Ideally, a home should be a relaxing, cozy sanctuary with positive vibes. If our domain is cluttered and disorganized, it causes stress and can leave us feeling unsettled.
The Mental Health Connection
A major purge is a big undertaking, one that a person must be mentally prepared for, but it is worth the effort.
It is not as simple as telling ourselves to get at it. Depression, chronic pain or grief can make the simplest tasks seem insurmountable. There are reasons why we have the things that we do. Feelings of obligation, inadequacy, guilt, a sentimental attachment, or even a negative emotion can be linked to the items we keep.
It can be a vicious cycle; we know we should do it, but we don’t feel like it, then we become overwhelmed. The inability to make decisions has a significant effect on our surroundings. Avoidance is a strategy some use; if you’re never home, you don’t have to deal with it.
Minimalism
A minimalist chooses to live with only the possessions they need and use. They prefer experiences over things. I like the idea of minimalism in theory. Liking a lifestyle ideal is one thing, but following through and living it is another.
Purging
Where does all the stuff that accumulates come from? Here is the formula; what we own + new items we buy - the things we remove = balance. Uncontrolled consumer impulses can lead to buyer's remorse. Problems arise when we don’t follow the formula,i.e. we add more stuff to what we already have but never take anything away.
Any empty space is considered valuable real estate in our 1940s home. It is small with little closet space, so keeping things neat is essential. The couple who built it comfortably shared the tiny four-foot closet.
Purging excess belongings should be an ongoing practice. Spring, with its longer days and bright sunshine, feels like the right time to regroup and declutter.
All The Things
Humans are creatures of habit; we find familiar things comforting. No matter how many options we have we wear the same few clothes, shoes and use a favourite mug, glass, pillow or blanket. Below is a list of some of the items that may need to be addressed:
Clothing and Accessories
- clothing that’s too big, too small or out of style
- an extensive winter wardrobe of coats, boots, ski pants, mitts, toques and scarves; all of which need to be stored somewhere in our brief off-season
- footwear - runners, sandals and dress shoes (who am I kidding, I am never going to wear high heels again)
- the dreaded sock drawer (the socks missing their partner kept on the off chance that it will be reunited with its mate)
- hats, bags, T-shirts and jackets from sports teams, high school and employers (just between you and me, I donated a big garbage bag full of hats and The Hubs never even noticed)
- worn purses, bags and suitcases
Linens
- a closet filled with towels, blankets, bedding and pillows (don't get judgy, it is difficult to let go of a favourite blankie)
Kitchen
- pantry items that have seen too many birthdays
- mismatched collection of slogan mugs
- Corelle dishes from the 80s
- a multitude of utensils (I use three of them and I fight to get them in and out of the stupid drawer every time)
- goodbye cookbooks (hello Google)
- rolls of tin foil and cling wrap (nothing irks me more than an uncooperative roll of food wrap, well except for packing tape)
- plastic containers spill out of a drawer (some with lids inexplicably missing in action and others with tomato sauce permanently embedded from being fricasseed in the microwave)
- thermal coffee cups and water bottles (I use the same coffee cup every day and drinking water is not my strong suit, let's just say I don't need a dozen water bottles)
- condiments of every description lurk in the back of the fridge (purchased to make a random recipe and never used again)
- the infamous junk drawer can’t be overlooked; it is the place where all random things go to die (batteries, pens, twist ties, tape, glue; I may never have the mental fortitude to tackle it)
Gadgets
- the gadgets (you know the ones I'm talking about, the “As Seen on TV” things that were supposed to make life easier but instead they sit unused, an admitted waste of money)
Cords and Manuals
- cords and manuals (from every electronic device you purchased in the last 20 years). If you no longer have the device, why keep these?
Makeup, Hair Products and Medications
- old makeup, hair products, nail polishes and costume jewellery (gentlemen, you are not so innocent, what about that bottle of English Leather cologne from the 70s you still have?)
- expired medications and sunscreen (I only realized sunscreen expired a few years ago; who knew)
Pictures, Papers and Craft Supplies
- personal papers
- craft and sewing supplies (crafty people have their own way of looking at things, we think we can make something out of every random item)
- gift wrap, bags and ribbon (those fricken rolls of wrap are a pain in the butt). I have recently been apprised of the fact that they fit nicely in a lawn chair bag. I freely admit that I stink at gift wrapping and I only use gift bags
- photo albums and miscellaneous pictures in envelopes and boxes (not including the ones I inherited)
- pens, pencils, crayons, markers (pens that leak, markers that are dried up, broken crayons and pencils crudely sharpened with a butcher knife)
- greeting cards, wedding and funeral cards (for 60 years, my mom kept everyone she got and I had to go through them all when she moved, enough said)
- books, newspapers and magazines (once you have read them, set them free)
Memorabilia
- awards, certificates, plaques and trophies (of course, I love The Hubs’ hunting and fishing trophies, I am just thankful that the horns and the fish are not hanging on my wall)
Toys
- broken toys, puzzles with pieces missing, toys kids have outgrown
- fishing, hunting, golfing and beach gear (grown-ups need toys too)
Basement
- a certain vintage of individuals has a substantial collection of sealer jars (in case the urge to do some canning miraculously returns)
- pet supplies (but you no longer have a pet)
- coolers and ice packs
Garage
- broken tools, discarded furniture, paint, chemicals, bottles (I took our empties to SARCAN, it was embarrassing how many there were, I knew I should have disguised my identity)
Organizing Tips
💥 Ask yourself, when did I use this last? Do I even like/want it?
💥 Start small and work up to bigger spaces.
💥 Sort items into categories - keep, recycle, donate or discard.
💥 Purchase a cabinet for papers and bins and shelves for craft supplies.
💥 Get over the fact that you sunk money into an item you don't use. If you want to recoup some of your funds put them up for sale. There are many sites where you can post items to sell or give away, some organizations will pick up. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
💥 If you haven’t worn it in a year, then pass it on (we wear 20% of the clothes we own 80% of the time). I took two big black garbage bags to a donation bin the other day, and it felt so good to be free of them.
Repurposing Examples
📌 Old clothes, costume jewellery, purses, heels and hats make great dress-up items for kids.
📌 Put those loner socks to work, pull one on your hand and use it to dust window blinds and fan blades (it is best to shut the fan off first).
📌 Egg cartons - starting seeds, making campfire fire starters.
The Benefits of Being Organized
- Feel a sense of control of your environment, accomplishment and increased self-confidence
- You set a good example
- Once a small space is decluttered and organized it seems larger
- Spend less money rebuying things you can’t find
- Clean up is quicker and easier
- You will be more productive with less distractions
Letting Go
Every area of our life can be impacted by clutter. Our homes are a reflection of us. When the world feels like it’s closing in on you, it’s time to make some changes. It is calming and freeing to let go of material things that add nothing to our lives.
That’s not to say that you won’t experience separation anxiety. Many of us have a fear of letting go of things. What if I realize later that I need it? How we were brought up affects our way of thinking about belongings. My parents didn’t buy many unnecessary things, but they stressed the importance of looking after and keeping the things you did have.
At some point, someone will have to sort through all your stuff. Keep in mind that if you don’t want it, your kids sure as heck aren’t going to want it when you’re gone.
The whereabouts of those missing puzzle pieces, socks and Tupperware lids may never be revealed; their loss is an emotional burden we all must carry.
Happy cleaning! Make room for the things that matter.
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