“Kiss Your Clutter Goodbye”-Part 3
The Kiss Your Clutter Goodbye Series
Welcome to Part 3 of the “Kiss Your Clutter Goodbye” series. In this series, we are exploring some organizing concepts that will help you declutter and maintain your newly organized spaces.
This concept introduces the partnership idea. Who knew that having help would make decluttering so much easier? I did! This comes through loud and clear to me every time I work with a client. It’s so much easier when you are not alone.
Make Organizing a Social Activity
I’ll bet you can find a friend who would also like to get more organized. Team up; take turns decluttering each other’s space. You will find the support you need, while also offering the same support to someone else. I often talk to stay-at-home moms who struggle to find enough time to complete a project like decluttering. With young children in your care, it is difficult to manage. Make a play date with another mom. While the kids play, you can focus on clearing some space. Look for:
- Someone who will encourage you. We all need a cheerleader in our corner.
- A partner who will let you have the final say as to what goes and what stays and does not make you feel guilty.
- A team that will set goals and celebrate their completion during each organizing date.
It works because your friend will not have an attachment to your things. They can nudge you to let go of things if you are hesitating. Also, your project will take less time, with two people working. What’s the saying “Many hands make light work”? It’s true. And finally, many people like to tell the story of certain items before they let them go. Now you’ll have someone who will listen.
Who knew that having help would make decluttering so much easier? Click To Tweet
There is still more to the “Kiss Your Clutter Goodbye” series. Stay tuned!
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Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
This is a great idea! I also have encouraged clients who like to talk on the phone to have a conversation with a friend while they are decluttering. In fact, the friend can work on decluttering an area at the same time. It’s easier to talk through something with someone who has no vested interest in the outcome.
Yes that’s a great idea, whatever they need to do to make the task easier to finish.
I love the idea of decluttering a space with other moms! Decluttering should be fun and lightening, not upsetting.
Yes true, especially when they find a final place for each item. Moms can help each other tremendously.
I love this! Having a friend come over and help you with a project like organizing your closet can be fun for both of you. Then you can help your friend with one of their projects – it might not even be organizing for them but perhaps a baking project.
I also have had clients who chat on the phone with someone while each of them works on an organizing project. It makes it more fun and keeps them both on task.
A friend or a cousin, make it a fun project, yes I agree. They don’t even have to be in the same city. Talking while organizing will make clean up go faster.
I agree with this 100%. When we have someone else around, the whole process is just more pleasant and easier. I find that it is nice to have someone else to talk with when making difficult decisions. Having someone else say, “You can definitely let that go” really helps!
If you declutter with another Mom whose kids are slightly ahead of or behind yours, you might find that the other person is even happy to take a few items off of your hands! I find that when I help younger Moms declutter and organize, I can also offer perspective on what their future needs will be, as well as what will matter to them/their children down to the road –and what won’t.
This is so true Seana, have the clothes or toys go to other kids, I think moms will like that idea. One will declutter and one will have treasure, it works for both sides.
It’s so helpful to have someone that can help you look at your belongings objectively. They don’t have the emotional ties to what you’ve been hanging onto, and a good friend will be able to make observations and ask the right questions without putting any shame on you!
Emotional ties is so important, having someone tell you to let go without feeling guilty is what some need to hear. It will be easy getting it out of the house
I’m a huge believer in the buddy system. Honestly, it’s how I honed my *professional* organizing skills, by being my friends’ decluttering buddy when they started to get overwhelmed. You’re right about the advantages, but I think the unbiased perspective is key. It’s possible to declutter with a family member (sometimes), but I do think that someone with no emotional attachment can give you the best support. Tell the story of the item, and let your buddy prompt you: How did you get it? Why are you keeping it? How will you use it. When will you use it? You need someone who has a little emotional distance. That’s definitely where we come in!
I love your perspective and I agree on having a friend versus family. Decluttering is a big project but can be fun when doing it while chatting with your bestie.
Love this! For so many, decluttering and organizing projects are easy to put off for another day. Having a friend or an accountability partner is a great way to ensure you stay on top of these projects while keeping them enjoyable. Great suggestions!
Thanks Jana. Accountability is so important to stay on track.