Mums’ Struggles Made Simple [MSMS]

Many thanks to those of you who took the time to complete my survey about de-cluttering, Free Yourself From Clutter. I received a brilliant response from you and I hope some of the solutions I provide in this article can bring some calm to your clutter chaos!

i) The first survey question asked about the type of clutter in your home and the majority of you answered ‘paperwork, newspapers and magazines’. This clutter problem can actually be resolved easily if you establish a few processes into your daily routine. Here’s how you can maintain a paper-free environment:

a) Set up a paper-recycling bin in your kitchen. As soon as junk mail comes through your door, put it straight in this bin. That way you won’t leave it lying around cluttering up the hall or on the stairs.

b) In a convenient place, such as a drawer in your hall or a tray in your kitchen, place the paperwork that requires attention. When you get a few spare minutes, you can go to this drawer knowing exactly what needs sorting out and you can get on with it. This especially helps with documents like car tax renewals or outstanding credit card bills. You’ll never lose important documents to overflowing piles of junk mail or the children’s artwork!

c) Have a second file/drawer/box for paperwork that needs to be filed away, such as confirmation insurance documents or paid store card bills. If you don’t have time there and then to file them properly, at least you’re collating them in one place.

d) Buy a level-arch file with dividers for all your personal documents such as bank statements, insurance files, pension information etc. Have one lever arch file for each year. Each month empty the contents of the above file/drawer/box into the appropriate sections. Keep this file in a convenient location – on a bookshelf or, if you have one, a study – so you can quickly access the information when required.

e) Newspapers can be put into the paper-recycling bin as soon as you have finished reading them. Alternatively, keep them in a tidy pile in a cupboard so you have an instant table/worktop cover for messy tasks such as cleaning shoes, peeling vegetables or painting with the kids.

f)  You can easily recycle magazines by passing them on to friends. If they don’t want them, put them straight into the paper-recycling bin!

ii) My second question asked why you struggle to maintain a clutter-free home. You resoundingly replied, “I haven’t got time!” If your clutter is affecting your happiness and causing stress levels to rise, it is time to make de-cluttering a priority! Now you know it needs to be done, you must schedule time in your diary to make it happen. Don’t attempt to tackle all your clutter at once. Schedule fifteen to thirty minutes each day to begin de-cluttering an area of your home. Once you have de-cluttered your home, this is a great way to maintain your environment each day, as it will also prevent a future build up of clutter! Making a start on one kitchen drawer is manageable and achievable. Don’t blame lack of time for something that can be done in short blasts of time.  The key to success is to forget about the age-old approach associated with de-cluttering, “I’ll de-clutter when I’ve got a whole weekend off to get it all done”! It never happens, as something more interesting and fun always crops up!

You must view your de-cluttering plan as a long-term goal, not a short-term gain. This will help you to gain perspective. Prioritise the areas you most want to tackle – choose a room you use most and will therefore gain the most satisfaction and enjoyment from your efforts. Don’t let de-cluttering overwhelm you: take little steps that will give you a greater sense of achievement long-term. This really helps keep you motivated so you continue until you have successfully achieved your de-cluttering aspirations!

iii) Many of you said you have always had an issue with clutter, even before your family came along. It could be something deep rooted that makes you hoard and keep hold of lifelong memorabilia. If there are any negative thoughts associated with these issues, see if you can pinpoint the cause and try your very best to let it go. You cannot change the past so now is the time to stop it affecting your future happiness.

iv) The majority of respondents stated that clutter existed mainly in your bedrooms. Try using storage solutions such as bookcases, wall shelves, colourful boxes and baskets that will help to sort your clutter. Clothes that haven’t been worn for over twelve months can be donated to charity and toys that are no longer played with can also be passed on. If it is the kids’ bedrooms that give you most cause for concern, rope them in to help: it will give them an enormous sense of responsibility and encourage them to maintain a better living environment for you all.

