By Lauren Winzar – Decluttering & Organising Coach
What’s wrong with me?
This is a question I hear a lot from new clients. Women come to me thinking they are damaged and ask me to please fix them.
Let’s clear this up right now. There is NOTHING wrong with you if you struggle to keep your home clutter-free.
In fact, most of those clients I mentioned keep homes in such a way as some would think it WAS perfect while others might think it appalling. Seriously.
The problem isn’t the housekeeper or the clutter, the problem is the way it’s viewed and the households’ clutter limit.
Chances are, you have friends or family that always seem to have things under control. Shoes are put away, benches are clean and clear, meals are planned ahead of time, everything just feels seamlessly easy.
“Why doesn’t mine look like that?” you think to yourself. Maybe these friends or family offer ‘encouragement’ or ‘helpful advice’ that just leaves you feeling inferior?
The truth is, they probably just have a higher clutter limit than you. This is the level of ‘stuff’ the household can manage before it feels ‘messy’. It is a combination of the tendency of the members of the household to deal with items and put them away, the size of the space vs the number of occupants, and your tolerance for clutter.
For example, you might like a sparse, minimalist space, full of empty white surfaces, but you have 5 people and 3 pets living in a 3-bedroom house and nobody ever remembers to put their stuff away. That, my friend, is BEGGING for a very very tiny clutter limit.
If you reduce your belongings dramatically you will have a much easier time with things. However, if you have a huge 4-bedroom home with 2 people and a small pet, and those people are generally focused on one thing at a time and enjoy their eclectic collection of travel memorabilia on display…. well, they would be able to manage a greater number of belongings – they have a higher clutter limit.
So, instead of trying to change yourself or the people you live with, consider your clutter limit. If you feel like you’re exceeding your manageable clutter limit, pare down until it feels right.
Now for a truth bomb. If you have a low clutter limit but say/think you like to have all of your things around you – you are lying to yourself. Yes, you can be fond of pretty, or useful things and struggle to let things go, but if you are not managing, and your clutter is preventing you from enjoying your time or space, you are OVER your limit. It is time to get real with yourself and decide if you truly enjoy living this way.
And remember, if you need help, it is OK to ask for it. Keep asking until you find the help you need.
