This probably sounds pretty wacky but hear me out. I used to play Tetris with my belongings too and it was almost a point of pride. However, when my brain was injured I was forced to declutter significantly because I was wildly visually overwhelmed. What I realized through decluttering was that life is so much easier with space between things, under them, and around them. I could breathe when I no longer had overstuffed spaces.
The concept of feng shui and the energy of spaces is one thing, but the air moves through a room better when there is room for it to flow. Most importantly, organizers will not work in a jam-packed drawer. In fact, you will not be able to put half of what you used to in the drawer if you want it organized.
The Truth about Organizing Systems:
Why we ever thought that having more containers would make a clutter problem better, is beyond me. Anytime, you put an organizing system into place it takes up more space. If you want to put a stack of paper into file folders by any system, expect that stack to double in volume. You added 2 sheets of cardstock for every group of papers you want!
If you want to add a Blind Corner Cabinet Rev-a-shelf to make your blind corner cabinet accessible, expect to lose nearly half of what you can cram in there without more than a shelf. No joke. Is it worth it? YES!
Why we should organize and declutter anyway:
You do not gain storage by adding organizers. You do gain accessibility and order. These things are valuable in that they will reduce your stress. The great news is that by simply decluttering you can gain much of that piece of mind without spending a dollar!
While I’d love for you to hire me to help you gain control of your belongings, the biggest adjustment needs to come from within you. Just because I give you a bucket to sort into doesn’t mean you should go fill it up. If you fill it, you’ll have to make a huge mess every time you want to find one little item at the bottom.
Many clients often think they have it under control if the space is stuffed to the brims and every drawer of every piece of furniture is full. Experiencing the difference between a stuffed space and an open space is best illustrated when we go to a vacation rental. There is no excess but there’s enough to get the job done. Yet each pan has its own space with plenty of room around it to pull it out without things coming crashing down on the floor.
Strategies for adjusting to empty space:
Most of us have convinced ourselves that we need all these things, so it’s difficult to decide what to part with. An easy answer is duplicates or items that do the same job or only a very specific job in a very specific way and are difficult to clean. Can you peel an orange with a knife? Yes. Can you peel an orange with your finger? Yes. Can an orange peeler cut an apple? No. Can an orange peeler cut anything else? No. Get rid of the orange peeler.
Okay, you get my point, right? If you don’t trust that this is the right call for you, then use a maybe box to pack it up and test out living without it. If it’s not a complete failure or a very annoying obstacle, then you can get rid of it. The bunches of little things you’ve collected over the years that you use less than once a year are the types of things that end up making our drawers too full.
In interior design, you might start with adding items to your shelves. When it feels too full, you remove an item, and then another, until it feels just right. Start with an empty drawer and add one thing at a time from the most important until it’s got what you need easily accessible. If you went too far, remove one item at a time until it feels stress-free. Start removing by least important.
What’s the difference between spaces that work and those that don’t?
The main reason you shouldn’t overstuff spaces is that the organizing systems were not designed to function that way. If you overfill drawers, they not only get stuck before they open, but they also lose things over the back. If you’ve been doing this for a while, then you’ve probably forgotten how easily your existing system should work.
If you’re in this boat, expect to let go of more than 70% of your belongings in each space. Be ruthless because the other side is WONDERFUL! And I can’t wait to see you there.
If you’d like personal help breaking this habit and experiencing life with the right amount of things for you, reach out for virtual clutter coaching. I’ll help you learn the skills necessary to reclaim your space and maintain it!