Dealing with Overwhelm

Walking into a room full of clutter -- especially spaces like attics and guest bedrooms that have been allowed to fill up with stuff -- can feel overwhelming, and the resolve that you had to do something about the clutter suddenly vanishes.

If facing a whole room full of stuff stops you in your tracks, remove something from the room (an armload of books, a box of stuff, a pile of papers) and take it to a space where you feel comfortable -- out on the porch, or the dining room table, or wherever, and sit there, away from the overwhelming mess of the cluttered room, and just deal with that one pile of stuff.

Then, if you still feel inspired, go back for another armload of stuff. If you don't feel inspired, pat yourself on the back for having done a little bit, and then do another little bit tomorrow.

"My decluttering muscles are growing stronger at last. I'm getting rid of stuff here and there, and it's getting easier."
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member

De-Cluttering and Cleansing Reactions

It is not at all unusual for initial clutter-clearing activity to spark "cold" symptoms in the body that don't have anything to do with having a cold. As you free up stuck energy in your home, stuck energy in your body loosens up as well. The cold symptoms are a sign that the body is cleansing itself of toxins and other forms of negative energies that have been held on a cellular level.

During intense clutter clearing it is helpful to eat as healthy a diet as possible (no burgers, no fries!) drink lots and lots of pure (bottled or filtered) water and fresh (preferably organic) fruit and vegetable juices (mixed with water is best), and to get LOTS of rest.

"Participation in the list has allowed me to feel like part of a group with the same goal - decluttering - and not alone in the effort."
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member

Hoarding Food

Pantry and fridge clutter is very common among those who have had childhood experiences of hunger or deprivation. Having lots of food in the house provides a feeling of safety and comfort. It's important to acknowledge to yourself that the past is past, and that you have the means to take good care of yourself now.

It's okay to have some extra food on hand, but if your pantry shelves and freezer are stockpiled with more than a month's worth of food for your family, you are clinging to far too much. Really look at what you've got on hand, and estimate how long your family could live on just that, if they had to. Consider boxing up the extra and donating it to the next food drive in your area, to help families who are in greater need than you.

If you are keeping too much food in the house for emotional reasons, experiment with gradually using things up (rather than buying more), and make a conscious effort to bring home a little less. Pay attention to how you feel as the quantity of food in your pantry slowly lessens. At what point do you start to feel anxious in some way? Explore what that's about for you. Acknowledging those feelings will most likely release some of that tension, and you will probably find you can comfortably get by with less.

"Your comments about emotional comfort levels were very helpful to me. As a child I was often sent to bed without supper, so a full food cupboard is a great source of comfort to me. I live alone now, and there was enough food in my pantry to feed a family of 4 for 6 months. ... In the decluttering process I have been able to go through the pantry and throw away stuff that has been in there for over a year. I think I can keep a little less on hand now."
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member

Persistence Pays Off

Progress is not always linear, and certainly in clutter clearing we often make things worse before we make them better. Cleaning out a closet, for example, creates quite a mess if you do it right by taking every single thing out before putting anything back. But those little steps do add up.

Success requires persistence in staying with the program through those stretches when it seems like nothing's happening or when you've cleaned out a problem spot and made a mess of a different area of the house. Stick with the daily little bit, and suddenly one day you'll see how much of an improvement you've really made.

"I take one step forward, then two steps back, a couple to the side and then Tadaaaa, the room looks different"
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member