v) An overwhelming 73% of you replied to say your clutter made you feel disorganised and stressed out, with the remainder of you feeling worthless, unhappy and dissatisfied! Living in a disorganised environment depletes your energy and heightens stress levels. Clutter is hoarded for so many reasons: you feel it will be a waste of money to throw something out yet you’ve never used it or you can’t let go of a great memory without holding on to memorabilia relating to the event. Don’t be afraid to get rid of things you don’t need or want. The money has already been spent in the past – you can’t get it back now. The memory will always live with you without the physical reminder. Try to tackle an area at a time and don’t get overwhelmed. You will soon get the de-cluttering bug, which will motivate you to persevere!

vi) When asked how you would feel living in a clutter-free home, the majority of you stated you would feel relieved! Here is a great exercise to do when considering the clutter in your home:

a) Picture your house completely clutter-free.

b) How does it look?

c) How do you feel? What emotions are you currently experiencing?

I’d imagine you’re feeling happy, elated, self-satisfied, relieved and joyous! These are amazing emotions! Try to remember these feelings as you embark on your de-cluttering project, as they will drive you to succeed so you can finally free your space and free your mind!

vii) So many of you want to live in an organised home with more living space. Here are some of my top tips to help you organise your home:

a) Use adequate storage solutions for sorting and storing all sorts of things throughout your home. Don’t go mad on purchasing lots of storage solutions – only invest in the things you really can afford. Try to find innovative storage solutions, especially for small spaces.

b) A great guide for when you’re wondering whether to keep something is to ask yourself when you last used– if it was over twelve months ago, you don’t really need it.

c) Get everyone involved. Avoid nagging your family to join in, explain to them properly why it is so important that they help you de-clutter your home. If you tell them how it makes you feel and how they will all enjoy a nicer home, the more likely they are to join in and maintain a nicer living space.

d) Memorabilia, including children’s artwork, can be photographed and stored electronically rather than physically. You can then get rid of the piles of paper cluttering your house. If you have memorabilia of financial value, it may be best to store this appropriately and put it away in the attic.

e) Maintenance is key. Once you have initially sorted your house, schedule 15 minutes each day to complete a mini de-clutter and ensure you continue to maintain a nice living area.

viii) I asked what would be your top three de-cluttering challenges and your answers corresponded with many of the tips I have already outlined. My suggestion would be to write down each challenge and work out how you are going to resolve it. For example:

a) You need more time. Schedule time in your diary to do short blasts of de-cluttering. Identify your time wasters (catch up phone calls, checking emails, surfing the net) and use this time to de-clutter.

b) Depleted energy levels. Does self-care mean anything to you? As well as diarising time to de-clutter, diarise a slot each week to recharge your batteries! Make it time for you to regain lost energy. You’ll feel much more positive about embarking on a step-by-step de-clutter of your home!

Now you have a plan from which to work, and goals to achieve, you can set out on your task with purpose and direction.

On completion of the survey, you gave me lots of feedback about the areas of your life in which you’d like more support in the near future. Don’t miss future #MSMS surveys and solutions as I will be featuring topics such as:

• Finding more time
• Quality life balance
• Enjoying relationships
• Setting up your own business
• Health, well-being and energy
• Goal setting and achievement

Next month I will be asking you to complete a survey that relates to Confidence and Self-esteem, so I can offer solutions that will help you build your self-esteem to become a happy, fulfilled and confident woman!

I hope these tips have been useful and will make a difference to the way you maintain a clutter-free home in the future.

If you need further help with your de-cluttering efforts, you can check out my amazing ‘De-cluttering: Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind’ Self Study Guide here or alternatively you can contact me, Tracey directly on 01606 334015 or via [email protected], and I  will be happy to discuss how to overcome your challenges.

To keep up-to-date with all future references to Mum’s Struggles Made Simple, #MSMS, please follow me on Twitter @TraceyWall_UK, Facebook and via e-mail!

Wishing you confidence, balance and joy!

Tracey.

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