by Haven Logan PH.D

        

As you may have guessed by now, most of my columns concern things I find personally challenging. No column has been more so than the one I wrote on clutter. Reading it over the other day, I shuttered at the last sentence, “Let’s compare notes in a year.” It’s been exactly a year this month, so no lofty column about the meaning of life in February. It’s time to get down to the nitty gritty of the physical world. Before looking at how we’ve done in the last year, let’s look at how de-cluttering became such an issue for many of us.

Walking through houses built a hundred years ago I am always amazed at how small the closets are. Where did people of that day put all their things? I suspect the answer is that they did not have nearly as much stuff as we have today. Children didn’t expect to have a new wardrobe each season. Clothes were mended and handed down. Appliances were kept forever. If one broke it would be repaired, not discarded for a newer model with more bells and whistles.

As a child I don’t remember clutter being such an issue. Living on the East Coast most houses had attics and basements which could hold multitudes of stuff. In California we are left with filling up our garages and putting our cars on the street. Life was far more organized then, with seasonal routines for clutter control. In September when screens were removed and storm windows put on, we would carry our summer clothes to the basement closet and bring our winter clothes up to our rooms. In April we did the reverse in addition to a major spring cleaning. Today when most of us are torn between multiple work and family obligations, our only chance at organizing may be on the fly between getting to the soccer game, writing a report and making dinner.

Not only do the times contribute to our clutter, but age has a major effect on it. In my 20’s I prided myself on always being able to fit everything I owned in my VW van. Since then there has been a steady process of accumulation; children’s toys I can’t bear to part with, years of magazines and books I will read some day and all the precious photos and furniture inherited from family. My step-mother spent the last 40 years of her life sorting through the belongings of seven children, a large house and my father’s papers. Every time I visited we would sit for hours together organizing and making decisions about what to keep. She continued this until she could fit her belongings into a small apartment. Now I see myself beginning this process.

If you have access to a computer, take a look at last year’s column titled Clutter, Clutter Everywhere and Not a Spot Left Bare at: www.healthylivingforeveryone.com

I began that column with exploring different clutter personalities including; the Hoarder, the Deferrer, the Rebel, the Perfectionist and the Sentimentalist. This wasn’t too helpful for me because I identified with every clutter personality. No wonder I continue to struggle with clutter. Next I reviewed tips for de-cluttering from a variety of sources. Let’s look at them at them now and see how we’ve done. I’ll grade myself and if you’re so inclined, you can grade yourself.

Review of Tips for De-cluttering

1. Begin by walking through your house and garage, making a list of all the areas you have for storage. Then create a second list of what you have that needs to be stored. Select a storage place for each type of item. I deserve an A for number #1. I walked through my house and made several lists. I love to make lists!
2. Set de-clutter goals for yourself that will work with your schedule, life situation and your clutter personality. I’ll give myself an A on #2 as well since I also love to write up goals.
3. Get your de-cluttering equipment ready. Have three boxes labeled “Throw Away,” “Give Away,” and “Put Away.” Not too hard to get the equipment ready. I guess I get an A on this as well.
4. De-clutter one room before starting on the next so you can enjoy being in a space that is clutter free. I started out with great gusto and made it part way through my house. I had a garage sale and gave away stuff, but at some point my enthusiasm and determination waned. The living room and kitchen were clutter-free for a while but all the newspapers, unsorted mail and objects I couldn’t figure out what to do with ended up on my office floor. Soon I could barely walk into the room and the clutter began to seep again into the rest of the house. I’ll give myself a B- for getting half-way to my goals.
5. If you’re having a hard time, ask a friend or family member to come in and help you with decisions or just for company. I have done pretty well in this area and companionship really helps. I will rely on others more in 2010. B+
6. Make a plan for maintaining a clutter free environment. Use the “one in, one out” rule which means that for each item you bring into your house, you get rid of another item.” I guess I deserve an F for #6. I never made it to a clutter-free environment and I never followed the “one in, one out rule.” It’s hard to accept that this de-cluttering is a never-ending process.

So overall, I give myself a B. I did a great deal of de-cluttering this year but I didn’t sustain the effort, never developing the discipline to stay ahead of my clutter. When I wonder why I even bother with de-cluttering, I recall that the National Association of Professional Organizers says that we “spend one year of our lives looking for lost items.” I can think of a lot more amusing ways to spend a year. If you are someone who needs to de-clutter, take some time evaluating your strengths and stumbling blocks as I just did. Come up with a plan for yourself. It’s clear that I will need to focus on #6.

In this and the previous column, I’ve focused on one person’s clutter. What if clutter to you is a treasure to your spouse or visa versa? Let’s meet next February to talk about clutter and relationships. And good luck during the coming year. There will be some hard work but the reward of a cleared physical space will be the freedom to spend your time doing the things you love rather than looking for lost tax receipts.