Organised thoughts from a clutter-free mind

Decluttering comes to Facebook!

2011-12-27T14:59:00.000Z

I have to thank my joint venture partner, Clare Wildman for the initial idea that spawned 'Making Space for Christmas'. Also for her calm support in the face of my technological challenges!

Our members were a small but select band, with one thing in common. They all had issues around getting organised for Christmas, whether it be time, family, self-employment, lack of space or just the simple fact of too much to do in too little time.

Starting in November Clare and I had plenty of time to issue a series of documents addressing popular issues around the festive preparations. We challenged tradition and long-held beliefs, we got people drawing pyramids and asking for help. We even got people deciding that some things were best left undone. In addition to helpful documents, our members were able to post their personal challenges on the wall and get a response from both Clare and myself. It now seems that all our group arrived safe and sound, not to mention far less stressed than previous years.

We love a challenge - so, in answer to the question "what's next?", we've come up with a successor to 'Making Space for Christmas'.

'Make Space for You' will help you find mental space and literal space in your home. The result will be a calmer more organised you - so what are you waiting for? Check out my 'Make Space for You' page on Blogger. What better way to start the new year? Make a resolution to sign up!

Book addict discovers Kindle and de-clutters - true story!!

2011-11-16T16:47:00.002Z

My guest blogger today is Antony Cahane. I was put in touch with Antony by a friend who thought I might find his story interesting!

In Antony's own words:

"I am an avid collector of fantasy and sci-fi books. I got my first as a xmas present when I was 11 and it's been love at first page ever since. Over the years my collection had reached an impressive 450 books in total. I had 4 & 1/2 book cases full with many of the shelves double stacked. I would eagerly wait for the next book in the series to be published, rush out buy it and then snuggle down and often read them in less than a day. I kept almost every book I ever received and often re-read them over and over. The characters in the books were well loved friends who I would return to time and again. In all the years I would never have contemplated going without my books. I selected the house I purchased based on the amount of room I needed to have them all out on display. I had 2 book cases spare at that point and then promptly filled them up and started the double stacking again.

Yet today I am down to 1 book case, the rest of the books are boxed and ready to be sold. However I have not lost one single story due to the e-book. My wife is the one that got me to start this jouney after she got herself a Kindle one year. She gushed about it for so long, that I was persuaded to look at it. Just look at it mind (would never think of using one!). So I look, I realise it looks like a page and it does not hurt my eyes. Weeks later, after much badgering she forces me to read a book she purchsed for me with that long suffering line "Just try it!". So I did and I was shocked, I was whisked away to my land of fantasy and had no conception that I was reading from a different format. It was easy to flip the pages, saved my position and I was through my new new e-book in a day.

Trying the device made me start to think about all the space I had dedicated to my books. It was not until my wife purchased 2 CDs off ebay with 16,000 fantasy and sci-fi books on for a few pounds did I come around. She had my entire collection on those CDs and books I had never heard of. My collection was now just taking up space. That space is now used to exercise in and hopefully lead me to be a fitter happier person. I have all those wonderful stories, characters and memories AND my space back. It's a win/win!

For those on the fence, as my wife said "Just try it!" and make up your mind from there."

******
So, provocative? Maybe? But as I always say, it's whatever works for you!

Are you ready for an organised Christmas?

2011-11-03T09:55:00.000Z

OK, so it's a fact of life - shops install their Christmas displays in September, and before long well meaning friends will be asking if "you're ready for Christmas". This always strikes me as a ridiculous question - let's face it - ready or not, Christmas will arrive, punctual as ever, on 25th December.

The question is, what would it take for you to be ready for Christmas?

Would you like to entertain friends and family in your home without worrying if you've got enough space? Chances are that you do have enough space - it just needs to be rediscovered!

Consider all the food you usually buy for the festive season - does it all get eaten? How and where do you store it?

What about all those gifts you buy for loved ones? Where do they get stored before the big day? Can you remember where you've put them, and which gift was for each person?

What about your spare room? Wouldn't it be nice if you could have your nearest and dearest to stay for a night or two? Or has your spare room been overtaken by clutter?

For that matter, what's your dining room like? Has the table disappeared under an assorted heap of paperwork and family projects?

Well, the good news is that I've got together with Clare Wildman, lifecoach to provide help and support as you make space for Christmas. Join our Facebook group 'Making Space for Christmas', for access to hints, tips and encouragement all aimed at you enjoying your best ever Christmas. We'll support you all the way up to 25th December - so you can make space for Christmas, as never before. All this for just £10! Go on - give it a try!

How decluttering one item - can be the beginning of something big!

2011-10-24T17:08:00.000+01:00

So, you don't know where to start? This is a common problem, and it kind of doesn't really matter. But, if that doesn't help you start, here's something that will!

What if you realised that simply by decluttering one key item from your life, other items would follow along easily and (practically) painlessly?

This can be viewed as freeing up some kind of mental (and physical) log jam. Remove one key item from the equation and the rest fall away like an unstable house of cards. Maybe it's the change in your attitude that does it? I confess, I'm not sure!

The other aspect is that removal of one thing may make another completely obsolete. You may be aware that I've been following the blog "7 Items a Week", and have been inspired by Trista's dedication to her goal of removing 400 items from her home by the end of the year. In a recent post, Trista decluttered a medium sized piece of luggage that she had never really used for travelling as it didn't suit her needs. However, she had used it to store a collection of magazines. A few weeks back she decluttered the magazines. Now of course she doesn't need the bag they were stored in . . . . .

Is there anywhere you can apply this technique to your home? It's almost a "Declutter one - get one free", kind of a process!

For more inspiration on how to declutter effectively, sign up for my free newsletter.

When is your decluttering an impossible task?

2011-10-13T11:54:00.002+01:00

I've got used to the fact that most of my clients are embarrassed by their clutter. For some it takes a lot of courage to make contact. When I arrive they warn me, on their doorstep, that this will be the worst I've ever seen. It never is!

To be honest, it's more a case of everyone's clutter being different. Different items are hoarded, in different rooms, in different ways, for different reasons. No two jobs are the same.

Last week I was hired by a chap to tidy/declutter his dining room. Having shown me into the house, he flung open the dining room door and stepped back. He was silent for a while. I took in the contents of the cluttered room, assessing how best to make a start. When he spoke, it was to ask me if it was possible to make any difference to the room in the four hours he'd booked.

I knew we could make a huge improvement - and told him so. We got on with the job and it was soon clear that progress was being made. He turned out to be very receptive to my suggestions and we both worked very hard. Decluttering can be quite tiring!

He confided that he'd been worrying I would arrive, take one look at the room, and tell him it was too bad to tackle.

I wondered about the effect on my client of that self-judgement. Happily, when I left he had a big smile on his face and was talking about taking a drive down to his local recycling centre. Oh, and a charity shop.

For help with your decluttering, contact me via my website.

How do you feel about your clutter?

2011-09-29T14:13:00.000+01:00

Are you fed up with the judgements of friends and family who repeatedly tell you to tidy up?

Have you ever stopped to consider how you actually feel about your own situation?

The thing is, if you begin to tackle clutter - you're only going to be successful if you're doing it for yourself. How you feel about your clutter is something you might not want to dwell on. I suggest that if you can identify what it is that made you hang on to stuff in the first place - then you've got an opportunity to really clear it all. Literally and emotionally.

For many people, clutter represents unprocessed emotions. Are you willing to revisit these emotions? If you can do this it will give you the opportunity to decide what you want in order to feel better.

For instance, maybe you kept all the gifts your ex-boyfriend gave you? Since then you've not been in a relationship. Feeling the hurt and rejection may lead you to a new feeling. For instance, you might simply want to acknowledge that it's OK to be single. In that moment, you gain freedom from the long hoarded gifts. Actually parting with these items will bring a real sense of liberation.

Do you do duplicate shopping?

2011-09-19T09:30:00.000+01:00

You're probably wondering what "duplicate" shopping might be.

Well, if you're in a cluttered state, either at home or at work, the chances are that sometimes you can't find what you need. You might conclude that you (for instance) need to buy more shampoo. Weeks later you discover that there are several bottles of your favourite shampoo in random places all around the house!

This is just one example. Maybe you've got an eye for a bargain? Well, that's all very well but it is possible to get a bit carried away with those supermarket BOGOF offers. Ask yourself, do you really need it? If the answer is "yes", then ask yourself how many you need. Buying one of something you use frequently and getting another for free is great. But if you decide to buy a dozen and get a dozen free - where are you going to store it all? You might have to put that shampoo in the garage, as there's no room in your house. Will you remember where you've put it?

If you're someone who thinks their main problem is about not having a big enough house, it might be time to rethink your shopping habits. Saving money on shopping is all very well, but if you have too much stuff to fit into your house - then what? The savings you've made by stocking up for a siege will soon be cancelled out by the money you have to pay for off site storage.

Food for thought?

If you need help rationalising your possessions and creating some room to live, then please get in touch to find out how I can help.

Autumn - a time for some decluttering?

2011-09-13T13:59:00.003+01:00

Often spring is viewed as the time of year when many people turn their thoughts to decluttering and having a general sort out. Something to do with increased light levels and feeling positive about the forthcoming good weather, I guess.

So, what about autumn? Well to my mind this season is also a good time for tidying and decluttering. My theory is that autumn is about preparation for winter. There's still some good bright days to be enjoyed and hopefully it's not too cold yet.

During the winter we want our homes to be cozy and comfortable. A retreat from the dark and cold of the outside world. Somewhere to retreat to, where we can sit infront of the fire.

Well, if your home is full of clutter, chances are that it's not as cozy as you would like. Maybe during the summer months you've avoided the issue by spending as much time outside as you possibly can. Why not take advantage of the autumn sunshine to get decluttering? If you tackle your decluttering project now then you'll have a lovely clutter-free, cozy home in time for the winter. Don't leave it until the weather turns nasty and you're forced to spend time in that cluttered room.

Picture the pleasant walk or drive to your local charity shop - what's stopping you?

If you'd like some help or tips on how to start your decluttering project, please get in touch.

How many storage boxes do you need?

2011-09-02T08:49:00.000+01:00

Storage boxes are essential to getting organised - true or false?

Well, there's no straight answer to this question. Let me take you through two scenarios.

Imagine you've got lots of stuff at home and are beginning to feel completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of your belongings. Nothing is stored but there are lots of piles of things spread throughout your house.

Solution One: You decide that things would be a lot better if you had somewhere to store everything. You go out and buy a selection of storage boxes. When you get home you carefully transfer your stuff into the boxes.

Unfortunately you now have boxes full of muddled possessions and are scarcely any better off.

Solution Two: You realise you've got too much stuff and that you don't even know what you have got. You decide to begin sorting and as a consequence realise there are some things you can part with. After several visits to local charity shops you decide you need a storage system. Because you've already sorted things you know what sizes of box would be most useful and you buy sturdy boxes of the right size to store different things.

Decluttering before considering storage solutions is always the best way. This means that you don't waste your money on unnecessary storage boxes and that there is some logic to how things are stored. This of course means it's much easier to find things.

I recommend Really Useful Boxes as being the best designed and sturdiest plastic storage box on the market. I can advise on the best sizes for your situation and also supply direct to clients, making it even easier to get organised.

Organised? Or obsessive?

2011-08-26T13:18:00.001+01:00

As an organised person there's always a danger that others may view my behaviour as obsessive. I got some pretty strange looks a while ago when I admitted that my CD collection was in alphabetical order. But to me, that's not strange. It makes perfect sense. I can't imagine a muddled and random music collection - luckily neither can my husband.

Like any other personality trait, there's degrees. Some people are naturally quite organised, others less so. Of course there are people who would make me look like a disorganised person. The other thing to bear in mind is that it's possible to be organised and methodical in one aspect of your life, but quite muddled in other aspects. That's what makes us all individuals, and I do find it fascinating.

So, are you organised for Christmas?

No, nor me. Since we're only in August I would be surprised if you had bought all your presents and planned the festivities right down to the last cracker. However, I did learn today that back in May a very organised parent placed the order for their children's letters from Santa. I was practically speechless, but in case you fancy doing the same thing, click on the link!

