How to Reduce Clutter Induced Stress in Two Easy Steps!

by Winnie Saunders
(Marion, IL. USA)

Clutter can accumulate quickly if you are busy, feeling a bit depressed or focused elsewhere. The first good step toward reducing clutter is not to bring in additional clutter.

Most organizers have a rule: "one item in, one item out". In this way no additional pressure is put on the situation. While this doesn't remove clutter, this simple practice stops the accumulation process. The next step is to evaluate and prioritize the situation. Identify what is causing the clutter and make a choice that changes that underlying cause.

Stop Clutter First

Sort your mail at the garbage can outside. This will allow you to toss out junk mail so it never enters the house. Sit down with your family and agree to end all nonfood shopping trips until the house is cleaned up.

Enroll all your family in de-cluttering and cleaning as a team. By teaching children to put garbage in its place, to donate outdated items they no longer use, and to return objects to their correct location and clean up after themselves, you will actually re-teach yourself these same skills as well as help your kids and spouse become good home citizens.

One Room At A Time

Start with one room first. The best room to start with is the kitchen since this is the heart of the home and is often a dumping ground for stuff. Look at your available storage in the kitchen. Reduce what you are keeping inside the cupboards to items you use frequently and in an amount that fits without crowding the cabinet.

Remove all non-kitchen items from the kitchen, and identify what you are moving. Ask yourself why those items are landing in the kitchen instead of where they belong. Is the spot where those items belong open, organized and easy to get to?

How to Reduce Clutter Induced Stress in Two Easy Steps!

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