I have a lot of trouble getting rid of stuff that may be useful at some point and a busy life where the house can quickly look like a bomb went off.
All the stuff that comes along with a husband and a couple of children has pretty much sent me over the edge when it comes to being completely organized.
Some things that have helped me to control the mess in our house:
About 10 years ago I instituted some rules for myself which has helped minimize the problem, although things can still quickly get out of control and piles appear everywhere, especially with two active boys in the house!
First of all, I cancelled all my magazine subscriptions several years ago and with a couple of exceptions, I have stuck to that decision. For a magazine fix, I go to the library.
Books are tough. I love, love, love to read and if I bought every book I ever read I wouldn’t be able to turn around in my house. I stopped buying books, for the most part, at least ten years ago, after a grueling move. I now order everything I want to read (which is a LOT) from the library – we have a great system here in Toronto. I do have to go through my collection soon and get rid of ones I will never read again and ones that have outdated information. With the internet, so much information is available quickly, so I may also get rid of some reference books that I never use anymore.
I stopped shopping for entertainment, which not only frees up some badly needed time for more important things, but limits the inflow of stuff. When I do shop, I ask myself whether I really, really need the item and often choose to put it back on the shelf.
In going through stuff, I try to categorize it and put like things with like in containers. Assign activities to a room. Then only put items pertaining to those activities in that room – for instance, I have a room for painting (I am an artist, which involves a lot of stuff) and sewing. No storing or dumping sewing stuff in the living room!
I am now starting to document on my computer where things are as it is a lot quicker and easier to do a search on the screen than start hunting through boxes.
I ask myself whether the item I am holding is useful or beautiful and whether I would be able to replace it easily and inexpensively (perhaps by going to Goodwill) if a need arose. I also ask myself how long I have had the item and not needed or used it.
It can be painful to get rid of stuff, for me the kid’s baby stuff is hard to go through, so I got a whole bunch of identical boxes (which previously held printer paper) to temporarily store things I just can’t let go of yet. I know I will be able to decide which things to keep eventually and I have a space in the basement where an old fridge used to be where I have about 16 of these identical boxes stacked. Because they all look the same, they look consistent and quite neat stacked in the alcove. If you try this method, make sure to label each box so you don’t have to go through them all when you are trying to find something!
I have no trouble chucking true junk, such as old newspapers, etc. If I had a problem with wanting to keep such items, I would cancel the newspaper and read it online, which is what we actually did, just to save ourselves some time! Any information in old newspapers is much more readily available online in a search.
If you are feeling really overwhelmed, the only way to begin a daunting task is one step at a time, so choose one room, maybe the living room, get some boxes, label them and begin. Try to be ruthless about deciding what is actually useful or beautiful. Also, if the item makes you feel bad when it is in your hand for whatever reason, get rid of it. If you have a friend who knows your situation, would be helpful and is willing to do so, maybe you can trade time and you can help them with something in return.
If you can afford it, definitely get some professional assistance. I have also found some organizing books (from the library) helpful, especially ones that focus on the emotional/psychological issues behind clutter and hoarding. It is not really about the stuff.
Right now I am still working on clearing out a few rooms in the basement. The rest of the house is not too bad right this moment, but a few days ago it was, so it is an ongoing process. Keeping control of the situation involves (in my case) continuing to limit
what comes in, putting things back where they belong rather than dumping them wherever and getting rid of things that are not useful, beautiful or make me happy. It is kind of like shoveling when it is still snowing – if you don’t do it, the snow will pile up and when spring comes (no more coming down) you don’t have a problem anymore!
Anyhow, this is complex subject and what I have said is only the tip of the iceberg, but I hope it helps at least a little.
People, especially our children, matter. Things don’t. Whatever is in your piles can be replaced, can be destroyed and you probably wouldn’t even miss it. You would survive and even thrive without any of it. Just look at people who have lost everything, whether because of war or a flood or a fire. They are okay, they are alive and hopefully still have their family.
Sometimes I have had fantasies about a fire destroying all my possessions so I could be free.
Don’t let your stuff ruin your life.