If you now feel a complete failure - don't worry! How organised you are is about what you want your life to be like - not about what others think you should be doing. That's why my business Organised Chaos is built around the clients' needs, not what I think they should do. If you want to be more organised in time for Christmas, get in touch and find out how I can help.

Decluttering - what to do with that magazine collection!

2011-08-17T17:30:00.000+01:00

I was recently asked by a client what my opinion was regarding keeping or decluttering magazines.

Unfortunately, many magazines can be viewed as a longterm 'collection'. Particularly those related to a specialist subject or hobby. Equally they can be expensive and as such are unlikely to be viewed as a 'throw away' item.

Automatically renewing subscriptions can be bad news! This then requires you to make the effort to cancel the magazine. Be observant, you'll probably notice that the content gets a bit samey, or simply boring, as you've heard it all before.

As for the lady who asked the question, I quoted her two real life examples. One woman, a client of mine was a keen home cook and collected recipe magazines and cards. Unfortunately they had all been tossed into a cupboard in random fashion.

When we decluttered the cupboard we found an empty recipe file right at the back and many recipe cards were duplicated! I tactfully pointed out that she couldn't live long enough to make all those recipes. Some favourites were cut out and kept. The remaining pile went straight to the paper recycling bin.

The second story was told me by a friend and colleague. She and her husband kept horses and apparently their garage was stacked high with back issues of 'The horse and hound'. Her husband wanted her to part with them, but my friend was convinced that as soon as the magazines went, she'd need to refer to them.

My take on this is that keeping magazines for reference is pretty hopeless unless you have some kind of indexing system. Otherwise you might remember a topic has been covered - but would you remember which year, and which issue? I doubt it!

So, clear out those magazines, most of the information will be out of date by now anyway. Donate them to a local doctor's surgery or other deserving waiting room. At the very least recycle the paper.

Above all enjoy the space you've created.

My house is a tip!

2011-08-01T14:10:00.000+01:00

I wonder how many people will read this and think - "yep, that's me!" Alternatively, I'm sure some of you will be thinking "surely she doesn't mean her own home?"

Well dear readers, brace yourselves - I do mean my own home! In case you're thinking I had a sudden rush of blood to the head, I must explain. Last week I came down with what I can only describe as 'summer flu'. I have had cold symptoms, but the main issue has been a complete lack of energy. So, guess what? I haven't done any housework and the place looks a tad untidy and in need of vaccuming, to say the least.

I have been practicing, just allowing myself to be ill! I have a sneaking suspicion that stressing about an untidy house is not going to help me get well any quicker, so I'm trying not to do that.

What you may find interesting is your own judgement on this situation. Some of you may be glad to hear that I'm not perfect. Others will be disappointed that I'm not perfect!

It is always easy to judge other people who act differently to ourselves. None of us knows when we might encounter a life crisis and not have the energy to be tidy and domesticated. Many clients fit into this category. Priorities can change overnight and all of a sudden a tidy house can seem really unimportant. Of course when normality is resumed it is then sometimes too challenging to tackle a cluttered environment without any support. That's where I come in - I understand how you got into this state. I also understand the importance of restoring some order. If this sounds like someone you know, please pass on my contact details.

So rest assured, my house will be back to normal just as soon as I get my energy back!

Recycling your clutter? Be imaginative!

2011-07-15T17:41:00.001+01:00

Not surprisingly, I am often perceived as someone who encourages others to part with clutter. However, there is always a case for finding a new use for something we no longer use in the way it was originally intended.

Recently on my Facebook page there was some discussion regarding recycling greetings cards. Clare Wildman said she makes gift tags out of her 'old, but too pretty to throw out' cards. I thought this was a lovely way to prolong their useful life.

Last year I bought a new pair of walking boots. My old pair had seen good service but the soles were starting to come away from the leather and a repair job would have been costly. Somehow they just seemed too good to throw out! Of course there was no point in just putting them away as I wouldn't have worn them. I hope you like the photo below and that it inspires you to give some of your 'clutter' a new lease of life. If you find a useful purpose for clutter then of course, it's no longer clutter!

I can't claim the idea, I'm afraid. I've seen it done elsewhere. Any old shoes or boots could be used and of course old kitchen pots and pans are another source of unusual plant containers.

Let your imagination run free!

Extreme Decluttering!

2011-07-04T10:41:00.000+01:00

For a while I followed a blog, "Decluttering my life in 100 hours". The author was literally on a mission to get rid of most of his possessions as he'd made a decision to emigrate to New Zealand.

All he took with him was a Samsonite backpack, a large suitcase and a large box. He left behind a filing cabinet full of papers for the tax man and two large boxes. Items were given away, recycled, Freecycled, rehomed and a few things were sold.

What would you declutter if you suddenly decided to sell up and emigrate? Or even if you're just moving house?

With that in mind, could you declutter some of those things anyway?

Charity shops compete for your clutter!

2011-06-27T15:46:00.000+01:00

I have recently been promoting some decluttering workshops which I'm running in conjunction with lifecoach, Clare Wildman.

As part of this activity I thought charity shops might display a poster for us on the grounds that when our attendees decide to declutter we could encourage them to take their stuff to the shops in question. I had failed to appreciate that charity shops must operate like businesses, and are all competing against each other for funds. None of them could promote our event, as whilst the event will encourage you to donate your clutter to charity, they couldn't take the risk that you might take it to their competition!

With my business head on, I can completely see where they're coming from. On the other hand, I think this is a sad situation that has been brought about by the tough economic times we're living in. Town centres seem to have more and more charity shops but they all need donations and shoppers in order to thrive. It seems ironic that caring organisations are indulging in this 'them or us' mentality.

My suggestion to you would be to spread your donations around and to maybe support local charities or lesser known charities that aren't on most people's radar.

What do you think?

Parting from (decluttering) an old friend

2011-06-12T11:34:00.005+01:00

I'm convinced friends and clients assume that I never have a dilemma with my personal decluttering. I have to say, that's not always true. Obviously, because of what I do, I am more aware than most, of items which have become redundant at home and so I make fairly regular trips to local charity shops.

What normally happens is that I become aware something is taking up useful space whilst not actually being useful in itself. I rarely take immediate action, preferring to 'observe' our interaction with whatever it is. After a while the decision is made.

For some time now, I've had my eye on an old suitcase in our wardrobe and I admit I'm emotionally attached to it! As you can see, it's pretty ordinary looking but perfectly serviceable; I reckon I've had it since I was about 16, so that's a long time! It's been to some pretty exciting places, including family holidays with my sister and parents. In fact as a family of four we each had one of these suitcases in a different colour and I can even remember when they were bought!

The dilemma is that last year we invested in practical wheeled luggage prior to our rail tour around Scotland. The new cases are so well designed that they've become the luggage of choice for all our trips and can hold lots of stuff in different zipped sections. So my ordinary little suitcase has been outclassed, it simply isn't needed any more. I'd kept it for a while in case there might be a situation when this suitcase would be more useful than the wheeled one - but it hasn't happened. I'll admit to being a little sad, but I know that someone will buy it from the charity shop and it will continue its travels with a new owner.

Surely this is better than languishing at the back of my wardrobe?

Did you realise your clutter has magnetic qualities?

2011-06-09T10:17:00.000+01:00

Had you noticed? Maybe not, but I can assure you it's true. Clutter possesses a special kind of magnetism. I'm not suggesting you can declutter your home or office by producing a giant magnet (unfortunately it's not quite that easy), but one item of clutter will inevitably attract more of the same.

For instance, you pick up junk mail from your doormat. You leave it on your coffee table. You go back a week later and there is a sizeable pile of paperwork on your coffee table. Or, instead of hanging up your coat when you get in, you toss it on a chair. The following day the coat is hidden by other items of clothing which have seemingly, just 'appeared'.

Unless you have resident Goblins, there are two points to be aware of here,

1. Like it or not, leaving clutter lying around will attract more clutter and before you know it you'll have a huge problem on your hands.

2. The psychology of the first point is that when other members of your household (or your staff, if the problem is in your office), realise you are being untidy, there's less incentive for them to be tidy. In addition, let your clutter guard slip just once, then you're likely to do it again.

So, OK, it's not exactly magnetic, but you get what I mean. Let's face it, if you left a five pound note on your coffee table you wouldn't come back to a big pile of five pound notes. You see? This is about a quality which is peculiar to clutter.

What can you do to prevent being overwhelmed? Tackle it as soon as you've realised what's happening. The sooner the better. On the other hand, if you're reading this and realising that yours has got out of hand, then contact me for some support with decluttering on a larger scale.

Tough decisions regarding your clutter

2011-05-27T14:42:00.000+01:00

Imagine it's your birthday - you have just been given a really special gift by a very special person in your life. It's something beautiful, just what you would have chosen yourself. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

There's just one small problem.

The gift is something that needs to be on show, it is so gorgeous that it cries out to be displayed where you can admire its beauty every day and know that you life has been enriched, just by gazing on it. Only you know what this item might be. Perhaps it's an ornament, or a beautifully exotic orchid in a pot? Whatever it is, it's not the kind of thing you would want to put in a cupboard or take to the charity shop!

So, the problem is?

You don't have anywhere to put it. Every flat surface in your home is full. Shelves and surfaces, dining tables, coffee tables, top of the piano, dressing table, desk, kitchen worktop, chests of drawers - they are all covered in clutter.

So, is this a problem? Or an opportunity?

You want to display the wonderful gift. Look around at all the stuff that's taken over your living space. Is it beautiful, life enhancing, useful? When you've answered that question, you'll know where you can put your special gift.

Asking thought provoking questions of my clients is just one of the ways I get them to see their environment in a different light. Would you like to be challenged in respect of your clutter?

Stuff Acceptance Threshold - striving for compatability

2011-05-26T11:51:00.001+01:00

I meet a lot of people who come into conflict with their partner and/or family over the amount of 'clutter' they each consider to be acceptable. Usually the person who speaks to me is the tidy, organised member of the family. This person is being driven mad by the perceived untidyness of the other person.

Of course in this situation there is little I can do. It would be wrong for me to descend on someone's home and declutter the belongings of anyone other than the person who hired me. I would also apply this rule to a child's toys and games, for instance. It would be quite upsetting to come home from school and find your favourite toys had gone. Parents often think that consulting the child will result in everything being kept. It does depend on how the idea is presented to the child! Basically the idea needs to be sold to the child so they can see the benefit.

Of course if you're not inclined to being orderly and like a bit of muddle around then you would be no doubt be annoyed and upset if your nearest and dearest was constantly tidying up after you.

You want to be loved and appreciated for who you are - right? Anything other than this acceptance can be felt as judgement.

It's unlikely that you would choose your life partner on their Stuff Acceptance Threshold (SAT)! You do however, need to face the fact that until you live with your beloved, you're never going to really know if you see eye to eye in the clutter department. Being in love can be like wearing rose tinted spectacles. You visit your loved one at home and fail to notice the piles of magazines that go all the way up the stairs or the fact that you can't sit down in the lounge until some stuff has been moved. Equally, you might not notice the degree of minimalism they seem to prefer, no ornaments, no magazines or plants - a bit sterile maybe?

I'm fortunate, my husband Graham and I have very similar SATs, so have minimum conflict in this area.

So, what's the answer? Surely the best way is to appreciate each other's viewpoint, but to come to an amicable compromise? Meet halfway, that way neither of you is unduly stressed and your relationship survives intact.

If this resonates with you, then the best starting point is to broach the subject with your loved one, pointing out that what you want is a compromise. I'm happy to help you with the journey - just to prove that decluttering doesn't have to be stressful or excessive!

Moving house? You should declutter!

2011-05-24T17:42:00.001+01:00

So, you've taken the plunge and the estate agent's board is standing proudly in your front garden. You already have ideas on where your new home will be.

Time for you to detach yourself from the current place and start thinking about how you might present it for would-be purchasers.

Anyone who views your property will want to see the potential, not to mention how much space they get for their money. The best way to do this is to start decluttering and/or packing away non-essential items, making rooms feel more spacious. Have you got stuff piled on top of wardrobes, shoved under beds, maybe? You might have forgotten about it, but trust me, those people looking round will notice it and assume you are short on space.

