LESSON 2

 

Lesson 2: Origins of Clutter

 

Professional organisers tell their clients that many messes may look alike but be caused by very different forces. Usually, the problem is not a lack of storage space. You may even think that people cause their own clutter problems because they are just sloppy. Not so, organising is a skill that can be learned, like riding a bike. Clutter happens by three levels of disorganisation: technical errors, external realities, and psychological obstacles.

 

Technical Errors are everyday, clutter- and confusion-producing actions or situations that can be fixed by the organisational equivalent of tightening a screw. Review this area first, because every mess you make contains a technical error.

 

External Realities are environmental roadblocks you did not create, but that stand squarely in your way. These can include situations such as unrealistically heavy workloads, life transitions, or society's warp-speed expectations.

 

Psychological Obstacles are hidden causes for disorganisation, such as unclear goals, a need for abundance, a fear of success (or failure), or a tendency to thrive on chaos.

You will most certainly recognise your technical errors right away, but there may be more to it than that. As other external or psychological organising problems come to light, be honest with yourself but refrain from going overboard. The idea is not to beat yourself up for past mistakes, but to find out what is keeping you from being organised now and how to move forward.

 

Behind Every Mess

Start with the easy problems. There are only six, which are largely physical. Solve these technical errors and you'll either be home free or a long way toward getting organised and fully able to recognise other organising hurdles. These are as follows:

 

Homeless.

You can't put it away if you don't know where it goes. Take time to look at what you have. Assign every item just one home. Put it away in that home every time. Start out easy with just a couple of items like your keys and wallet. Tell the other people in your home or office where the item's home is, and ask that they help you stay on track.

 

Troublesome.

You're not putting things away because it's too difficult to carry them off to faraway or inconvenient homes. Solve by locating storage within arm's reach of where things are used. Relocate files used on a daily basis to drawers that can be reached while sitting at your desk.

 

Too much stuff.

Your stuff outweighs your present storage space. Solve by a combination of reducing the amount of your possessions, adding storage containers, or making better use of wasted space.

 

Too complicated.

Overdoing it causes complications. Maybe you previously set up an organising system so specialised that it's difficult to remember where an item lives. So, you stop putting things away. Solve by redesigning a simpler system using labels and other clues for easy retrieval.

 

Out of sight! Out of my mind?

Leaving things out as a visual reminder of things to do can become an organising nightmare. Actually, it's a very common problem. You're afraid you will forget about it if you don't leave it out where you can easily see it. Trouble is, things start building up -- especially if there is more than one person in the house using this memory technique. Solve by creating a memory trigger that does not clutter your landscape. Try placing an attractive box or basket by the door to hold outbound items.

 

The bore chores.

Solve the boredom you perceive in organising by taking time and effort to add personal style to your projects and storage solutions. Turn on the music, add some colour, and jazz it up!

 

Recognise Forces Beyond Your Control

The realities of life can give us all reason to think that getting organised is an elusive dream. Organising alone cannot completely take away these problems. However, actively recognising them will allow you to cope more easily and make positive changes with your new organising skills. Realities are:

 

Workload

You have an unrealistic workload. You simply have more work than hours in the day. The causes are many, including administrative changes, phenomenal business growth, opening your own business, single-parent, and caring for extended family members.

Ask for help. Communicate and delegate effectively. Hire out when possible. Streamline your routine and your expectations. Learn to let go.

 

Pace of Technology

You feel trapped in the fast lane trying to keep up with a rapid pace and constantly changing technological tools. Try to be aware of where and how you're getting caught up in the rush. Remember that technology is a tool to be used, not a slave driver. Learn to put on your brakes -- say "no" when you need to, and be realistic.

 

Change

Change isn't always convenient. Change, in its many forms -- job or career, school, marriage, divorce, birth and adoption, family illness, opening a business or merging one -- takes away our touchstones and the effectiveness of our present organising systems. Cope by waiting it out and establishing temporary systems.

 

Partners

You are dealing with uncooperative partners who are making your organising efforts difficult or impossible. Try talking with the person very directly. The key is to show that person what's in it for him or her. Be patient and clear about exactly what you want. Make it simple and easy for your partner to follow through.

 

Space

You have limited space. You are out of room. This is not the same as having more stuff than space. (In that case, you aren't using all the stuff; you're just hanging on to it.) Cope by eliminating excess, putting everything in its place, maximising every space, and going vertical.