Almost daily, I have conversations with family, friends, colleagues and clients about “getting organized.”
They almost wail, “I feel so overwhelmed with stuff. I feel guilty for having so much stuff. And I think if I get rid of stuff, I’ll feel more free.”
Will they have or be all those things after they declutter?
Perhaps yes. Perhaps no.
What do I mean by this?
Well, it’s really trendy right now to talk about getting organized. There are oodles of resources to help you simplify, pare down, declutter, and even become a minimalist.
Trends aside, I always ask my clients deeper questions about the stuff they have.
It’s easy to say, “I have too much stuff.”
The bigger questions delve into the reasons:
- How did you accumulate this stuff?
- Is there a pattern to the accumulation?
- Why are you saving this stuff? And…is there a fear associated with the saving?
- Do you actually USE this stuff?
- Is is beautiful or useful day-to-day?
- Does the stuff add to your office or home space or does it detract?
As I was thinking about this issue, I stumbled across not one, not two, but THREE magnificent blog posts on this very topic. Here they are:
- Danielle LaPorte – The Dark Side of Minimalism
- Natalie Baker – Shed Project Guest Post
- Lianne Raymond – red winkle picker regret and the dark side of decluttering
I love these articles because they delve into the mindset of minimalism, decluttering, and even consumerism. Each of these gorgeous ladies asks BETTER questions about our stuff. They’ll help YOU think differently about it, too.
Check them out and let me know YOUR thoughts!
If you’re stuck, feeling the *need* to declutter, or just don’t know where to start, I’m here to support you (and give you a kick in the pants, if necessary!). Get in touch – (704) 553-8082 or [email protected]. And, it’s almost ready – I’m changing the name of my company to Your Organized Guide. I’ll let you know more when it’s all LIVE! And seriously, let me be your organized guide to getting organized!