Clear the Clutter
"Clutter isn't just the stuff on the floor. It's anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living." - Peter Walsh
​​Before decluttering, we discuss your lifestyle, habits and daily routines to determine your goals and create a plan, complete with ground rules. When we have a multipurpose space, boundaries help it stay tidy in the long term. How much do you want to keep and remove? Determining this at the onset supports decisions down the road, before we're in the thick of it.
​
The statement, "I don't know where to start," is something we empathize with. We've all been there.
​
Studies have shown that when we accomplish a goal, big or small, our brain increases dopamine; in other words, it activates the reward system. This "feel-good" neurotransmitter boosts motivation when a task is completed.
​
We'll create our end goal, then break it down into bite-sized pieces to motivate ourselves to keep moving forward.
Progress is about our direction, not our speed.
Making your bed, for example, is a great start.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
The first step is "Remove."
Using garbage bags, we remove everything we know needs to be thrown away.
This is often the easiest step, and it is fulfilling to fill a bag. It builds confidence that we're getting somewhere before any decisions have to be made.
​​​
​The second step is to "Categorize."
We'll work across the space, categorizing everything: books, clothing and accessories, kitchenware, etc. Memorabilia is a separate organizing package, as it often needs more time and attention than common household objects. When we categorize, we can see how much we have; it provides us with a perspective of what we need and what we may have forgotten we had, making the next step easier.​​
The third step is to "Clear Out." ​
To avoid decision paralysis, we'll tackle each category, one at a time.
As we sort and declutter, we want to avoid sharing stories of each item; we want to keep it brief and efficient.
​​​
Here are some questions we can ask to support our decision-making:
"Does this item support our end goal for this space?" or "Does this item belong here?"
"How does this serve me?" or "Am I giving more energy to this item than it gives me?"
"Can this item move on, to bring more joy and purpose to someone else?"
Or, like Marie Kondo asks, "Does this spark joy for me?" ​
​
Instead of asking "Do I need it?" because we can always find a reason for needing something.
We want to ask, "Can I live without it?" If so, be grateful for its service and let it move on.
​
Something interesting to consider when we say "I need this," or "I can't live without this," is a study that showed that we habitually use possessions to reflect our societal status and values. We experience difficulty detaching from possessions associated with our self-identity, even when those objects no longer serve a critical function in our lives.
Items only hold value because we give them value.
Deciding if something is worth keeping is also worth considering its purpose in our lives, not if it brings you value.
​​
​
​
Once we've made goals, removed, categorized and cleared out, Clear the Clutter is complete!​​​​​
​
The following step is "Contain," which is our Optimal Order package.
This package requires additional planning to determine where things need to be housed, measurements can be made, and discussions on storage, style and budget are needed.
Clear your Space
Clear Your mind
A study from the University of Connecticut discovered that removing clutter or keeping it under control directly lowers stress. This, in turn, can boost happiness, reduce anxiety, and increase self-confidence.*​
​
"How would you like support with the decluttering process?"
100% Clean Slate: We handle all the decluttering, you trust us to do it all. We keep, discard and donate for you.
75% Clean Slate: We handle the bulk of decluttering and bring you in to sort, an estimated 1-2 hrs of your time, per space.
50% Clean Slate: We declutter together 50-50, a team effort.
25% Clean Slate puts everything we're unsure of in boxes for you to sort through on your own time.
All you. We provide advice and ideas for the space, and you choose what stays and goes, all on your own.​
References:
​
Ashley B, Emma P. (2022). The Mental Health Benefits of Decluttering. Utah State University.
​
Hicks, Dawn Christina. (2020). Understanding Well-Being: Clearing Personal Space for Wellness. Master's thesis, Harvard Extension School.