Stuff, Stuff, Stuff. It's everywhere. Why can't I get my life organized?

Question

I have a hard time throwing things out... Books, Gifts, Newspapers, and old items that I'll probably never use again. Why can't I part with my houseful of clutter? I always think that I might need it someday. Help me find a way to get rid of all this clutter. What is going on in the deep recesses of my mind?

Answer 1

the psychological explanation varies, for many, it's a form of Compulsive hoarding, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsive_hoarding .

For others, it's a sense of being ready for anything, or collecting.

throw away things that you haven't touched for a year or more, donate clothes you haven't worn in a year. If there's something that you found that you wish you had earlier, a specific tool or item you lost and couldn't find when you needed it, put it in a place that makes sense... scissors in a desk drawer, books on a shelf, etc.

Keep one copy of your bills, the latest one, in a file folder in a drawer of the desk where you do your filing. Use a kitchen table? keep a small filing box for your docs.

Too many books? give them away, they're not doing you any good and surely they'll being some joy to someone else. Seriously, a big pile of books doesn't improve the quality of your life, it just takes up space that you CAN use to make yourself happier, like displaying pictures.

Gifts: if it's not useful, or crap, regift it, or, toss it. Feel guilty? Why? there's no reason to, it's your property now, and by this point, the gifitng party may have alreay forgotten about the horrid gift.

Newspapers: any newspaper must be thrown away, if it's a ay old: it's old news. Common, what's more pertinent? last week's paper or today's paper? what's easier? keeping a stack of crap or using 50 cents to buy the latest healines?

Old Stuff: if you have time: research thier value an ebay them, if you don't, put them away uner your bed. If they have not been touched in 6 months or a year, toss them.

Too much stuff? do it for 10 minutes 6 days a week, just picking something up and deciding whether or not to throw it away: Here's a quick test to see if it's a keeper or not: Close your eyes, pick up the item, open your eyes... do you love it? keep it, o oyu hate it? toss it, are you unsure? toss it anyway, it's just creating more surface area for dust that's clogging up your lungs, more weight that's wearing you down, and more volume that's taking up YOUR HOME! Thats' right! I bet 1000 square ft of your home that you paid for is being taking up by your junk. YOu should've just BOUGHT A SMALLER HOME! You would've saved the cash. Think about it: you bought 30,000 sq. ft, how much of it do oyu get to use? half? take back your home an your life, start throwing away crap now.

Answer 2

Oprah had a show one day about your very same issue, I learned from that show that you have a special attachment to some of the things that you can't part with. I also learned that if it becomes too serious then you should seek help by contacting someone that could come to your home and help you with your stuff as well as your soul. I'm sorry I don't have any resources but maybe try google or ask.com key word "clutter". If I read into this and you just need some helpful hints on how to get organized, I always start from one side and work my way around the space. When I have things that " I might need later" I ask myself just how long have I had this? Have I been using it? What purpose will it serve if I keep it? If I know I haven't used something for over 1 year and I have no sentimental attachment it goes. I found comfort when I discovered clothing bins (salvation army) and donation (good will) that can take my things off my hands but possibly be a help to someone else in need. Good Luck

Answer 3

It could be OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Hoarding is a classic symptom of that. I think there's medication for it but I'm not sure - and if there is you'd still need to see a psychiatrist to get it prescribed.

I'm a pack rat myself - but thank God don't have OCD. Here's what I've been doing lately to help. I got 2 nice looking wooden filing cabinets and put them in my front hall. Now every piece of mail is either filed or thrown away THE SAME DAY it comes into the house. I'd had been trying to use classic metal ones in my office upstairs but the mail comes in downstairs so it was piling up on the dining room table and making so much mess I didn't even know what I had.

Next, I have a media problem - books, movies, CDs etc. I have been systematically going through the CDs I haven't heard in a while and giving them another listen in the car. If they don't hold my interest I get rid of them - mostly by giving them away to friends. I am also scanning my DVD shelves and ditching movies I don't think I'll ever watch again. Books are harder since I LOVE books but I am making small inroads there as well.

The key is to get rid of just a few things at a time as you manage to convince yourself you don't need them anymore. After weeks and weeks of this I'm starting to see the outlines of my house again (as opposed to the piles of things against the walls) and it is a great feeling.

Start somewhere simple - news has a ONE DAY shelf life - that's why they call it NEWS. Recycle every single newspaper in the house right away. Then don't forget to celebrate. The key to keeping up your moral is to celebrate how much better things are rather than dwelling on how much still needs to be done. Keep it up slow and steady and one day you'll have an uncluttered home you'll be proud of.

I know how hard it is - so good luck!

Answer 4

Instead of throwing them out, think about giving some things away. While you 'think' you might use it in the future, give it to someone who 'will' use it because they need it.

Other stuff, especially big stuff that you remember things by, take pictures of and save those and remember people and events by the smaller pictures rather than the clutter. Make it a scrap book that is easier to look through and you will do more often that digging through clutter.

Answer 5

Start with just one drawer. Empty it all out on a table and throw everything out that you haven't used in one year. Wash what remains and the drawer. In a week, do one more drawer. Work up to one cabinet a week. Then, brave a closet. When you're all done with every part of your home, start all over again and throw out half of whatever's left. Seriously.