When I tell people I'm a declutter coach the response is generally one of two things: Either people look confused and wonder what on earth that is, or they say something like “I need one of those!” or “My brother/mum/partner needs one of those!”
While our personal preference for how we like our home is hugely individual (some people strive for pristine minimalism, while others prefer more visual interest) it is not an over-generalisation to say that all of us would like our homes to be easy to use, and not add stress to our daily lives.
However, the reality is often quite different, many of us are in a constant battle with clutter and disorganisation in our homes. Hunting for lost items and trying to squeeze more and more into groaning cupboards.
While space is rather expensive, “stuff” is relatively cheap, so many of us find we run out of space to store our things, and find our cupboards jumbled and bursting at the seams.
The answer may seem simple: Just throw things away, just buy less stuff, just store things more efficiently. And yes, that is ultimately the answer, but getting there is not always quite as simple as it seems.
You are not alone if you feel overwhelmed by the process; not knowing where to start, feeling regret over money spent on past purchases, environmental concerns regarding waste, and the ever present “what if I need it in the future?”
If you have started to consider the idea of decluttering and organising you have already taken the first step towards creating change.
This first step, where you see things how they are and decide you would like them to be different is, in many ways, the hardest step. It's a mindset shift. It happens in the depths of your neural connections, and it's something that only you can do. This is why no matter how often you ask your brother/mum/partner to declutter, without that internal change in their mindset, change will not happen.
Your change in mindset might be brought about by several external factors. Perhaps you're moving house and are contemplating all those boxes you'll need to pack, perhaps you've realised that less stuff means less time cleaning, or maybe you lost your keys for the umpteenth time. Whatever the reason, or combination of reasons, you've reached a point where you know things need to change.
So where to start? You may feel inspired to dive straight in and start taking bags of things to the charity shop. If so, crack on! Ride the motivation as it takes you!
But if you feel a little unsure, as many people do. I would recommend this visualisation exercise.
You may want to walk around your home as you do it, or close your eyes and use your imagination. You may want to write it down, or speak it out loud.
I'd like you to imagine your ideal day in your home. When you wake up, what's the first thing you see when you open your eyes? How would you be feeling? You get out of bed and go into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. How does the kitchen look? What steps do you take to gather your tea cup, tea bags, milk, perhaps a biscuit?
Imagine each step of your daily routine in specific detail, visualising the space, how you're using it, and how you feel.
Now take a moment to think about what this would mean to you. What might be achievable for you if this was your daily life? Might you have more energy for other things? Perhaps you could invite friends over, have a dedicated space for your hobbies, or redecorate.
Now think about what would need to happen to make this vision a reality. For example, in your visualisation you might have easily chosen what to wear because your wardrobe was organised differently so that you could see everything you have. There might be a smaller selection of clothes so that making a choice is simpler.
What would be the very first step in achieving this? Zoom in to the smallest possible action. This might be as simple as “open the wardrobe doors and assess the situation.” Zooming in and working one step at a time can help to combat overwhelm, and keep you moving forwards. Slow and steady progress is better than none at all.
Each time you tackle a new area ask yourself “what one thing would make a difference here?” and through repeated sessions you will start to see a difference.
As you progress through your journey keep your vision in mind, knowing that each bit of progress gets you one step closer to that vision. While it might feel difficult to part with that dress you used to love but which no longer fits you, it is worth keeping it at the expense of achieving your goal?
Remember to look back at your progress periodically to celebrate your achievements. Many small steps can quickly lead to mountains of change!
I'd like to finish by sharing a quote from author Alain De Botton:
“We look to our buildings to hold us, like a kind of psychological mould, to be a helpful vision of ourselves.”
What is your vision of your future self? What no longer belongs?
Find out more about the author here
When I tell people I'm a declutter coach the response is generally one of two things: Either people look confused and wonder what on earth that is, or they say something like “I need one of those!” or “My brother/mum/partner needs one of those!”
While our personal preference for how we like our home is hugely individual (some people strive for pristine minimalism, while others prefer more visual interest) it is not an over-generalisation to say that all of us would like our homes to be easy to use, and not add stress to our daily lives.
However, the reality is often quite different, many of us are in a constant battle with clutter and disorganisation in our homes. Hunting for lost items and trying to squeeze more and more into groaning cupboards.
While space is rather expensive, “stuff” is relatively cheap, so many of us find we run out of space to store our things, and find our cupboards jumbled and bursting at the seams.
The answer may seem simple: Just throw things away, just buy less stuff, just store things more efficiently. And yes, that is ultimately the answer, but getting there is not always quite as simple as it seems.
You are not alone if you feel overwhelmed by the process; not knowing where to start, feeling regret over money spent on past purchases, environmental concerns regarding waste, and the ever present “what if I need it in the future?”
If you have started to consider the idea of decluttering and organising you have already taken the first step towards creating change.
This first step, where you see things how they are and decide you would like them to be different is, in many ways, the hardest step. It's a mindset shift. It happens in the depths of your neural connections, and it's something that only you can do. This is why no matter how often you ask your brother/mum/partner to declutter, without that internal change in their mindset, change will not happen.
Your change in mindset might be brought about by several external factors. Perhaps you're moving house and are contemplating all those boxes you'll need to pack, perhaps you've realised that less stuff means less time cleaning, or maybe you lost your keys for the umpteenth time. Whatever the reason, or combination of reasons, you've reached a point where you know things need to change.
So where to start? You may feel inspired to dive straight in and start taking bags of things to the charity shop. If so, crack on! Ride the motivation as it takes you!
But if you feel a little unsure, as many people do. I would recommend this visualisation exercise.
You may want to walk around your home as you do it, or close your eyes and use your imagination. You may want to write it down, or speak it out loud.
I'd like you to imagine your ideal day in your home. When you wake up, what's the first thing you see when you open your eyes? How would you be feeling? You get out of bed and go into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. How does the kitchen look? What steps do you take to gather your tea cup, tea bags, milk, perhaps a biscuit?
Imagine each step of your daily routine in specific detail, visualising the space, how you're using it, and how you feel.
Now take a moment to think about what this would mean to you. What might be achievable for you if this was your daily life? Might you have more energy for other things? Perhaps you could invite friends over, have a dedicated space for your hobbies, or redecorate.
Now think about what would need to happen to make this vision a reality. For example, in your visualisation you might have easily chosen what to wear because your wardrobe was organised differently so that you could see everything you have. There might be a smaller selection of clothes so that making a choice is simpler.
What would be the very first step in achieving this? Zoom in to the smallest possible action. This might be as simple as “open the wardrobe doors and assess the situation.” Zooming in and working one step at a time can help to combat overwhelm, and keep you moving forwards. Slow and steady progress is better than none at all.
Each time you tackle a new area ask yourself “what one thing would make a difference here?” and through repeated sessions you will start to see a difference.
As you progress through your journey keep your vision in mind, knowing that each bit of progress gets you one step closer to that vision. While it might feel difficult to part with that dress you used to love but which no longer fits you, it is worth keeping it at the expense of achieving your goal?
Remember to look back at your progress periodically to celebrate your achievements. Many small steps can quickly lead to mountains of change!
I'd like to finish by sharing a quote from author Alain De Botton:
“We look to our buildings to hold us, like a kind of psychological mould, to be a helpful vision of ourselves.”
What is your vision of your future self? What no longer belongs?
Find out more about the author here
