rather than the things you feel obliged to keep because they were gifted, cost money or were valued by others. You have permission to prioritise your life in your home.

    If you want to dedicate some space to keeping memories this is a nice way to create balance, but do this intentially and prioritise space for your life and your treasures first.

    It’s not selfish, in fact it’s the reverse. If you look after yourself, you will have the energy to love and support others in turn.

    You have permission to put your needs first.

    What do you need to give yourself permission to do in order to create the life you want?

    Would you like to work with me? Find out more About Me or my Services.

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