how do I organize myself... clutter freak! HELP#%$?

Question

I am getting so frustrated with my clutter. I think my husband may be more frustrated however.
I am done. But I need advice. Where do I start and how do I keep things clutter free. I just want a nice clean house. Not all this STUFF everywhere. I dont know why it is so hard for me....
My bedroom is the toughest. I just want a simple clean bedroom but I have clothes and STUFF everywhere. I cant relax in my house because I constantly feel like I should be organizing and cleaning but I just dont have the energy for it.
Please help...I would appreciate it so much as would my husband and future family.
Thank you in advance...Happy Holidays

Answer 1

I see a series of problems, but they all have solutions. The first problem might lie in your items not having a clearly defined place to go. For instance, if you have not specifically set aside a space to put your clothes - a drawer for all your sweaters - your stuff doesn't get put away, or worse it's put in places you won't find until next year. Everything should have a place all it's own. If your cleaning supplies don't live in one space, give them one. Just like you have a room to sleep in, your stuff should have a niche. If you remove it, return it. Tomorrow never comes so take a minute or two to put things back where they belong. As you define niches around your home for your stuff, the clutter will disappear.

The second problem is you just might have too much stuff you really don't need. This is where a trusted friend can help you sort through the things you need to get rid of and the stuff you need to keep. It's hard to part with your favorite sweater, but the darn thing's full of holes so it's time to say goodbye. Storage boxes neaten appearances and provide niches for your stuff. Remember - a place for everything and everything in its place.

There are fabulous books out there on organizing. One such book by Julie Morgenstern's _Organizing from the Inside Out_ is great. It helped several of my friends put their homes back together. They were just like you (but aren't we all). You'll learn a lot of tips on how to organize not only your home, but it'll help you organize your life.

The third problem is most people are flat overworked these days. You put it off because you're tired. The clutter builds. You put it off again because you're tired and before your know it, the task looks insurrmountable and you give up. Start with one project. Your closet. Get rid of the clothes you can't wear anymore. Get rid of the stuff that needs mending, especially if you haven't picked up a needle and thread in the past ten years or you don't know how or can't be bothered to take it to someone who can do the work. It's of no use to you and is taking up space you could use for other things. Do not stop there. Get rid of the stuff you won't wear. One trick is to turn all your hangers the wrong way on the rod. As you wear the item, you turn the hanger the proper direction. If after one year you have not worn the item, it's time to part ways.

When you clutterbust, you must be ruthless. Ask yourself, and be very honest, do I need this? When was the last time I used this? How often will I use this in the future? Items you use frequently should be in places which are easily accessible. Items you use less frequently are put on the top shelves.

Set aside time every day to tackle one tiny project. Don't try to do everything at once. Your home didn't get in the condition it's in overnight. It took time. It will take time to put it to rights and keep it that way. You need to learn the habit of putting things in their place. Bad habits take a long time to unlearn. New habits take weeks to take hold. You might try having a friend call you to remind you to do your little project each day.

Start a to do list for each room in your home. Identify individual tasks to be done or problems which need solving - such as what to do with this stuff or where do I put it. Break big tasks into little ones. It might take you all week to clean out all your closets and your drawers, but the end result is less clutter. Managing your time is as important as busting clutter.

The same rule holds true for housecleaning chores. Break down all the tasks you need done. Determine the frequency it needs to be done. Put it on a calendar and stick to the schedule. If your schedule says you clean all the toilets in your home on the 2nd, do it or it won't get done. If your task is laundry, once you start, you finish. That means wash, dry, fold and put away. If necessary, do only one load a day. Never put it off until tomorrow. Remember tomorrow never comes and the next day's task(s) bring more work.

The key is consistency, planning and time management. It helps if you have the support of your friends and family. Relax. You will backslide from time to time until the new habit becomes firmly engrained. Start back up and try again.

If all else fails, you can always hire someone to come in and help you, especially if you can't be ruthless enough to separate the things you need from the trash on your own. Professional organizers are a great asset in getting things together, but you still have to put the darn things back where you got them from every single time you use them. That's the real secret to maintaining your home. Good Luck!