Not only will your efforts make the place more saleable, it will make your life so much easier when it comes to moving. After all, why would you want to pack all your clutter and move it to a new location? Even worse, you might be paying a removals company to pack all your clutter! Clients I have worked for who were selling up have been genuinely surprised at how much stuff they've accumulated.

For anyone who is considering downsizing, decluttering is of course even more pertinent. Think of quarts squeezed into pint pots! Taking time to make considered decisions about what things are important to you is vital. Otherwise when you arrive at your 2 bedroom bungalow with the contents of your 4 bedroom house, some tough decisions will need to be made, pretty swiftly!

Think of it this way, would you buy a house that seemed to be stuffed to bursting with possessions? The sooner you start this process, the better. If it's all left to the last minute it will probably mean a lot of perfectly good things going straight to the council tip, which is never good. Allowing sufficient time to sort things will mean you can probably sell some items, which is always a bonus. Don't underestimate the amount of time this will take! However, the thing to remember is that if you do nothing, you will still end up having to pack it all at some point, so make the most of your opportunity!

I can provide practical support during this stressful time, one less thing for you to worry about!

Are you the messiest person in the world?

2011-05-19T12:36:00.004+01:00

If you think the answer to the above question is "yes", then I would beg to differ.

One of my prospective clients recently described herself in this way, and it made me think about how often we beat ourselves up for our perceived shortcomings.

Your home or office may be untidy, messy, chaotic even - but it's unlikely that yours is the absolute worst there is. What makes you such a special case? It strikes me that the state of being cluttered is still a taboo subject, something you don't want to admit to, certainly not to friends or family.

So, you're disorganised - I bet you're good at other stuff though. Somehow, labelling yourself as the messiest person on the planet is a subtle way for your subconscious to convince you that you're useless, lazy, inefficient, etc, etc. The other message you'll be receiving, is that you will never be any better - you're just too far gone, too messy, hopeless really.

But what if you weren't the worst? What if you knew there was a way of changing your habits, taking control of your untidy environment, and regaining your self-esteem?

I always tell my clients that their untidy office or homee isn't the worst I've ever seen. This isn't just me being nice, it's true. There is no 'worst', it's just that everyone's muddle is different. The most important thing though, is that you can transform your situation - I can show you how.

If you've had enough and are ready for change then please get in touch.

Why keep something if it makes you feel sad?

2011-05-16T15:22:00.002+01:00

Have you ever considered the emotions which may be attached to your possessions? If you are naturally inclined to hoarding, then you may never have considered how your belongings make you feel.

Do you find that you hang on to things for 'sentimental' reasons? Most of us do this to some extent, but this habit can get out of hand. If you decide to keep every single thing that was ever associated with a deceased loved one, for instance; or possibly items that belonged to your (now grown-up) children; just imagine how much stuff you would be having to store.

It is possible that such items could have happy memories attached to them. However, in the case of a sad loss, it is also possible that some items remind us of the sad event.

If you've been hoarding things like this for years, where are they kept? Are they displayed? Or kept in a pretty box? Or are they shoved to the back of a cupboard, out of sight, and possibly being damaged by other items? If you've hidden them away, ask yourself why you even still own them. Try not to answer this question intellectually - i.e. "I've kept it because it was my mother's favourite vase". Let your emotions speak. This may well produce quite a different answer.

If you would like help exploring your sentimental attachment to belongings and feel ready for some changes, please get in touch.

Why your decluttering might be like my ironing!

2011-05-05T10:46:00.002+01:00

I hate ironing, it's no secret. I tell myself I'm fortunate to live in a household that only comprises me and my husband, but that's bad enough. So, it's not something I look forward to doing, far from it.

Ironing, like decluttering is a task that needs to be done fairly regularly. The consequences of not doing my ironing is that ultimately we have nothing to wear and, even worse, the ironing pile(s) turns into unsightly clutter, making the house look untidy.

I've wised up though. I have been observing my own behaviour and I can now see that I have a habit of using any old excuse not to do the ironing. Examples would be: I'm too tired/I'm too busy/there are more important things to do/I've done enough chores today, etc, etc.

However good an excuse is though, it doesn't get away from the fact that the ironing must be done. So this morning after breakfast I got out the ironing board and got the job done! This works well for me as my brain hadn't had time to come up with the usual excuses AND the big plus is that I now feel really smug, as the most hated job was done and dusted by around 9.15am. What a great feeling!

I'm not suggesting that you have to declutter in the early hours of the morning - unless you feel moved to do so, that is. What I am proposing is that you watch yourself for those excuses. What are you telling yourself that keeps you from decluttering and tidying up? Once you've identified your own avoidance strategies, guess what? You're in a better position to come up with a solution that works - in other words, you can avoid your avoidance strategies!

Declutter and help Emily get to the World Scout Jamboree!

2011-05-04T11:00:00.004+01:00

For ages I have maintained that one of the many benefits of decluttering is the fact that stuff you no longer want can go on and help others, via charity shops and charity bags, for instance. Any reluctance you may feel is hopefully cancelled out by this 'feel good factor' which puts a spring in your step and a smile on your face.

I would like to introduce you to Emily Pilcher who lives in Northamptonshire and is hoping to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden, this summer. First she has to raise £2250 which will help scouts from less privileged countries to attend - and this is where some of you might be able to help.

In Emily's own words:

"This is a ten day international Scout camp traditionally held every four years. It will be a fantastic event to experience the world wide ways of life and religion, with activities designed to encourage this as well as developing independence and team skills. We will also be taking part in a ‘home hospitality’ where we will live with a Polish family for a few days in order to experience their lifestyle and culture. I have already fundraised part of the total amount by bag packing, car booting, a sponsored silence, county raffles and running summer fete stalls, but I still have a way to go!

We are asking for any unwanted clothing (in any condition) including shoes, bag, belts, hats etc. Also, any scrap materials or linen e.g. bed linen, towels or curtains. These will be used for ‘upcycling’ into new products or for recycling.

Thank you for your support."

This is a great opportunity to get rid of those fabric items which are just too worn out to be useful to anyone else. I am happy to receive donations from those who are local to me and Emily's parents are willing to make collections where necessary; please contact me in the first instance.

Decluttering inspiration

2011-04-19T11:45:00.000+01:00

I admit it's taken me a while to get my head around using Twitter. However, I'm grateful I made the effort, as it was via Twitter that I discovered a lady by the name of Trista.

Trista lives in Washington, USA and I know very little about her. One thing I do know though is that she has decided to take an unusual route to decluttering her life. Trista has pledged to declutter seven items from her home, every week of 2011. I'm following her progress via her blog, "7 Items a Week". Posts appear at the end of the week, and are a list of each of the seven items, with a photograph and reasons why it's been decluttered!

I recommend this blog to you as a way to start some decluttering of your own, particularly if you can't face the 'blitz' approach. Trista writes with great honesty and humour about her unwanted possessions, it is possible to see her literally moving forward in her life.

The puzzle book pictured is one of the latest items to appear on the blog, here's what Trista has to say about it:

"This is another one of those single-purpose items I'm trying to cut back on. I feel like we've got too many items in our house that have just one function. This seems like the sort of thing that's meant to be used to pass time when traveling, but my husband likes to nap on planes and trains, and I like to read. So neither of us would use this".

Of course, if you don't want to take a whole year to declutter your life, then maybe it's time to give me a call or drop me an e-mail? You could even join me on Twitter!

Decluttering workshop success!

2011-03-24T10:30:00.000Z

Yesterday was a big day for me!

The culmination of nearly a year's collaberation with life coach Clare Wildman bore fruit in the form of the 'Too much stuff? Not enough space?' workshop held at The Red Lion, Fosters Booth, near Towcester. This, our first workshop, attracted five ladies all keen to get an insight into the mysteries of clutter. Using a series of simple (but fun!) exercises Clare and I demonstrated various techniques designed for greater understanding of the origins of clutter as well as how to tackle it without feeling overwhelmed and powerless.

It was great to see the penny drop as our attendees realised they could go home and tackle that pile of stuff, knowing they had access to the necessary skills. Clare and I have included a complimentary 30 minute telephone consultation with either of us as part of the workshop package. I'm looking forward to helping some ladies maintain their decluttering enthusiasm! When we've compared diaries we'll be booking up some more dates for 'Too much stuff? Not enough space?' If you fancy joining in, please let me have your contact details.

Charity shops - helping you declutter?

2011-03-10T10:39:00.000Z

As a professional organiser and clutter consultant, I'm always keen that my clients don't simply throw things away. This is wasteful, bad for the environment and pretty soul destroying, in my opinion.

Charity shops are good on two counts. One, the item(s) you are parting with get an extended life with a new owner. Two, the sale of your item(s) raises money for a deserving cause. What could be better?

In these times of economic uncertainty charity shops are becoming the shopping venue of choice for those on tight budgets. As a consequence, there is more requirement for donations and you will no doubt have seen posters in charity shop windows appealing for donations, in your own locality.

All well and good. Unfortunately some charity shops have lost sight of the fact that those donating items for sale are vital to the equation. I had an unpleasant experience recently when I dropped into a local charity shop (which shall remain nameless) to donate some clothing in good condition. I was harangued about Gift Aid, and made to feel most uncomfortable when I declined, for perfectly valid reasons. I felt as though my donation was unimportant to the shop. Had it not been for the fact that I knew I was helping a good cause I would probably have gone to another shop. I certainly shan't be rushing back, that's for sure.

I visited Towcester recently promoting the 'Too much stuff? Not enough space?' workshop and was extremely impressed with the RSPCA shop. The shop was beautifully set out with quality items for sale at excellent prices. The staff were friendly and welcoming, clearly dedicated to their cause and keen to serve customers and donors alike.

Don't let me put you off using charity shops - find one you like, and be generous.

"Too much stuff? Not enough space?", de-cluttering workshop

2011-02-25T10:19:00.003Z

About a year ago, I met Clare Wildman, a life coach based in Bletchley. We hit it off immediately and soon decided that we could pool our skills to help people tackle their clutter.

We have just finalised preparations for a decluttering workshop which not only covers the practical aspects of decluttering, but also the emotional and mental aspects too. Our aim is to demystify the art of decluttering and give attendees a selection of tools they can use to tackle their own clutter, either at home or in their office.

So, what are you waiting for? Spring is almost here - isn't it time you took stock of your environment and got tidy and organised? Many of my clients say they just don't know where to start and that the task seems too big to contemplate. Clare and I are confident that we can help you - all you need to do is muster some enthusiasm, and book a place!

The "Too much stuff ? Not enough space?" workshop will take place on Wednesday 23rd March at The Red Lion, Fosters Booth (on the A5 near Towcester). It runs from 9.30am - 11.30am and costs just £25. This price includes all materials, tea/coffee and homemade cakes PLUS follow up telephone consultation. The object is to learn some useful techniques - and have fun as well. To book the "Too much stuff? Not enough space?" workshop, please follow this link.

Decluttering, Home Staging and Valuation - some synergy!

2011-02-02T17:17:00.004Z

I had coffee today with Kat MacKinnon, a lovely lady whom I met via Twitter! I admit I have been somewhat cynical to say the least regarding the power of social networking. My primary reason for blogging, is that I like to write and share my thoughts. Twitter is not my natural medium - being limited to so few words presents the ultimate challenge. Being brief is not my forte.

Kat MacKinnon, is a Home Stager and Styler. We have a lot in common. Primarily the fact that our services would be of use to anyone wishing to prepare their house for sale. A home with minimal clutter, which is well staged, is of course more appealing to a prospective buyer. Organised Chaos can help with the decluttering; Kat's business Home Miracles Ltd can help with making your home more attractive.

Whilst we're on the subject of selling houses, I have another recommendation for you. Karena Ellis of Green Chameleon provides survey and valuation services which are refreshingly customer focused.

So, for me the great thing is that I have a team of people who I know can help those of my clients wanting to move house. Isn't synergy a wonderful thing? And Twitter, of course!

