What kind of clutter is in your clutter?

                        
Unclutterers like me need to be aware that there are some things one should never throw out. Do not throw away other people’s junk, heirlooms that may be meaningful to someone else in the family, tax records for three years, and one-of-a-kind photos. However, for everyone else who does not suffer from the temptation to overzealously unclutter, there are likely cluttered issues contributing to their physical clutter.
Perpetual busyness is a big cause of clutter. Think about the entryway in your home littered with duffle bags, shoes, school books, dirty clothes, empty water bottles, and everything else a family can dump. One solution is to create a stress free zone where everyone can put everything away when they walk through the door and easily retrieve items when they leave. Make sure there are enough hooks for coats, hats, scarves; baskets for keys, sunglasses, gloves; and bins for shoes and boots.
Indecisiveness contributes to the paper trail strewn through most households and littering many a desk. Set aside 15 minutes a day to either act on your paperwork or throw it out. Avoid filing away things you intend to deal with in the future because chances are, you won’t.
Surprisingly, general clutter can stem from low self-worth. Inability to say “no” will clutter one’s calendar, home, car, office, or purse faster than anything else and is a good indication that you are responding to everyone else’s to-do list instead of your own out of a need for approval. Create a to-do list each day that truly reflects what is important to you, focusing on the roles and relationships you value.
Perfectionism is another cause of clutter. Most feel guilt for getting rid of purchases they never use, so they cling to their expensive mistakes. Others have good intentions of how they think they should organize or use the proper techniques or storage bins, so they postpone getting started because of their grandiose plans. Remember, done is better than perfect any day.
Another broken strategy common to perfectionists is holding onto smaller sizes. Many have closets full of clothes that no longer fit, longing for the day when they will get their perfect body back. Meanwhile, they wonder why they never have a thing to wear. It is a mean mental game we play on ourselves, so determine to stop it. Learn to accept yourself exactly as you are right now, and buy clothes for that person. Chances are when you make peace with yourself, you will become empowered to lose the weight as a result.
Grief is an understandable cause of clutter. Often when someone dies or a relationship ends, we hold onto the person’s belongings. Realize that getting rid of the person’s possessions is not getting rid of the person. You can keep the memories without keeping the memorabilia.
Fear is the biggest reason we accumulate junk. “What if I might need it some day?” comes from fear. Do we honestly think clinging to our clutter will make us feel more prepared and confident? Coming to terms with our own insecurity about the future and all the unknowns in life will reduce clutter. God tells us to fear not over and over in the Scriptures, so determine to submit to this principle, if not for spiritual purposes, then for the practical purposes of reducing clutter and regaining control of your life.
For more help uncluttering, contact Stephany at www.StephanyCraig.com.


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