| When clutter gets out of control in people's lives, most | | | | plan it in smaller segments so that you can do it bit by |
| of the stuff they're holding on to is junk of little value. | | | | bit. |
| Paperwork and old bills from months ago tend to get | | | | Choose an area that you feel ready to deal with. This |
| put at the back of draws and cupboards. Ornaments | | | | can be something such as photographs or CDs, or a |
| that were bought and now, no longer, match anything | | | | scary space, such as an airing cupboard. Set aside |
| else, Clothes that no longer fit, that we hope we will | | | | several hours of uninterrupted time to focus your |
| get back into one day. All this clutter costs you money | | | | attention on reducing your clutter by 50 per cent. Don't |
| when you move. | | | | stop until you have reached that target. If you feel |
| All of these things take up valuable storage space, as | | | | ready to clear the entire area, it will energize you to |
| well as clutter up work space and shelving. Another | | | | start the next project. |
| difficulty that assails people in assessing their junk is | | | | For the two weeks after you have reduced the clutter |
| that they are forced to confront how much money | | | | in an area, become aware of how the space now |
| they spend on things they never use. People often | | | | feels. Pay attention to whether you begin to collect |
| want to recoup some of their money by selling these | | | | clutter in the same places. If you do, repeat the |
| unused items, but never get round to visiting a car boot | | | | procedure and try to reduce the clutter again. Cluttered |
| sale or local antique dealer. They hold on to the junk in | | | | areas are often blanked out and become invisible. To |
| the belief that it will get better with age. In most cases, | | | | break that pattern, you need to remind yourself of the |
| exactly the opposite happens. | | | | situation on a daily basis. A good way to do this is with |
| You keep purchasing the same things over and over | | | | positive affirmation. This takes the form of a giant note |
| because you are unable to find what you need when | | | | that you put somewhere you can see every day - For |
| you need it. The answer? Bin all duplicates, keeping the | | | | example, 'My wardrobe is tidy' will immediately draw |
| one in the best condition. | | | | your attention to the condition of your wardrobe. |
| Charities do not want damaged or broken items - they | | | | The most important thing is to get your brain thinking |
| only want items in good condition. Getting rid of bulky | | | | about all possible solutions, without judging whether |
| things and stuff that is really redundant will have a | | | | they are good or bad solutions. Not being able to solve |
| huge impact on your space. | | | | a problem immediately can make some people stop |
| Dispose of anything in the house that has been broken | | | | thinking at all about ways to solve it. This is the most |
| for more than 12 months. Anything that has exceeded | | | | common reason that junk becomes invisible. |
| its use-by date. All furniture that is surplus to your | | | | It is unhealthy to hold on to the old, stale energy, |
| needs and any boxes that have not been opened | | | | emotions and physical reminders of things that |
| since your last move. | | | | happened in the past. They prevent you from living in |
| Lots of junk, such as paper, glass, plastics and cans | | | | the present, promote low self-esteem and can cause |
| that have collected throughout your house, can be | | | | health problems on the physical level. |
| recycled and should be among the first to go. | | | | If you find it difficult to let go of certain areas of your |
| If you can make the commitment to dispose of the | | | | clutter because of emotional attachments, you should |
| clutter, then that's great! However, you also have to | | | | try to quieten the mind and focus your attention. In this |
| make the commitment to change your routines and | | | | way you can get to the root of the problem and learn |
| take control so as not to fall back into bad habits. | | | | the necessary lessons to let go of the physical and |
| If you feel that you are now ready to let things go on | | | | emotional clutter. |
| a big scale, then a clutter-busting weekend can | | | | As you begin to shed your clutter, you must work very |
| dramatically improve your living conditions. The key to | | | | hard to change the habits that you may have fallen |
| success in this massive effort is good planning. | | | | into over many years. It is not always possible to |
| Start with the most accessible clutter hotspots in your | | | | change these habits overnight, but with small daily |
| home. If you plan to use a skip or disposal vehicle and | | | | checks you can make it much easier. |
| have only limited use of it, so get rid of the largest | | | | The thing is that, not only is clutter the bug-bear of our |
| items first. This will have the greatest impact in clearing | | | | houses, it also costs us more than we think. Moving |
| your clutter. | | | | house is a great time to reduce the things that we |
| Below is a list of questions that you need to ask | | | | don't need. However, no matter the good intentions, |
| before hand, as well as some of the items that you will | | | | many people either don't plan enough and end up not |
| need.o Do you need a skip to remove large items?o If | | | | having the time to be able to de-clutter or end up |
| so, does it require a permit or special lighting?o Do you | | | | moving it all with them, because they don't think about it |
| require a van or removals company?o Will the council | | | | before it is too late. |
| come at a specified time for large item removal?o Do | | | | Did you know that you can reduce the cost of your |
| you know the hours of your local dump?o Find out | | | | removal substantially by de-cluttering before the |
| what items your local council recycles, and where and | | | | move? In many cases, this could even be as much as |
| how they are collected.o Check with your local | | | | 25% - 30% of the cost. If the removal company is |
| charities to see what items they are able to accept. | | | | packing for you, they will not know the difference |
| (Some will collect furniture and other bulky items.)o | | | | between your junk and your valuable items, so not |
| Make a list of local antique dealers who will value any | | | | only will they pack it into a box, but they will also move |
| hidden treasures.o Find out where and when your local | | | | it to your new home. So if you want to keep the cost |
| car boot sale is held. Don't forget to ask whether it is | | | | of your move down, then make sure that you have |
| cancelled in inclement weather. What you need on the | | | | sorted out the junk before they arrive and have |
| dayo Strong boxes with lids (You always need far | | | | disposed of it at the appropriate places. Depending on |
| more than you think).o Newspaper or packing paper | | | | which company you use, they may even be able to |
| for wrapping breakables.o Rubbish bags.o Sticky labels | | | | dispose of it for you... |
| and marker pens.o Tags to identify contents and | | | | So if you know that you need to do something about |
| disposal method. | | | | your clutter, but do not have the time or patience |
| To make your clutter-busting weekend a memorable | | | | yourself, then it might be an idea to hire either a |
| experience, gather together all the people you can | | | | cleaner who can help you or a house clearance |
| count on to help - friends and family - the more the | | | | company. Both of these can be found in your local |
| merrier. | | | | paper or in the Yellow Pages or you can find |
| View the experience as moving out of your old life | | | | Professional De-Clutterers online. |
| and into the new. If the clutter or problem areas are | | | | Remember, Removal Companies charge you by how |
| really horrendous, call in a removals crew to help you | | | | much stuff you have and therefore how much they |
| let it go. | | | | have to move. |
| If the thought of clearing a large area over a weekend | | | | So if you are moving home or office, this is always the |
| overwhelms you, then develop your own tailor-made | | | | best time to have a good spring clean and make sure |
| programme using the same planning principles and | | | | you don't get charged more than you need to. |
| tools as required for the clutter-busting weekend, but | | | | |