Answer 2

You are probably overwhelmed by looking at the clutter. Take a room at a time, separate things and put them in the proper place. Pace yourself so that you don't tire yourself out or give up. The key is to put things in the proper place once you are done with them, this should be the rule for you and your husband. If you are not using or wearing clothing that is cluttering your bedroom, donate them or toss them, and that should go for other items as well. For things that you don't have a specific place for, buy a storage container to hold those items and put them away in a closet. It sounds like you are doing all the cleaning, if so get your husband to help and together you can get it done quicker!

Answer 3

I agree with everyone else. TOO MUCH STUFF. But it isn't enough to just know that you don't really want this stuff, or know how to sort it or where to put it. You will want to dig a little and deal with how you accumulated it in the first place, and if so is it still coming in the door?

Many times it is guilt...getting gifts that you can't use and holding on to them etc. Sometimes sentimental...holding on to everything your kid ever wore or made. Sometimes it's the sense that you may need it...wrong size clothes, etc or paid good money for it...exercise equipment! Sometimes we are holding on to things that belong to someone else, someone ELSE'S memories, like grown children.

See if you can cultivate a sense of contentment with the way you are at this moment and the confidence to part with anything that doesn't serve a valid purpose in your life this moment. Then you will see the excess as something that is separating you from your best self, not something you need at all.

Some things to remember:

People who have died, or are no longer in your life...have not the first shadow of a care what you do with their things. If they loved you, they want you to be happy and they would not want you to be burdened with stuff. I say that with understanding because my mother died last week and I am dealing with HER things.

When you are shopping, you may think you deserve things that you see. You work hard after all. You should have nice things. But where is that getting you? Is THAT a situation you deserve? Do you deserve to be outgrowing your home and dealing with piles of mess? Do you deserve the insanity? NO. You deserve the peace of a home that nurtures you. So learn to shop wisely.

When you think about your finances, think about how many are clutter related, and due to general disorganization (for which clutter is usually responsible). How many things have you had to replace because they were lost or broken? How many last minute errands because you needed something that you couldn't find or hadn't planned while you were already out shopping? How big of a house do you really need if you cleared out the stuff that isn't serving you well? Could you afford to live in a smaller but nicer house if the excess wasn't there? Could you afford to live in a smaller house in a nicer neighborhood? Could you do something else with the rent you pay on too big a house, or outside storage for your stuff?

This is the way that I changed my mind about clutter. I still have it but I am not attached to it. Now that my mother/former roommate is gone, I have no problem letting a LOT of it go.

Answer 4

Your problem could be you have too much stuff. You need to be honest with yourself on this. If you have more things than room, you can't organize it! If that is not the case start with the bed room. make tags for every storage space in the room saying what goes there. Nothing should be on the floor, on the bed, or on the furniture. Under the bed is fine if you organized it. Example, suit case, hat box, gun, get it? After two weeks of keeping that room organized, move to the next most important room. The front room (family room) Have only what belongs in there. Magazines/books are fine if you have a holder for them (not on the end table). Don't leave empty glasses, etc. in that room. After two more weeks of success, move to the bathroom, and on through the house.

Answer 5

I'm a neat freak. And always have been.
If you do a load of laundry...fold it... AND put it away. Don't just leave it sitting in the basket and say "I'll do it later" because you won't!

You can go to Wal-Mart and buy little baskets and/or IKEA. Little baskets/boxes hides everything and makes it look neat.

I keep alot of paper from school and drawing and everything, but I got a big box and I put it under my bed and keep my art supplies in it. If you have boxes. It makes it look neater. And label the boxes if you need to.

I rarely have energy to clean. I'm a tired person - who isn't these days?
But, seriously, take 20 minutes and just do a quick clean. When you say "I'll do it later" that later turns into a day, then two days, and so on!

So, thats my advice, hope it helped.

Answer 6

www.flylady.net

its free, you don't have to pay for anything to join. Just join the email list and they will email you daily 15 minute missions! Even the busiest peron has at least 15 minutes to spare a day to clean. It really helps because they break everything down into small incrememnts for you so that it is not so overwhelming.

Answer 7

Go through your stuff, make 3 piles one pile things you recently use, 2nd pile things you rarely use 3rd pile things you don't use and through that pile away.

Next, get bins and organize your things. Get folders and put away your loose papers.

Answer 8

Get a large green plastic trash bag and fill it

Answer 9

you got to learn to throw stuff away.. good luck
you should also go to www.flylady.net... works for my wife.

Answer 10

this site helps with organization

http://www.getorganizednow.com

hope this helps..happy holidays!