Somehow the older we get the more junk we accumulate. I’m not sure how it happens. It grows in cupboards, and closets and it’s especially fertile in basements and garages. It seems to grow without thought or nurture on my part. Soon, like a garden over-grown with weeds, it becomes a problem. Ignoring it or hoping it will go away on its own, doesn’t seem to work for me. The junk is still thriving. I’ve discovered that “space” is the thing that needs the nurturing and the tending to in order to survive.
How do you grow space in the face of all the clutter and stuff?
Advice about too much junk tends to focus on organizing the stuff into containers and boxes with neat labels. I find that when I do this I still have too much stuff, and now I have bought boxes to put it in! It doesn’t create the space that I crave.
Space-Creating Tips
For some, deciding what should go into the “garbage, donate or recycle” piles is the hardest part of the process. Here are some tips that may help you decide what to let go of:
- “Ask yourself if it’s something you’d purchase now.”* This is a brilliant way of helping you see if it is relevant to your life as you are living it today, and not your life from 20 years ago.
- “Use the 90/90 rule.” If you haven’t used it in the last 90 days and you don’t plan to use it in the next 90 days, let it go. (Choose a time period that works for you. It could be 6 months.)*
- “Pretend you’re moving.”* Let’s face it, that’s when most of us actually de-clutter with any sense of purpose and urgency. It seems like a shame to only enjoy the extra space that you’ve created, when you have to leave your home.
- Set a timer.* This is not intended to make you rush, just to keep you on-track and aware that this session of decluttering has a definite end.
- Take it slow. You don’t need to get it all done in one weekend. Consistently setting aside an hour or so every week will get you further than doing a killer, marathon session that you’ll never want to repeat.
Maintenance Needed
Creating space is not a one and done situation. Even after you finally clear the junk from the garage or cupboard, it will return if you don’t tend to it periodically. Some suggest taking before and after photos so that you can easily see when things are getting over-grown again.*
Need A Good Reason To Do This?
“One study found that clutter, particularly among older adults, decreased overall life satisfaction. Other research has found that helping older adults find ways to tidy up and declutter could help them feel more accomplished and in control.”**
There is a connection between the clutter growing in your home and negative mental health such as, increased stress, inability to focus and damaging relationships. Cultivating space can lead to better mental health. Who wouldn’t want more of that?**
*These 33 Decluttering Tips Will Make Organizing Your Home So Much Easier
**How Clutter and Mental Health Are Connected
Retired, And Now What 