Drastic way to declutter your bookshelf?

2011-01-27T14:09:00.000Z

Some months ago my brother-in-law was extoling the virtues of his new Amazon Kindle. A friend of mine received one as a Christmas gift, and she's also suitably impressed.

I've still not decided if I like the idea of reading a book on a hand held electronic gadget - no matter how good it is. It's just not going to have the feel of a book, or the enticing cover, and for me that's important. At the moment anyway.

One thing that did strike me though, is that with books easily and cheaply downloaded there is an enormous space saving to be made in the way of redundant, or at least smaller book shelves.

If you're a keen reader with a serious book buying habit, then I suggest you consider the electronic options. Just think how much space you could create. Either enjoy the space, or think about how you can rationalise storage of other items to make good use of the area.

Don't forget, I'm only a phone call or e-mail away if you need to discuss your storage issues. Contact Organised Chaos via my website.

Handbag havoc!

2011-01-17T15:55:00.000Z

Just to prove that nobody is organised 100% of the time, and that yes, I do have a memory like a sieve, I thought I'd share this with you!

This morning I went all the way to Northampton for my writing group's meeting - it wasn't until I parked that I realised I didn't have my handbag! I indulged in a moment of brief panic, but then realised I had sufficient coins in the car to pay for my parking, so not too dreadful!

The moral for me has been to re-evaluate why I keep my keys on a shelf in the kitchen and my handbag lives in my office. So, I was able to leave the house with my keys, coat, notepad etc and not give the handbag a second thought.

It was obviously time to take my own advice and be logical about storage - from now on, the keys will be kept in the handbag - that should work!

Kick start your January decluttering!

2011-01-07T16:04:00.001Z

January is the perfect month for a declutter project as most of us are ready for some activity after the Christmas festivities, but also full of good intentions at the beginning of a new year.

If for some reason you're still stalling, why not take a look at my January newsletter Getting enthusiastic about decluttering. I had my motivational hat on when I wrote this! Use the link to sign up for regular hints and tips.

Christmas decorations - decluttered!

2011-01-04T10:10:00.000Z

So, despite the slight confusion over when 12th night actually falls - most of us have packed away the tinsel and the Christmas tree until next year.

All the cards have been taken down and (hopefully) put on one side for recycling. Note, this can generally be done via your local authority collection or alternatively, some shops support The Woodland Trust encouraging their customers to deposit Christmas cards in a special collection box.

You might be thinking that your room looks a bit bare now. Or you might be thinking, thank goodness - all that was beginning to get on my nerves! Whichever camp you fall into, I think there's something symbolic about clearing Christmas away.

My hope for you is that it inspires you to look at your living space with new eyes. If the decorations are all gone and you still feel there's too much stuff around, then why not continue the clearing process? New year's resolutions aside, January presents a great opportunity for making changes . . . . .

Don't forget, I can support you throughout the decluttering process in a variety of ways - I'm just a phone call or an e-mail away!

Resolve to get decluttered!

2010-12-31T09:49:00.002Z

So, 2011 will soon be upon us!

If any of you are sitting at home wishing you could have thrown a party - if only you could get motivated to declutter - what's holding you back?

Usually there is some kind of mental block around the tidying process that stops people from even getting started. Whether it's a feeling that the task is just too daunting, or that they are emotionally attached to absolutely everything they own - it varies from person to person. All my clients face their own challenges.

Use the new year as an impetus. Kick start 2011 and tell yourself this is going to be the year you take control of your environment. You know you can do it, and I'm here to support you in your journey. My work in helping clients declutter is just as much about mindset and handling emotions as it is filling bags with clutter to take to the charity shop. . . . .

Decluttering lessons to learn from wintry weather!

2010-12-27T17:52:00.000Z

Here in the UK we've become even more weather obsessed than usual over the last few weeks! This has all been thanks to some extremely cold temperatures with lots of snow and frost.

Of course this has caused many people major problems, especially regarding travel; but it has to be said that our environment takes on a special beauty when covered in snow and ice. I think this is particularly noticeable in the urban landscape. We live in a medium sized town and although there are green areas, the sheer fact of having large numbers of people living close to each other inevitably means that our surroundings are never litter free, for instance.

Take a covering of snow, and all the concrete and litter are smoothed away under a pure white blanket. The ordinary streets are transformed by icicles and frost covered trees. Every frozen surface twinkles in the sun.

It is as though our town has been decluttered over night. Picture this simple beauty and apply it to your own surroundings. Remove the items that no longer delight you, or that have outlived their useful life.

Discover a calmer, more pristine environment that will bring you happiness and clarity in equal measure.

I am delighted to offer help to anyone considering a decluttering project - big or small! I can provide practical hands-on help or telephone support. Get in touch to find out what would work best for you.

Toughen up - reject clutter that is practically forced on you!

2010-12-13T17:15:00.000Z

On Saturday I popped into the town centre for a few items. It didn't take long for me to realise that I needed my clutter-o-meter turned up to maximum!

It seemed that everywhere I went there were people trying to force leaflets and coupons into my hand. What I found strange was that with very few exceptions, the individuals concerned were not even announcing what they were handing out. Since I had no idea of what I might be getting, I assumed it was not worth having and of course I may have missed out.

For me this is wrong at several levels. Firstly, as a marketing exercise - giving stuff out to anyone who's passing, seems a bit of a scatter gun approach and probably an expensive waste of money. Secondly, how many of these fliers got dropped in the street, creating litter? Thirdly, the irritation caused by constantly having to say "no thank you" to so many people, when all I wanted to do was get my shopping done. I think those who accepted the fliers were probably doing so because it was just easier.

If you want to keep your home clutter to a minimum this incident proves that we need to be ever vigilant! The moment you let your guard down, you've got a bag full of paper. The best we can hope for is that the unwanted fliers do at least make it to the recycling bin!

Why you should declutter - if you're selling your house

2010-11-16T16:27:00.002Z

I'm currently working for a lovely lady who has hired me to declutter her home before she puts it up for sale.

There are many reasons why selling your house should prompt a declutter.

Ultimately when you move you'll have to pack everything - why not get ahead of the game and shed some possessions before you get into packing mode? This will save you time at the end of the process when things are liable to get a little fraught.

You won't be paying a removal company to transport all your clutter to your new house.

Nor will you be wasting time in the new house unpacking your clutter.

This should all make perfect sense, I hope.

To declutter before putting the house up for sale though makes even more sense. Your home may be tidy, but if it is cluttered it will appear small and cramped. This will put off potential purchasers who will think that it's overpriced compared to others they've viewed.

In today's challenging market it makes sense to give yourself every possible advantage. Make sure your rooms aren't overcrowded with furniture and that stuff isn't stacked up on flat surfaces. Also, make sure fitted cupboards and wardrobes aren't bulging at the seams.

If your house is up for sale, or you're thinking about it, get in touch to find out how I can help. Don't forget, my newsletters are a valuable resource for anyone planning a major declutter.

When is the best time to declutter?

2010-11-10T16:49:00.001Z

I'm pleased to say I have recently had a flurry of interest in my de-cluttering service, which prompted me to wonder - when is the best time to declutter?

Spring is the season that first pops into the mind. Longer and warmer days, green shoots, lambs in the fields - all signify the rebirth associated with the season. No wonder that it's associated with the thorough cleaning session known as a "spring clean". Thorough cleaning will of course lead to a bit of decluttering and tidying along the way.

Summer can certainly be a good time for sorting out garages, sheds and outdoor areas. Generally speaking though, nobody wants to be indoors if the weather is great. We British need to make the most of our summer! Having said that, of course if you've got lots of clutter to get rid of then making trips to the tip or filling a skip on the drive is more pleasant in warm weather.

I think autumn has the feel of change about it, in the same way as spring. Nights are drawing in, days are getting colder and the leaves are falling. Most of us feel less energetic and a need to be cosy and warm at home. If your living space is full of clutter it may become more apparent now you're spending more time inside.

Winter of course contains the magical date, January 1st. If your clutter has been a problem for some time and has been getting you down, then you may decide to make a new year's resolution to deal with the problem.

So, if you're wondering when the best time is - it could be now! No time like the present, as they say, and I would add that there simply isn't a "wrong'" time. If you feel unhappy with your environment, then it's time to take action and get organised. Take a look at my website to see what satisfied clients have to say about the decluttering experience with Organised Chaos.

Clutter free Christmas Gifts

2010-11-08T19:30:00.001Z

Following on from the subject of Christmas lists (see my last blog post), I am now pondering the subject of clutter free Christmas gifts.

What do I mean by this? Well, instead of buying "things" as gifts for your loved ones, and potentially adding to their clutter, consider buying them either a "virtual" gift, or an experience.

If your friends or relatives really do have everything, then consider a virtual gift from one of the leading charities. Your money could buy anything from a goat for an African family to nestboxes for endangered birds. Be creative and fit the present to the person. This type of shopping really reflects the spirit of Christmas.

On the other hand you might want to treat loved ones to a meal out at their favourite restaurant or a night at the theatre. How about a pamper session with a local beautician or complimentary therapist?

A well chosen gift will bring pleasure to the donor as well as the recipient - it certainly doesn't have to have cost a fortune, nor does it have to come in a large box!

I intend to elaborate on this theme in the December issue of the Chaotic Times, the Organised Chaos newsletter. If you haven't already signed up, why not sign up for copies direct to your inbox?

How a "Christmas List" can help you tackle clutter!

2010-11-02T11:29:00.002Z

Have you noticed how the shops are already filling up with Christmas related "stuff". Gifts, cards, food, decorations etc, etc, etc?

The phrase "stocking filler" is over used, if you ask me. The idea of course is to convince us to spend indecent amounts of money on our loved ones' Christmas presents. The thing is though, are these gifts actually the kind of thing the recipients would choose for themselves? Put another way, have you ever received a gift and realised immediately that you would (a) never wear it, (b) never use it, or (c) never have it on display in your home?

Some people get fixated on the "surprise" element. In theory this is a lovely idea, sometimes though it can be more of a shock!

My suggested approach to this is a compromise. Everyone in your family needs to write a Christmas list of things that they would like to receive as a gift. The list is circulated and family members agree on who is buying what. Some things may not get bought at all if it's a long list. There will still be an element of surprise - but the nasty shocks are removed.

Isn't this a win-win situation? If you need to tackle a cluttered area of your home before Christmas - please get in touch.

Thanks again to Clare Wildman for inspiration in the form of her latest blog post.

Declutter your junk mail!

2010-10-27T12:20:00.002+01:00

Most days when I'm working at home I hear the letterbox go and our mail plops onto the mat. I used to expect lots of scintillating correrspondence, and even cheques from clients. These days I'm more resigned to the fact that there may be one or two envelopes addressed to myself or my husband - the rest is basically junk mail - with the emphasis on the word 'junk'.

My decluttering top tip for today is - always recycle your junk mail.

I'll just qualify that. Recycle your junk mail immediately. If your decluttering resolve weakens, for just one moment, the junk mail will have found its way onto a flat surface, albeit coffee table, kitchen worktop, or your desk. If this happens, then the task becomes much harder. Chances are you'll think you need to read it, and consequently a pile of similar papers will grow and grow and you will waste time moving it from one place to another.

Stop and think. Be honest - if you wanted to buy double glazing/insurance/a new bed, then would you really want to buy it without shopping around?

My recommendation is that you have a small box, probably in your kitchen, where you put all your junk mail ready for recycling. That way it's easy. So easy that it will become automatic.

Post arrives
Sort post
Extract junk mail
Place junk mail in recycling bin - job done!

Just think how much clutter you can save yourself from in the course of a year. Easy-peasy.

If you need help clearing the accumulation of clutter that has made your home or office untidy, then please get in touch to find out how I can help you.

Do you think you should de-clutter?

2010-10-19T16:13:00.002+01:00

How many of us are driven in our daily lives by pressures from family, friends, the media and society generally? It is very easy to end up guilt ridden because we don't conform to others' ideals.

I have certainly encountered this kind of situation in my work. People feel bad that they've allowed things to 'get on top of them', that their home is untidy and disorganised. Ironically, these negative feelings lead to low self-worth and hardly ever lead to action. I think the point is that positive action to change your life has to come from you. It has to come from the heart and be something you feel passionate about.

