Clutter Control

Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Agent

Why do we let stuff accumulate until it stresses us out?

The desire to gather possessions around us‒ be it gadgets, information, clothing, tools, books or toys‒ is powerful and deeply rooted in our psyches. Hunting and gathering is a survival instinct as innate to us as flying south for the winter is to a bird.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. If you have a parent or grandparent who lived through the Great Depression, they can probably give you a different perspective on the value of material things and the importance of saving.

Yet, the hoarding instinct can also overpower us and lead us into an overburdened life bursting at the seams with too much stuff. According to one author on the subject, “Clutter weighs us down, both physically and emotionally. It squanders our time, our space, our money, and saps our precious energy.”

Here are some tips from K-State Research and Extension that you may find helpful as you strive to take control of clutter.

·       Stop procrastinating. Stop putting off until tomorrow what you can do today. Begin with one small project– clearing a shelf, sorting a stack of papers, tossing some junk from the garage. Set a timer and focus on one task for the designated time. When the timer goes off, refocus to other parts of your routine. Whatever it is, taking the first step toward de-junking your life will immediately help you feel that you are doing something positive to regain control.

·       As our lives change, needs change. Somehow clutter accumulates with no regard for the changes in our lives. Consider the stack of children’s books remaining after the kids have gone to college, or the cupboard full of specialty cookware kept by an empty-nester who does very little cooking. Clutter which takes up valuable space and gives nothing in return should be removed.

·       Set limits. Limit the amount of space you allocate to clutter. Just because one space fills up does not mean you should find or buy more space. It means that it is time to weed out the clutter and reclaim the space you already have. Set limits on the number of items you will keep before you start tossing. For example, choose a maximum number for your collection of shoes, plastic containers, glass jars, devices, etc., and remove or recycle any more than your limit.

·       Use the in/out inventory rule. If something new comes in, something old goes out. Apply this rule to everything– from toys, clothes and kitchen gadgets to books, devices and furniture. This will help to limit your collection and keep items from piling up.

·       Keep everything in its place. Find a place for everything– and then keep everything in its place. Not only will this reduce the bothersome stacks and piles of “stuff”, but you’ll also be more efficient in locating the things you need when you need them.

·       Pay attention to spaces in your home that attract clutter throughout your routines and rituals. Strive to create an environment that organizes this clutter rather than making you trip over it. Where do you set the mail, toss the keys, or drop your backpack?  Explore how to create a command center to organize these items rather than letting the piles build up.

·       Compromise. Organizing clutter may call for compromise. Do not let perfectionism keep you from getting organized or keep someone from helping. Functioning effectively is more important than functioning perfectly.

For more tips and tools about organization and making the most of your time and resources, contact Nora Rhoades, Post Rock District Family and Youth Development Agent. This content has been adapted from Living Well: Feeding body, mind and heart by Linda Beech.