1. Think “Systems”
Tackling clutter without a framework of systems makes it Hard Work because you have to think and plan anew each time.
Think of your systems as the shortcuts to effective organisation and always be on the lookout to fine-tune and improve them.
Identify your personal biggest clutter categories and sit and plan how you can get them in order – take this planning seriously because it’s going to win you precious time and peace of mind once you get it right.
2. Try Before You Buy
If communal changing rooms send you into a cold sweat, why not plan a concealing ensemble that will allow you to slip clothes on and off without revealing anything.
May I suggest dark tights or tight leggings to hide everything up to your waist, and a close fitting long-sleeved jersey top for your body? You can even practice changing into clothes wearing these at home – remember that proper planning and preparation pays!
Clothes in stores can be slipped on OVER these, and if you round your ensemble off with a long loose skirt with an elasticated waist you’ll even be able to try on jeans without revealing any flesh. Comfy flat slip-ons mean you can spend longer prowling the stores, and waste no time fiddling with laces - you’re now ready to shop like a pro.
3. Enlist All Hands
Partners and children should at least not be adding to the problem, so when you discipline yourself to stop bringing in future clutter, everyone else needs to follow suit.
School artworks can be photographed and the pictures kept in an album, and this will help you painlessly limit the amount of junior art on display.
If you have a partner who’s always bringing things home that might be useful “one day” please refer them to last week’s article where I discussed how few of the things we keep “just in case” ever really come in useful. If you have examples to hand that have been waiting years to be used, bring them up to support your case.
And as a positive incentive, stress the endless potential for actually getting some things done once you have plenty of free space.
4. Make A Date
Experiment with having a post day, a laundry day, and stick to that as far as you can.
Knowing that one day a week you sort all of one category of stuff lets you relax and it won’t be hanging over you as a guilt-inducing unfinished task.
The whole point of a decluttered life is that it should be easier than living with clutter, and though it might feel like hard work at first, being able to trust yourself to keep things ticking over by addressing them each week will lighten the burden of unfinished tasks you carry around in your head.
5. Persevere
Most of us – me included – slip sometimes, things get a little out of hand, a system just sort of disappears and you’re faced with a mini clutter monster again. Sometimes it can even feel like one of those sequel heavy horror movies!
Never give in - because sooner or later, all things do have to be tidied up. It might be a visit from a colleague or relative, someone who comes to your assistance like a doctor or plumber, or just new friends you’d like to invite into your home, but sooner or later you will have to clear up and you might as well make it easy by doing it in small easy steps than face that dreadful last minute scramble.
Persist, persevere and with time you will find that your habits change and the whole idea becomes easier and more natural – and meantime you get all the benefits of living in a beautiful, comfortable clutter-free home with possessions which work for you and not against you.
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