The Right Attitude

The things you bring into your home are only one aspect of a clutter problem. Things already in your home that you don't take care of or store properly create clutter as well. An untidy, disorganized home generates additional clutter because it is more difficult for you to manage daily household tasks and cleaning with all that unnecessary or out-of-place stuff around.

When you have made the effort to tidy up or clean a particular area of your home -- even a space as small as one bookshelf -- take a moment to really focus on, appreciate, and enjoy how much better it looks. The more you enjoy the clean state, the more likely you are to notice when it starts to slip back into dusty chaos, and the less of a chore it becomes to return things to order.

Embrace the attitude that caring for your home is a way of caring for yourself. Basic housekeeping tasks can be a way of saying "thank you" for having a roof over your head, a comfortable place to sleep, a kitchen in which to prepare food for yourself and your family.

The flip side of this perspective is that not taking the time to care for your things and your home is a form of not fully accepting your blessings. Become a mindful caretaker of your space and possessions, and to take pleasure and satisfaction from caring for them, and you'll find that clutter has become a thing of the past without much effort.

"My living room and kitchen are now clutter free and comfortable, so they have become my 'escape' rooms."
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member