De-cluttering is one of those New Year resolutions most of us make. The beginnings of the next year chime in and we take in the mess and chaos around us and fantasise about clean, sleek rooms where we can put our hand on anything instantly because we know exactly where it is…
But that de-cluttering job is also one most of us put off until it becomes an insurmountable problem. The mess remains. The dream of minimalism drifts off to the horizon out of reach.
Hoarding and de-cluttering are strongly tied to our emotional state. To one person, it makes no sense to hold on to stacks of magazines, but to another they can represent a happy childhood when the magazine arrived through the letter box and opened the doors to a magical world beyond. Who wants to throw away that?
Call in the professionals
Overwhelmingly, the evidence points to numerous benefits if you de-clutter. Sometimes they are practical—too many objects in the home take up space. It’s definitely time to call in the professionals when you can’t get in and out of rooms easily, for example.
Other times, de-cluttering is about hygiene. Those old magazines and newspapers gather dirt, dust and mould, contributing to a less-than-healthy environment.
If de-cluttering’s your aim for 2018, you’ve still got some months to achieve it. Start with these baby steps:
- Start small. Ten minutes at a time. Make a note in an electronic or paper diary and stick to it.
- Ask for a friend’s help. They don’t have the emotional attachment to your ‘things’.
- Digitise stuff. Photos, certificates, newspaper reports et al. can be digitised and then thrown out.
- Get someone else to do it. A trusted friend might de-clutter for the price of a meal out and a bottle of nice wine.
- Arm yourself with mantras. Keep repeating to yourself that you are much more than the sum of your possessions. Inside you is a wealth of memories and knowledge. Does anything you hang onto change this?
- Stock up on charity bags. If you think your goods are going somewhere they can do good, it makes the disposing of them easier.
Personal reasons
Brendan O’Shea, founder and operations manager of Just Clear, said: “One of the most in-demand services we provide is hoarder clearance, which we endeavour to carry out sensitively. People hoard for deeply personal reasons. We respect those reasons and carry out our work in a minimally intrusive way.”
Because Just clear has carried out so many hoarder clearances over the years, Brendan knows a thing or two about how to make it easier.
He adds: “A good place to start is a spare bedroom if you have one. When you have cleared it, try sleeping in there for a few nights. You’ll find it is much easier to relax and fall asleep in a de-cluttered, minimalist room. The motivation can spur you on.”
