When is it a good time to declutter and get organised? My first response to this question is now. As I don’t believe there is a right time, a right day or a right month to get organised. I’ve been successful at sorting any time, any day, any month.
But, in my experience:
It’s not about finding the right “time” that is important instead, it’s about understanding the situations that suggest it’s now time to start decluttering and organising your life. Identifying and understanding these situations can help to improve your life.
Below are 7 signs that indicate it’s time to get organised.
1. When Clutter and Disorganisation Impacts Your Well-being
Your home should be a place that promotes positive wellbeing. A place to relax and unwind after a long day. Often when disorganisation takes over people can feel overwhelmed and stressed as they have lost control of their environment resulting in negative well-being. If this is something you can relate to, then it’s time to consider organising your space.
2. When Clutter and Disorganisation Stops You from Living to Your Values and Goals
We all have different values and goals for some it may be to live a more healthy lifestyle, for others to spend more time with the kids, or undertake creative pursuits.
Sadly,
Clutter and disorganisation can act as a roadblock to pursuing the things that matter. A typical response I receive when I ask people the question what will you do with the space once it’s organised?i s I want to use it to pursue my hobbies. When clutter and disorganisation prevent you from living a life, you value it’s time to get organised.
3. When Clutter and Disorganisation Impacts your Relationships
When people live with someone, who has excessive clutter or disorganisation they can often feel frustrated by the chaos. This may put a strain on relationships. Also, disorganisation can also lead to isolation.
How?
This usually occurs when people no longer invite family and friends into their homes as they feel ashamed and embarrassed by the amount of clutter taking over their homes. When chaos leads to negative relationships, it might be time to get things in order.
4. When Clutter and Disorganisation Is a Risk To Your Physical Health
Excessive clutter and disorganisation can be a potential health and safety hazard within a home or office. Items on the floor can be a tripping hazard. A disorganised medicine cabinet can lead to the consumption of outdated medication. Cupboards overflowing with stuff can result in items falling on people when they are open.
Sadly,
Clutter can also be a fire hazard. Unfortunately, we have seen situations where excessive stuff within a home has caused and fueled fires.
5. When It’s Time to Move Home or Office
A great time to sort out your home or office is when you are about to say goodbye to it. Before you start packing go through your staff and determine if you need to take it to your new location? Will the items you own in your old space add value to your new life?
How is this beneficial?
Decluttering your home before moving will ensure you are only taking the things you need. Disregarding items will also make the packing and unpacking process a lot easier and faster. Also, decluttering and organising prior to moving is particularly essential if you are downsizing as you have less space for items in your new home. Finally moving is stressful and moving with less stuff will help reduce stress as you have fewer things to deal with.
6. When Your Renovating
Decluttering and organising before commencing a renovation can be beneficial for a few reasons. It will help you to determine what you actually need and how you use your things. This can help you to shape the future layout and design of your home or office ensuring the final renovation aligns with how you use your space and the stuff you own.
For example, you may discover that your storage requirements may change after decluttering.
Also decluttering before renovating will give you a clutter-free and safe space to work without being suffocated by unnecessary stuff. This becomes even more important if you are planning to live in your home during the renovations. If you are planning to put your things in storage during the renovation, you may discover that you don’t need to or you storage requirements may change, potentially saving you money.
7. When Living Arrangements Change
The people living in a home can change over time. Children turn into adults a move-out, relationships end, and sadly people pass away. And there are also times when people enter a home, a new baby, a couple decides to move in together, or an elderly parent needs to move in. When living arrangements do change, it does provide an opportunity to reassess your space to ensure the home aligns with the needs of the people currently living in it.
A change in living arrangements can be a stressful and emotional time so ensure you organise the space at a time you feel ready to do so. It shouldn’t be something you are forced into doing.
Now might be a good time to start decluttering and organising your home, office or life especially if you can relate to the above situations. You can start small even spending 10 minutes a day decluttering, and organising can lead to significant results over time.
Each situation is unique and will have its own decluttering and organising challenges. I will discuss different approaches and strategies on how to declutter and organise based on each situation in future blogs.
If you don’t know where to start consider obtaining support from a professional organiser. If you want to know more about how I can help email joey@creatingpositivespaces.com.au or call 0401 149 185 (Australian residence only).
And remember aim for progress and not perfection.
Blog Cover Photo by Brendan Church on Unsplash
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