When I promote my de-cluttering business, quite often people come up to me to tell me that their auntie/brother/mother/next-door neighbour, or somebody known to them is in dire need of my services. Fine - if that's the case - then give them my business card. I get the impression that the person speaking to me is deflecting attention from themself to their friend or relative who isn't there, and is obliquely passing judgement.

Clients come to me when they're good and ready. It would be pointless for someone to hire me if they were unprepared for any changes. So, the chances are that if you think you should de-clutter, then you're probably better off not doing anything. Of course if you want to de-clutter, and can appreciate all the fantastic benefits of a tidy home, then give me a call to find out how I can help

This post has been inspired by reading my friend Clare Wildman's latest blog post "Losing the 'shoulds' and discovering the 'coulds'". Clare runs Clare Wildman Coaching and is based in Bletchley. Thanks Clare!

De-clutter at your own pace

2010-10-15T09:17:00.001+01:00

For me there's no such person as my typical client - that's what makes my work so interesting! But, in the same way that one person's clutter will be different to that of another, equally each person will have their own preferred method for approaching the problem.

I get hired when somebody has come to the end of their tether, or just doesn't know where to start in the task of tidying their house and clearing out their clutter. Sometimes the client is really ready for drastic changes and is prepared (with help and support) to let go of many items no longer needed. But it is also fair to say that some other clients although keen to change prefer to take things a bit more slowly, a step at a time.

If you're facing an untidy house and want to restore some order it's not compulsory to blitz the house in one prolonged and strenuous session. Not only will you be physically tired, you may also find de-cluttering to be a mentally draining activity. So, don't bite off more than you can chew.

Starting in a small way will help build your confidence and make you eager to tackle more de-cluttering.

If you're on the brink of such a project, I have a suggestion to get you started.

Just imagine, if every time a charity bag plopped onto your door mat you treated it as a challenge to put in at least three items. These bags come from a variety of sources. Provided the bag is from a genuine charity, then I would certainly recommend this route to de-cluttering. All you have to do is put the filled bag outside where it will be visible to the van driver. What could be easier? How much de-cluttering could you achieve by the end of the year, simply by filling a few bags?

If you're still not convinced, don't forget that charities rely on donations such as yours to keep their shops bringing in much needed cash for their funds.

If you get inspired to greater things, then why not check out my March 2010 newsletter which suggests other ways you can de-clutter and help a charity. Sign up for the newsletter and you'll get regular hints, tips and recommendations on how to de-clutter and get organised.

Life in the blogosphere

2010-10-11T19:11:00.000+01:00

I've just logged into Blogger after a few days absence. I was pleased to find that others had been busy and that there were new posts to read on the blogs I follow.

My instinctive reaction when I read a post is to want to comment! Quite often I do so, as I know how much effort goes into writing each post.

This brings me neatly to a request for more comments please! Whether you're a follower, regular reader (I do hope so), occasional reader, or - you just ended up here by accident - please leave your comment.

It's only by engaging my readers that I'm inspired to write more posts. If you're new to this blog then please do take a look at my website and find out more about what I do and why I love it.

Disorganisation - and why you lose things!

2010-10-07T10:52:00.000+01:00

Let's assume you've just taken delivery of some very important tickets. But you won't be using them for about six weeks. Maybe they're tickets for your well earned holiday, or perhaps you're treating yourself to a night at the theatre?

So, what do you do with them? Put them in a 'safe' place?

I'm sure you won't struggle to come up with a suitably 'safe' place, but it would make more sense to put them in a 'memorable' place.

We have a large calendar hanging in our kitchen so I tend to staple theatre tickets and the like to the relevant page. Holiday tickets would get put with other holiday related stuff, such as passports. You do know where your passport is, don't you?

If you can begin to apply logic to where you put things you will become more organised, by default. Random storage is the enemy of organisation and promotes accumulation of clutter - not to mention stress! If this sounds like you then maybe it's time to regain control?

Help is at hand. Contact me to find out how I can help you make the right decisions regarding storage.

The joy of lists - more ways to de-clutter your head!

2010-10-06T10:07:00.003+01:00

I must first set the record straight - I am certainly not saying that I never get a cluttered head! Yesterday was a prime example. I drove to Northampton for an SEO seminar which lasted all day. The content was fascinating and no doubt useful but I came home with a headache threatening.

I do sometimes find it hard to 'switch off' after a day like that. Late in the evening I decided there was no option but to write a 'to do list' in order to offload my thoughts and tidy up my head. I remember being somewhat disparaging about 'to do lists' in a previous post. The point is, they do have their uses. Just remember not to get too hung up over them and obsessive. Obsessive is never good.

Anyway, late last night I simply made a list of all the things I need to do today. Not in any particular order but at least I didn't have to lay awake trying to remember everything. This morning whilst I ate my breakfast I was able to check the list and prioritise the tasks. Again, don't think this is cast in stone. Priorities can change. The list can be added to. Think of the list as a tool, don't be a slave to it.

The best bit about 'to do lists' is crossing off those completed tasks and being able to feel faintly smug about it as you work your way down the list. Just think of all that clutter you've shifted! Surely, it must be time for a reward?

If you'd like more tips on how to de-clutter your head, de-clutter your office, or de-clutter your home then please get in touch via my website or sign up to my free newsletter.

De-clutter your head - the less energetic option!

2010-10-01T09:55:00.001+01:00

Yesterday my blog post was about using exercise as a means of de-cluttering your head. This is one way to untangle your thoughts and stop that horrible merry-go-round feeling of wondering what to do first. One regular reader has posted to say that she uses Wii-Fit boxing to set her up for a productive day!

There are times though when the thought of being active is simply unappealing. Don't worry, there's another option which I also use on a regular basis. If you have some muddled thoughts why not try wrting them down? This can either be on a sheet of paper, or if you prefer you can use your computer.

There are two levels to this 'writing' solution. The first one is to literally write down your thoughts, possibly using bullet points for clarity. The fact is, that the very action of committing words to paper will help you see the problem more clearly. One advantage to using the computer is that as you begin to make sense of your thoughts you can use 'cut' and 'paste' to rearrange your text into the logical order which is beginning to emerge. This may not work immediately but off-loading the thoughts onto paper will start the process and when you go back later in the day you will inevitably be able to make more progress.

The second level for the 'writing' solution is a more creative one. Simply write about anything that comes into your head. It doesn't matter what you write, since nobody else is going to see it! This is a more creative option. Who knows? You might be a frustrated poet or novelist? Suppressing the creative urge is not a good thing. Once your creativity has an outlet you may find that your mind is a lot calmer and less cluttered.

Don't forget, there's plenty more inspiration for de-cluttering and getting organised in my regular free newsletter, Chaotic Times. Why not take a look at the archived copies?

De-cluttering your head!

2010-09-30T11:35:00.000+01:00

I'm sure I've touched on this subject before and it's not as weird as it sounds. I'm a great believer that if your head, or mind, is 'cluttered' then it will be hard to maintain a clutter-free environment. It is a bit of a 'chicken and egg' situation, however.

Living or working in a cluttered environment will ultimately clutter up your mind. It will be difficult to think clearly, you will lose focus, decision making will become difficult and at the end of the day it will be nigh on impossible to relax.

If you've got lots of 'stuff' whirling round your mind you're less likely to be attentive to your environment. You'll be permanently distracted and your home or office will begin to reflect this mental chaos. You will be living in your head and less aware of your surroundings. The irony is, that as your room descends into clutter this will feed the mental chaos and you ultimately find yourself trapped in the proverbial vicious circle.

So, how can you break free from this cycle? I have blogged previously about the benefits of exercise as a way of de-cluttering the mind and finding clarity. This doesn't have to be frantic activity at the gym (luckily). If you're feeling like your head's about to burst - just go out for a ten minute walk and see what a difference it can make. Try it - and let me know how you get on.

There is another technique which I use, but I don't want to clutter up your head - I'll tell you about that tomorrow!

If you want to explore this concept further, check out related blog posts by using the labels, or go to my website.

Clutter - in the garden?

2010-09-29T10:22:00.001+01:00

I'm a keen gardener, and in common with most gardeners I feel a need to wage war against weeds. Weeds are strange things. It doens't matter how much loving care you lavish on your special plants, turn your back and you'll find a weed has grown from nowhere. They seem to be able to exist in the driest of summers, when everything else is shrivelling in the heat. Some are resistant to being pulled up, some are resistant to being sprayed, and they all produce millions of seeds!

But what exactly is a weed?

I have heard it said that the definition of a weed is simply 'a plant in the wrong place'. So, even if one of your favourite plants self-seeds into another part of your garden, it has the potential for being a weed.

If you're wondering where this is going - stay with me! Follow this logic through and you'll realise then that clutter arises when your possessions are in the 'wrong' place. This means that it is impossible for me to define clutter, I can't say that certain types of possession are clutter - and others aren't. It all depends on you.

If we go back to the self-seeded plant which becomes a weed when it lodges in the wrong flower bed this means that clutter is not necessarily destined for the bin or the charity shop. It's simply in the wrong place. If you wanted, you could dig up the self-sown seedling and transplant it to a more appropriate place in the garden. Equally most of your possessions will have an appropriate 'home' where they belong. If for some reason they get moved, then they can become clutter. Think of piles of clothes on the floor, for instance. This is not clutter to be thrown out, but clearly the clothes don't belong on the floor either!

Have a think about what you've got at home that might be in the 'wrong' place. Maybe you need to have a rethink of your storage solutions? If you need help planning what should go where and what not to keep, then please get in touch via my website. Alternatively, why not sign up for my free e-mail newsletter which will give you lots of encouragement and tips.

De-cluttering - even on holiday!!

2010-09-22T12:25:00.000+01:00

Well, here I am back at my desk after a glorious week's holiday in Scotland with my husband. We managed to get up to the far North, beyond the tourist trap that is John O'Groats, and the scenery was stunning.

This holiday was an exercise in being ultra-organised, and I have to confess, I found it rather testing. Usually we favour self-catering holidays but this time we travelled by train to a variety of destinations around Scotland. This of course meant there was a need to travel light. We updated our rather ancient luggage to the wheeled variety; a bag each, with compartments which made it easier to find what we needed without having to empty everything out. Of course the wheels were great - but the cases still had to be lifted on and off the train and heaved onto a luggage rack. Good job I go to the gym - is all I can say! This constraint certainly focussed the mind on what to pack, that's for sure; although I'm sure my image consultant friend, Helen Jinks could still have done a more efficient job!

I never travel without something to read, and this is all the more important when relying on public transport. It's handy to whip out a good book if you happen to get delayed on a station - otherwise the time hangs rather heavily. I have to say we were lucky on this trip. Ever conscious of the weight of my bag I decided to buy two paperback novels from a charity shop, bargains at £2.50 each and definitely good for the soul. My intention was that as I finished them I could drop them off at another charity shop and lighten my load.

As it turned out I didn't finish the second book, but I'm pleased to say that the first one has been recycled at a delightful shop on Pitlochry station, actually within the old station building. What a fantastic place for a charity book shop, complete with tempting window display? The shop supported a number of different good causes so I was more than happy to hand over my book. I also had sufficient willpower to leave without purchasing another book - but then our train was due, and time was of the essence!

Your clutter could be just what someone else is looking for!

2010-09-08T16:58:00.000+01:00

The sub-heading of this post should probably be "waste not - want not".

I have been inspired to write by something I saw in my neighbourhood recently. I was out for a walk, and happened to notice that someone had left a table football game outside, by a row of garages. I assumed it was no longer wanted and was waiting to be loaded into a car for disposal. However, this morning I passed that way again and sadly after heavy rain the game has been ruined.

De-cluttering and getting organised is great, getting rid of all those unwanted possessions can be viewed as a bit of a chore though. Sometimes it just seems easiest to take a car full of stuff down to the local tip and of course once the stuff's out of your living space you'll feel instantly better, lighter even.

