WISE Words from Darina Veen
Everyone has a little ‘junk’ lying around the house. OK, some of us may have more than a little. Regardless of how much stuff we have, we can all benefit from getting rid of clutter and excess things we don’t need any more.
What is clutter?
Clutter is anything you’re keeping around your house that doesn’t add value to your life. Decluttering is all about making room in your home for the things that matter.
When defining clutter, most people tend to think of objects, but sometimes they aren’t clutter at all. Take a pile of interesting articles you clipped, for example.. They help you do your job. It may look like clutter to others, but to you they are like a sandpit to play in.
Creative people often make a mess when they are being creative. That is not clutter!
Clutter is objects, thoughts and emotions that keep you from living the life you want to live. When piles of paper make you feel stuck that you have no overview anymore, that is when you have to do something about it.
Clutter is not just physical and visible stuff, it is old ideas, toxic relationships and bad habits. Clutter is anything that does not support your best self.
Why should I de-clutter?
When you clear your house, you clear your mind. It relieves stress by providing a sense of control and accomplishment. For some getting rid of the junk frees up a little extra space in the house that wasn’t there before.
Clearing away the clutter in your life will make you feel more organised, more productive, and more in tune with what’s truly important in life. All of which feels undeniably, unspeakably good.
You will evaluate what you want to keep and what you want to give away. You’ll have to ask yourself: What items make me happy, to my core? What items seep my mental energy and leave me feeling drained? Th is process of redefining value is important. Because, here’s the thing: the joy that comes from being surrounded by the things you truly care about, and find value in, can’t be overestimated.
So we are ready to declutter but trying to tackle a mountain of stuff can be quite overwhelming. The very next question is … where in the world do I begin?
Working slowly and taking very small steps is a way to get around your resistance. What you are doing is so small, that you don’t need to resist it.
Start with just 5 minutes. Baby steps are important. Sure, five minutes won’t barely make a dent in your mountain, but it’s a start. Then take another five minutes tomorrow. And another the next day. Before you know it, you’ll have cleared a whole closet or a room and then half your house and then … who knows? Maybe before long your house will be even more uncluttered than mine.
Give away one item each day.
Fill one trash bag.
Create a list of places/areas in your home to declutter and begin with the easiest.
Take the 12-12-12 challenge. A simple task of locating 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper home can be a really fun and exciting way to quickly organize 36 things in your house.
Darina Veen is an interior designer who practices her profession according to the Feng Shui Philosophy the Art of Placement. 