The thing is, you can intensify this feel good factor by ensuring that any of your clutter which is still useful goes to a new home where it will be treasured. The easiest and most selfless way to do this is to take the things to a charity shop, and of course you can be selective regarding which charity you support in this way.

In this modern throw-away society of ours, spare a little time to help others and do your bit for the environment. Donating items to charity shops is basically another form of recycling and is probably the 'greenest' way of disposing of unwanted clutter.

When I work with clients I make sure they know all about the opportunities for donating items to charity in their area. More general suggestions are available via my archived newsletters.

'Labels' become 'Topics'

2010-08-26T09:42:00.002+01:00

I've been trying to smarten up my blog over the last few days. Getting to grips with technology is always a challenge for me, so it could be a slow process! Anyway, just to let you know that the 'Labels' list, which I mentioned in the last post has now become 'Topics', which I think is much more relevant. Visitors to the blog will now hopefully spot the list of topics and be able to find posts relevant to them.

I'm also quietly pleased with myself that I've been able to add a 'Subscribe' button for anyone who might want regular updates on the blog. This makes sense, as what I do is all about making clients' lives easier. Let's face it, if you want to get organised and find an interesting blog on the subject, it really is key to be able to access it in an organised manner. On the other hand of course, I don't want the blog to end up looking cluttered . . . . .

I'm relying on you to let me know if that happens. Often it takes someone else to spot the howling errors. Any feedback is always welcome.

Getting organised - an ongoing process

2010-08-24T08:41:00.008+01:00

Yesterday I attended a course on 'blogging for business' and learned a lot. I suspect that over the coming few weeks I shall be tweaking my blog to take advantage of this new knowledge.

First of all I'll address the issue of 'labels'. When I first started the blog I wasn't sure how best to use these, but now realise they work like a kind of index. That's helpful for you the reader, and me, the writer. If you have a specific interest that you wish to read about, the labels will help you find posts under that heading.

So, I now have the task of going back through previous posts and making the labels more 'user-friendly'.

This exercise has reminded me that when you first set out to organise something, you might not get it right first time. For instance, if you have six documents you wish to organise, you might put them into alphabetical order, by subject. To begin with, this system will work. However, the quantity of papers will more than likely grow to fifty or a hundred sheets.

By this point you may decide that you have several under the same category and that some categories are used more often than others. This will be when you realise that you 'alphabetical order' filing system no longer works, as you can't find what you want. Don't be afraid to re-hash the system. There is no 'right' way to do this - it's what works for you. It's only by using the system that it will develop, and that's how you start to make life easier for yourself.

Little things mean a lot - the impact of colour

2010-08-18T14:00:00.010+01:00

When I first thought about de-cluttering as a business idea I put a lot of thought into the 'package' I would be offering my clients. I decided quite early on that it would be helpful to turn up with as much of the necessary de-cluttering paraphernalia as possible. I wanted to make the de-cluttering process easy and relatively painless.

To this end I filled up a box of kit which I thought would come in handy. Top of the list was a roll of black bin bags. I didn't want people to be ferreting around looking for their bin bags whilst we were working on their clutter. The least I could do was turn up at a job with something to contain the rubbish. That way I could ensure there would be enough bags to contain whatever was deemed to be no longer useful.

Despite my advance planning though, there was something that took me rather by surprise. I worked for a lady one day who told me she found black bin bags 'depressing'. I must confess, I hadn't considered this scenario, but before my next booking I scoured the local shops for large bin bags in any colour besides black. I have to say they took a bit of finding, but I now have bin bags which are pale blue (thanks to Homebase).

Maybe subsequent clients wouldn't have minded black bin bags, but I didn't want to risk it. Now I've thought about it, I can see that black is far from an inspiring colour. If you've been putting off your de-cluttering and are rather anxious about the whole process, then loads of black bin bags full of your clutter could make you feel gloomy, rather than enthused and positive.

For some, just the mention of de-cluttering makes them feel miserable and that's why it gets left undone. It can be enjoyable, particularly when you start to see the improvements to your living or working space. Having someone to guide and encourage makes all the difference, particularly in the early stages. Contact me or check out my newsletters for practical advice and moral support.

Clare Wildman Coaching - Guest

2010-08-11T11:38:00.006+01:00

Our Things and Us

I’m sure that when people are having a clear out and a tidy at home it’s often driven by many common factors but I wonder how many of us think about the effect that our belongings have on who we are…..

Yes that idea made me stop and think as well and I wouldn’t blame you for wondering just what I’m jabbering on about! So let me explain.

In today’s society we are often aware that we are judged by our belongings, our clothes, our homes etc and that we may judge ourselves based on these things. Take this to another level though and it becomes possible that who we are may be affected by these ‘items’ as well. After all we’ve all heard of power dressing haven’t we?

I often encourage clients to have a vision board of how they want their lives to look and often they need to be encouraged to keep visual evidence of all the great things that they have achieved and the fun that they have already had to remind them that it is possible. As with all things though we need to get the balance right.

It’s possible that if we surround ourselves with too many items from our past that we may just anchor ourselves there. Living through our memories and being the person we used to be rather than moving on to who we are now and who we could be in the future. Keeping a bedroom as it was in our childhood or teens may help us to believe that we are still young but equally it may encourage us to behave as though we haven’t grown up at all. It is hardly likely to be conducive to a happy and grown up relationship.

It is quite possible that while clearing out and tidying our homes and wardrobes that we might be thinking about what each item says about us but equally should we be thinking about whether or not we are still the person they represent? Does a wardrobe full of suits and the briefcase make it hard to you to leave the corporate world behind?

Just wondering….

If you would like to find out my work, check out my blog and website

Your clutter might be like my tree!

2010-08-09T19:55:00.007+01:00

This may seem like a strange analogy, but I've realised that a rather overgrown Leylandi tree in my garden has had similarities with some people's clutter! Why? You may well ask.

Here are the plain facts regarding the tree:

(1) This tree has been in my garden for a long time (we didn't plant it), and gradually over the years it has got bigger and bigger without us really noticing.

(2) Every morning when I'm eating my breakfast in the kitchen the tree has been in full view - but it's only recently I've noticed how huge it was!

(3) Having noticed that the tree was massive, it gradually dawned on me that it was killing the grass beneath it and stunting the growth of smaller plants that were next to it.

And what's that got to do with clutter?

(1) Clutter doesn't suddenly appear - it builds up gradually. That's why it's easy not to notice it.

(2) You've probably just got used to your piles of clutter. It's not until they start to cause you difficulties that you suddenly realise the problem has got out of hand.

(3) Once you've realised you have a large volume of clutter it will suddenly strike you as to how it's impacted on your social life, your health, your stress levels etc, etc.

What happened to the tree?

I got an aerobic workout with some secateurs and a pruning saw! By removing the lower branches I've given the other plants some breathing space without actually having to fell the tree.

So what?

The point is, there is always more than one potential solution to the problem of clutter. Please get in touch if you need the benefit of a second opinion and some impartial advice.

The whirlwind that is my niece . . . .

2010-08-04T10:48:00.007+01:00

Being a dutiful and enthusiastic auntie, I was pleased to have my youngest niece to stay recently for a two-night sleepover. At ten she's the youngest of my sister's three children and this was her first overnight visit to our house. I have to confess to some anxiety as she is rather a 'mummy's girl' and I was concerned she'd want taking home in the middle of the night. Fortunately this didn't happen, but I was amazed at (a) how much stuff she brought with her, and (b) how quickly she managed to trash her room.

Obviously not a girl used to travelling light! I could understand the cuddly toys and the book but I'm not even sure what else she had stowed away in her many bags. Having organised the dates with my sister I then found out that my husband would be away overnight on the second night due to work commitments. This meant the full responsibility for my niece's happiness rested squarely on my shoulders. No doubt the parents amongst you are already having a good laugh at my expense . . . .

Seriously though, we did have a good time - despite the fact that I was shattered when she left. One day out shopping, followed by a morning making muffins was really quite fun. Also, it's confirmed my suspicions that children and teenagers are a major source of clutter (just how much stuff do they need?) and untidiness if they're not reined in. Over the next few months I shall be applying myself to the challenge of creating children who like to be tidy - at least some of the time!

Meantime, if any parents are reading this and have their own tips to offer up then I would be eternally grateful. If you prefer to get in touch directly then please access my website.

What's wrong with feeling smug?

2010-07-29T15:53:00.005+01:00

I think the word 'smug' has some unpleasant connotations, but this doesn't prevent me from sometimes acknowledging that this is exactly how I feel. I just checked the dictionary definition and it declares 'smug' to be - "excessively self-satisfied or complacent". Well, 'complacent' doesn't sound too desirable, but I don't see anything wrong with feeling self-satisfied from time to time!

So, what have I got to feel smug about? Well, I managed to avoid going to the gym last week - I did have a lot going on and it just didn't happen. Not even once. But, today I've been and done my workout and I confess I left the building feeling quite smug. I'd done something for me and that felt good. I could almost hear my body saying 'thanks'. Hopefully it will go some way to cancelling out that chocolate and raspberry muffin I ate yesterday!

We all have things in our lives that we dislike doing. In my case: ironing, dusting, defrosting the freezer, going to the gym, etc, etc - please feel free to draw up your own list. Because these things aren't fun or interesting, we tend to use any old excuse not to do them. Either that or we're in a bad mood every time we get out the rubber gloves, for instance. The interesting point is that when we finally, grudgingly tackle the hated task and complete it we can actually end up feeling really good - or if you prefer - smug. The longer the task has been hanging over you, the more smug you're likely to feel on finishing it.

My suggestion would be to revel in this 'smugness'. You've earned it! In my case it's going to the gym or flicking a duster around, but for some it could just as easily be de-cluttering a room. Imagine a room that has got progressively worse and worse to the point where it drives you mad. Just imagine how smug you could feel if you got on and tackled that cluttered area? There are a variety of ways I can help you get started and there's an option to suit everyone. Anything from hands-on help to telephone consultations and Clutter Clinics. What lies between you and that smug feeling?

Thanks to Upper Nene Village U3A Group

2010-07-20T17:06:00.006+01:00

Back in February I decided it was time to get out and about spreading the word about de-cluttering. Well, writing a newsletter and blog is all very well but there's something about the spoken word that really packs a punch.

You see the thing is, I'm passionate about what I do. In particular I'm passionate about the benefits of de-cluttering, so the more ways I can find to spread the word, the better. I'd heard about U3A (University of the Third Age - for the uninitiated) and knew that these groups always had a varied programme of speakers. I took the bull by the horns and contacted my nearest group.

Well, the big day was yesterday and I was pleased to see a good turn out of over 50 people. I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome and would like to say a special thank you to Fay Maddern, who in addition to being Speaker and Publicity Secretary has now taken on the role of Chairperson. My audience was interested and attentive, laughing and gasping in all the right places! Often people are reticent to ask questions at the end of a talk, but several people asked pertinent questions, some of which sparked general debate. It was also interesting to hear people's personal stories as well as receive useful information regarding recycling of certain items. I shall be contacting the people concerned and spreading the word amongst my contacts in the near future.

So, if anyone knows of a group in need of a speaker - you know where to send them! As ever, my contact details can be found on my website.

How clutter creeps up on you!

2010-07-08T12:09:00.007+01:00

Here's the idea I had yesterday, whilst out walking.

De-cluttering, like many other jobs is something that is never finished. It's an ongoing process. You may decide to blitz a room for maximum effect; and of course that's when a lot of my clients get in touch for some moral support and hands on help.

However, there is a more subtle de-cluttering that is just as important if your home or office is going to stay tidy and organised. If you think about the contents of your home then it would be natural to assume that every possession you have in it is there because you chose to acquire it and you have chosen to keep it. Initially, with new belongings this is bound to be the case. I'm asking you to think about when we stop using something, or we stop wearing something and we don't even register that this thing (whatever it might be) is now simply taking up space in our home and not serving any purpose, not even in a decorative sense. To all intents and purposes our own change of habit or attitude has transformed this once loved possession into a piece of clutter.

When you notice that jacket lurking at the back of your wardrobe that you haven't worn for ages, or a vase that used to go with your decor - and now doesn't; it's time to take action. If you have any hesitation about getting rid of whatever it is, my advice would be to take it to a charity shop. Bask in the feel good factor of helping your favoured charity - this is bound to take your mind off how much the jacket cost you 'X' years ago! Trying to sell something is often a slow process and sometimes unsuccessful. Just because you remember how much you paid for something is no guarantee of it's current worth.

By the way, I'm off to the charity shop this afternoon - with that jacket!

If You Need Inspiration - Get Moving!

2010-07-07T09:40:00.007+01:00

I know I've blogged on this subject before. My morning 'constitutional', that is. This kind of implies that I'm out every morning jogging or running. Nothing as extreme as that. For a start, I don't manage to do this every day, nor even at the same time and certainly no earlier than 8.00am. To be honest, I do it when (a) I've got the time, and (b) when I feel the need. My brisk walk is literally a circular route close to where I live and takes about 15 minutes.

So why do I keep going on about it? Well, it's just that I find it so beneficial, despite its simplicity.

For instance, this morning I was conscious that I needed to find something to blog about. Well I can tell you that sitting at my desk staring into space produced absolutely nothing (except a mild degree of stress). I had a headache threatening and just felt the need for some air. So at around 9.30am I put on my trainers and jacket and set off on the familiar route. The route itself is pretty irrelevant. It would of course be lovely to have access to the open countryside, but all I have is an urban housing estate. Occasionally I meet someone, but usually it's about admiring people's gardens and hearing a bit of bird song. It doesn't sound particularly inspiring really, does it? But, after only about 5 minutes of walking I'd had my idea. And then I had this idea, so you'll have to wait for the first one!

My point is that so many of my clients lack the motivation and enthusiasm to tackle their clutter. They tell me that every time they go in the room to try and make a start they just end up dispirited and unable to make any progress. I'm not claiming to be some kind of guru here, just sharing what works for me. I find that forcing myself into the basic activity of brisk walking seems to shift things in my head. Why not try it yourself? My tip would be to try and not think about the thing you want to deal with, just let the answer pop naturally into your subconscious. There's nothing to lose - you might just end up feeling fitter as well.

If you'd like more inspiration for de-cluttering either at home or at work why not sign up to my free newsletters. Inspiration on pretty much a monthly basis - straight into your inbox!

A Case of Mistaken Identity . . . .

2010-07-02T16:18:00.007+01:00

I had rather a strange experience on Monday. In fact it has taken me until now to get to the point where I could blog about it.

It began on Sunday when I had a request via my website to sign up for my newsletter. Nothing unusual in that. I'm in the habit now of asking how the person found my website. On Monday morning I had a response, but it rather took me aback. Apparently I'd been on BBC Radio London on the Vanessa Feltz programme and I'd sounded really impressive!

Now I knew I hadn't been on this programme - well I would have remembered that, wouldn't I? It was just a surreal feeling to think that someone was convinced that I had. I then received a second e-mail in a similar vein, and by this point I was beginning to think I'd entered a parallel universe. I decided it was time for some investigation. I started with the BBC i-Player and luckily found the programme which had been broadcast last Saturday. It was 2 hours long but since I needed to get to the bottom of this I settled down. Unfortunately for me the conversation was initially about barbeques (?!*?!) but then Vanessa mentioned 'clutter' and I knew that a revelation was coming my way. Vanessa introduced her guest, Lesley Walmersham. Well, I thought - that doesn't sound much like Judith Morris!

Not surprisingly, Lesley runs a business similar to mine, helping people de-clutter, only she's based in London. The crux of the matter was apparent when she announced the name of her business - Organise Chaos! We'd practically got the same business name - just one letter different. So all became clear, kind of. I still couldn't work out how two people had got us mixed up, after all we've got completely different names and work in different areas. Still, I suppose when you're listening to a radio programme it is easy to miss people's names.

Dear readers, I did the decent thing. I rang Lesley and explained the mix-up as best I could. It was interesting to talk to someone who does the same work and we compared notes and had a bit of a laugh at how our paths had crossed. Who knows, we might even work together one day? Lesley certainly shares my ethos on the whole de-cluttering process so it's not just the business name that's similar. So, if you're reading this and you're in London, it's Lesley you need to contact. On the other hand if you're in the Midlands - you're on my patch!

Have you done your 'to do list'?

2010-07-01T15:26:00.010+01:00

Following on from my blog on self-help books I was prompted to think about the ways such a book might suggest for getting organised.

We're all familiar with the 'to do list'. I admit I use them occasionally when I've got lots buzzing round my mind and I'm likely to forget something important. In fact, the older I get, the more I rely on lists and notes to remind me. Well, it's better than forgetting an appointment or some other vital task.

But, not everyone is 'list' orientated. They may read their "Get Organised!" self-help book and it might recommend a 'to do list'. Problems can arise when the person reading the book places their focus on making the list in the belief that this alone will work some kind of magic spell. They may fail to consider other more basic issues around getting organised. I can quote a real life example of a lovely lady who employed me to do her admin. When I first went to work for her she was quite disorganised with a very cluttered office. On every visit I found myself sorting piles of paperwork and organising her office. I found it ironic that in amongst the ill-assorted papers would be special pads for writing a 'to do list'. My client had often made a start, so there would be half a dozen jobs to do in a list, that presumably never got done!

Getting organised can never be one solution for everyone. This is why I offer different services other than the hands-on de-cluttering. Hopefully there's something at Organised Chaos to suit just about everyone! Simply because I do something in a certain way doesn't mean my clients will find it works for them. So, if you hate 'to do lists', don't worry about it! Just because you haven't got such a list doesn't mean to say you have to forget all your tasks. Be imaginative, think of ways that will help you remember what you need to do. Lists can be pretty boring after all.

How Helpful is a Self-Help Book?

2010-06-17T14:01:00.007+01:00

I'm quite proud of the fact that during the course of my de-cluttering work I get to help people change their habits and learn new skills enabling them to manage their environment. I see this as the 'added value' when a client hires me to de-clutter.

If someone decides they want help de-cluttering and the job is going to take 3 hours, the prospective client will have a feeling for how much they are prepared to spend in order to have a clutter-free room. After the job has been completed and the cheque handed over there are two possible scenarios:

1 - Client has not changed habits, therefore over time clutter accumulates to the point where they are back where they started.

2 - Client has learned strategies for managing clutter and has some insight into why he/she is prone to hanging on to stuff.

It could be the case that in the first scenario I get more work; but more than likely not, as the client will have deemed their situation to be hopeless and beyond help.

In the second scenario I won't get more work as the client will be self-managing. However, they will hopefully spread the word about the positive impact I've had on their situation which may bring in more work. This client will also be aware of the value of their investment in my time. More to the point, if I get feedback that my client has completely changed their outlook then this is where I really get job satisfaction. This is the reason I enjoy my work so much!

This brings me to the self-help book (at last, I hear you cry). You'd be surprised the number of clients I've worked for who have owned self-help books on de-cluttering. Where were those books? Generally under a huge pile of clutter!

So, what does this tell us? Either that the book never got read, or that it was read, but the advice was never taken up. So what's the problem? Let's put it this way, it would be like me buying a book on surfing - by the way, I can scarcely swim! This is not to say that authors of such books don't know their stuff, of course they do. But how accessible is this information to someone who's already stressed about their situation? The other aspect to consider is that not everyone learns best by reading a book. Some people respond far better when they are shown what to do and get involved themselves.

So, for anyone who books my services - be prepared to get involved! This is not a case of me doing the job and you just turning up to write the cheque. Working together you will appreciate the techniques involved and of course you can ask questions as we go along. This is a practical solution to what is very much a practical problem. Be prepared to be clutter-free for life!

If you'd like to find out more about a practical solution to your untidy house or office, then have a look at my website to get an idea of how I work.

A Place for Everything and . . . . .

2010-06-14T15:17:00.010+01:00

I'm sure most readers can complete the well known saying, above: "A place for everything - and everything in it's place." Apparently the Oxford Book of Quotations states that it's origins go back as far as the 17th century. Many early uses are of a nautical nature and I suppose that's not exactly surprising. Boats wouldn't have had much space to spare and of course if things weren't properly stowed for voyage then rough seas could cause havoc with the cargo, not to mention personal possessions.

It's often the case that an old adage can still be relevant to modern life. This phrase is a prime example if you think about it.

If everything you owned had a particular place where it 'lived' and was always returned to that place, then life could be much more organised - not to mention calmer! There would be an end to wondering where on earth you'd put something and having to turn your house or office upside down in order to find said item. Just think how much time you would save.

Of course none of us lives in a perfect world and more to the point we have to live with other people. I would never be so bold as to say we could always find what we needed here at home, although we do have a pretty good record. I realise that I'm fortunate to have an organised husband.

If this is a new concept for you, I suggest you start thinking about those things you regularly have to look for. How about your keys? Try to make sure that when you get home you put your keys in the same place every time. On a particular shelf perhaps, or maybe on a hook in the hall. It doesn't matter where they go - as long as it becomes the place where your keys are kept.

If you're struggling to apply this idea then wait until you can't find something - then have a think about where it would best be stored in future.

For regular tips into your inbox, why not sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, 'The Chaotic Times'? Back issues are archived on my website.

Changing Negatives to Positives

2010-06-11T15:31:00.004+01:00

Are you a football fan? I'm not, and I'm happy to say nor is my husband. That for me is the good news. I won't be excluded from my own living room whilst the World Cup takes over TV screens across the nation.

There will no doubt be many people reading this who are anticipating some happy hours watching their team, and indeed any other team as they all battle it out for the ultimate in football glory. Well, good for them I say!

Those people who are like me will be contemplating a summer without any decent drama or entertainment and will no doubt be moaning that the minority isn't catered for, etc, etc.

I'm actually viewing this overdose of football mania as a good thing. I suggest studying the schedules carefully. When a key match is due - that's the best time to plan a shopping trip. Your nearest town centre will be like a ghost town.

Even better, imagine being given the gift of time. Whenever the football's on TV is an ideal opportunity to do something more interesting or useful than watching TV - any TV. Just consider the possibilities . . . . .

Keeping up the Good Work

2010-06-10T15:51:00.006+01:00

A few days ago I jotted down a note to blog about the subject of 'maintenance'. Meaning that any project you set your mind to is quite often easy to start, but less easy to keep going. Think dieting, de-cluttering, any kind of new fitness regime, etc, etc.

I had been talking to the guy who maintains my website and the subject of blogs came up. He said he was often asked to set them up but that the clients rarely maintained them. I know what he means, it can be irritating to look at a website or blog that has clearly been started with enthusiasm and then to realise that the last entry was 6 months ago. My feeling then is that the person has lost interest and I find this offputting. I wonder if they ever consider that by letting this slide they may be losing valuable customers? Somehow it would almost be better if they had never started, and yet this of course is quite a negative viewpoint. I think it's more a case of people biting off more than they can chew. Over a year ago now I started to send out a regular e-mail newsletter and was aware that this was something of a committment. It was only when I had this 'under my belt' that I decided I could tackle a blog. I'm still holding out on various other social networking arenas - we shall see!

There is an interesting link here to a couple of ladies I know. Firstly, lifecoach Clare Wildman runs a group called 'Goal Watchers' which does just what it says on the can! Regular meetings help her clients to decide on a goal and work towards it in easy stages with lots of support. Take a look at the 'Goal Watchers' blog if you're within easy reach of Milton Keynes.

Secondly, hypnotherapist Helen McPherson's latest blog entry is about - guess what? Perseverance! Have a look at her aptly named, 'Progress after perseverance' blog entry.

As far as de-cluttering goes, I frequently hear tales of how my clients have made attempts at starting a de-cluttering project but have lost heart. I think this is because they have little support or encouragement. If the job is a big one it can be difficult to know where to start and often, having started, things tend to look even worse which can be offputting to say the least. My telephone consultations are designed as a cost effective means of offering strategies, tips and encouragement to clients to keep them focussed on the task in hand. Ulitmately of course this leads to success - which can prove addictive!

Never Assume Anything!

2010-06-01T09:09:00.008+01:00

This phrase quite often pops into my mind. When I had a 'normal' job in an office I had a supervisor who used to trot this out on a regular basis. For those of you not in the know, the saying goes 'never assume anything - it makes an ass out of you and me.' Think about it! Quite clever really, and of course it's making a valid point as well as being funny.

So often it's all too easy for us to second guess our family, friends, colleagues and clients. Well this can be a risky process. Human beings can be predictable it's true, but they also have the ability to be competely surprising. Isn't that what makes life interesting?

As a self-employed person running a somewhat unusual business I spend a lot of time trying to get inside the head of my potential clients. In an ideal world I would be offering exactly the kind of service that people with clutter issues are looking for. The reality is somewhat different because this group of people, my potential clients - they're all individuals. What one would find really useful might be a complete turn off for others.

If you're wondering where all this is going, I'm not entirely sure myself. I think what I'm trying to say is that sometimes as a business person it would be great to know that if I did 'X' then I'd get loads of new clients. Of course that's never going to happen, as there is no 'one size fits all'. If it was possible it could ultimately be rather boring, as all my clients would be out of the same mould. My challenge is to come at the problem from different angles so that would be clients who visit my website are able to find one service there that they feel comfortable with and that will help them with their clutter.

I have to accept the fact that some people find the concept of de-cluttering quite scary. I can help them, but first I need to recognise and dispel that fear. This was the motivation behind my idea for the 'Clutter Clinic' which I launched in May. The 'Clutter Clinic' is an opportunity for me to share tips and hints with a small group of people in a fun way. The idea is that the participants then have the motivation and know-how to tackle their own clutter.

So, I'm trying not to assume too much and the more I do the more I learn!

Happy Holidays

2010-05-28T14:31:00.008+01:00

It's a week now since we returned from our Devon holiday. It was little short of perfect, idyllic cottage, beautiful river views, fantastic walking, gorgeous food. Even the weather was fairly well behaved.

I was in somewhat philosophical mood. When I'm in Devon (or any other lovely part of the world for that matter) I want to live there and home seems rather a poor comparison. This of course is nothing to do with my sunglasses, more my rose tinted spectacles. By the time I've been at home for a few days these ideas seem to wither away and I settle back into my regular routine quite happily.

A holiday gives us a well earned rest and takes us out of our normal routine and environment. I think that the main benefit of this is that it can provide additional clarity when we return home. A week's absence may not have exactly made the heart grow fonder, but it might become obvious what changes you can make to improve your life at home.

If you find the only time you feel relaxed and happy is on holiday the chances are that your home environment is responsible for your low mood. Picture what your hotel room or cottage was like. Now compare it to your home. If there's a stark contrast in that your home is over full of muddled possessions, now is the time to take action.

Just imagine living in a space which was clutter free, and that allowed you to relax and think clearly without getting stressed. If you need help getting started have a look at my website where there is a choice between hands on help with de-cluttering or telephone consultations where I provide remote advice, encouragement and support.

Go on, take that first step. Next time you return from holiday you'll be glad to be home!

Guilt Tripping & Excuses . . .

2010-05-06T12:47:00.009+01:00

I knew that April and May were going to be hectic and I just haven't had time to write the Blog, I'm afraid. I notice that my last post was 8th April. Heck, that's nearly a whole month ago. How did that happen?

In the back of my mind I knew I'd get round to doing something this week when I'd got a couple of other important jobs under my belt. My subconscious started searching around for what I might write about. Then last night I woke up in the wee small hours and had the thought. Why not write about 'guilt trips'? Yes, dear readers, I've been feeling guilty about my lack of input on these pages. I'm well aware that lots of my clients and no doubt prospective clients have a huge feeling of guilt about their clutter. They beat themselves up on a regular basis, telling themselves that they shouldn't have got into such a state and of course reminding themselves that they are worthless.

No doubt there are always reasons why things don't get done. The question is, does that really matter? I speak from experience. Frankly, I've had so many guilt trips that I could have set up a specialist tour company! Once you realise what you're doing, it becomes easier to stop, or at least moderate that behaviour. Dwelling on guilt is not the best way to move forward. You just end up feeling so bad about yourself that it compounds the inactivity. There is always a chance to change behaviour and learn. Try to be open minded. You may have clutter today, maybe you had clutter a year ago. That doesn't mean to say you're doomed to stay that way.

So, after the guilt trip come the excuses. I've been too busy to write the Blog and couldn't spare the time to think of a topic. In my case the very excuse has become the topic - conveniently for me. Joking apart, we always have an excuse for not doing something which is unpleasant or tedious. I can always think up excuses for not going to the gym for instance, as I'm not one of nature's natural exercisers. However, I do know that once I get there I feel much better for it - smug even! My suggestion is to tackle something you've been putting off for a while. Don't concern yourself with why it's taken so long to make a start, just make the decision and face it. In my experience it won't be half as bad as you think it will.

CD Storage

2010-04-08T09:19:00.006+01:00

It kind of goes with the job. People like to tell me how organised they are, which is fine, I never know when someone might give me a useful tip to pass on to clients.

Recently I was talking to a group of ladies and one was saying she was very organised at home. Laughing, she said "I've even got my CDs stored in alphabetical order!" She went on to comment along the lines that this would be viewed as a tad obsessive. Some other ladies seemed to agree that yes, this was going too far. I jumped to her defense immediately. Of course our CDs are in alphabetical order, it goes without saying really. Why was this viewed as obsessive? Surely if your CDs are in order then you can find the one you want to play?

Now I know that the majority of the civilized world has moved on to iPods and MP3 players and the like, but I'm quite happy with my organised drawer full of CDs. Yes, they are in a special drawer - not in a heap on the floor!

I asked one of the other women how she managed to find her CDs and she admitted she had to shuffle through them all if she was looking for a specific one to play. Now, personally this would drive me mad, BUT, I have to accept that for some people this is fine and acceptable.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that 'order' is all things to all people. Provided the CDs aren't just in a heap on the floor then the fact that they're stored randomly is really not that critical.

This is why when I work for clients there is no "one size fits all" ultimate aim to a de-clutter project. Provided my client has moved on and feels that he or she has an improved environment, then that's good enough for me. It would be ludicrous for me to insist that everything was done to my own personal standard, this would make it difficult for clients to take ownership of the situation and maintain it into the future.

Memory lapse(s)

2010-04-06T20:12:00.006+01:00

I think most of us admit to forgetting things occasionally, and let's face it, the older we get the more often that happens. You know the kind of thing, like going upstairs and then wondering why you made the effort! Well that's hardly a mid-life crisis I know, though it has been happening for a while. However, I think it's getting worse.

I found myself preparing lunch the other day and slicing a vegetable whose name I couldn't recall - oh dear . . . . It came to me later on - fennel! Lovely aniseed taste that my husband can't stand, delicious in a salad. I have to say this really worried me (and still does if I'm honest). I did mention it to my husband, hoping he'd have some kind words to make me feel better. Something like, "darling you've obviously got a lot on your mind at the moment." I had to laugh as he confessed to opening the fridge a few days earlier and spotting some of his favourite veg. Guess what? He couldn't remember that those 'long green and white things' were leeks. So it appears that whatever the problem is, we've both got it.

If ever there was a good reason for being organised, it's having a bad memory. I've never been hot on remembering things, so imagine what my life would be like if I was completely disorganised as well. It doesn't bear thinking about.

If you feel your memory is not what it was, then I strongly recommend getting some order into your life. If you apply logic when you store things and then forget where you stored them, the chances are you can use the same logic to solve the mystery! I would say that you can expect well over 95% success rate with this. Whereas of course if you've always stored things randomly, and your memory fails you - you're snookered!

If you would like more advice on making storage work for you please get in touch via my website

Softly, softly

2010-03-25T14:31:00.005Z

Everyone has frustrations in their life and I'm no different. My work as a Clutter Consultant/Organiser is immensely satisfying - definitely no complaints there! However, I would love to do so much more.

Part of the problem is, I think, connected to a fear of change. Most people know when they've got clutter issues but dealing with them is a completely different matter. I've had several clients who have got in touch with me and then not booked a session until maybe a year later. When I started out I imagined the initial contact to be the biggest hurdle for most people. Ringing or e-mailing me is after all admitting to the problem and facing up to it.

I think I understand my clients better now. Many people have had clutter issues for years, and to suddenly be faced with dramatic change is a bit like standing on the edge of a cliff preparing to jump. In this analogy - I'm the safety net. Yes it might be a bit scary, but I can help you through it, and you know what? You'll wish you'd done it sooner.

Jump off the 'clutter cliff', and suddenly you'll feel so light - you'll be flying! Trust me, nobody crash lands. Take a look at the testimonials on my website and read how others have 'jumped' and lived to tell the tale . . . . .

Half full - or half empty?

2010-03-19T13:42:00.004Z

I freely admit to quite negative phases in my life when I've felt as though everything I attempted was doomed to failure. During this time I was never surprised when things worked out badly.

I generally feel much more positive these days, and I think a positive attitude can help us deal with the times when things don't go according to plan.

Yesterday at a women's networking event a small group of people were discussing how TV news is so often depressing and sad, recent examples being the earthquakes in Haiti and Brazil. One woman said that even though her life is significantly more privileged than the vicitims of such devastation she still has negative thoughts about her own problems. Another member of the group, Jacky Pratt, a life coach, suggested a way to counter such negativity. Her suggestion was to make a 'Gratitude List', in other words list all the things you can be grateful for in your life. In the old days this would have been known as 'counting your blessings', but I think I prefer the 'Gratitude List', it sounds less preachy.

If you like the sound of this idea, sign up for Jacky's free newsletter, 'Ambitious Living'.

Shifting mental and physical clutter is often the catalyst for other positive changes. Take a look at my website to appreciate the connection.

Judging a book by its cover

2010-03-11T17:35:00.008Z

It is so easy to pre-judge people. These days we are bombarded by images more than ever before, and many of these images are presented in a way which is intended to create a certain impression.

Sometimes these pre-conceived impressions are so deep rooted we are surprised when they are proven wrong. I'm just as guilty of this as the next person and can quote a recent example. I mentioned before that I like to take a short walk most days. A few weeks back I was part way through my constitutional when I spotted a young man in a hoody coming towards me. He was taller than me and had two dogs on leads. For some reason I was surprised that the dogs were Yorkshire Terriers! I suspect that had they been dobermans I would have not been surprised. More surprising still was that the young man held back whilst I passed him, realising that the path was not wide enough for all of us. I'm ashamed to say this encounter was quite the opposite to my expectation. Rightly or wrongly, a youth in a hoody is a sterotype, just as there are other stereotypes.

Yesterday I had a meeting with an accountant who, to my mind at least, was not stereotypical. Now I'm sure that there are lots of accountants who don't dress in grey suits and bore people in conversation, but - what first comes to your mind when you think about accountants?

It strikes me that most of us are probably pre-judged in some way by people who don't know us and have never even met us. In order to be treated as an individual it maybe necessary to dispel the myth of the stereotype first.

My own situation is that as someone who specialises in de-cluttering and organisation I get compared to people like 'Kim and Aggie' from 'How Clean is Your House?' and others who have fronted similar TV makeover programmes. This comparison in people's minds makes them fearful that I would humiliate and upset them, so instead of risking this distress, they choose not to make contact. Testimonials from satisfied clients on my website can only partly address this issue. It could always be assumed that I'd written them myself! I can of course assure you this is not the case.

But for anyone in doubt, surely the best thing is to make up your own mind about somebody? Take a look at the 'contact me' page of my website, after you've read the testimonials page of course!

What do you really want?

2010-03-05T10:56:00.006Z

I'm just back from a business networking breakfast. Having dragged myself out of bed at 6am (I'm not a morning person) and scraped the ice off my car I gradually realised that it was another lovely morning. I was then able to feel quite smug that I'd been at a business event just as others were waking up.

I used to dread these events, my least favourite part being when I was put in the spotlight to talk for 60 seconds about my business. Nerves would regularly make me practically incoherent and unable to string a sentence together. Either that, or I would spout meaningless waffle and not know when to stop. These days the nerves are more controlled and I'm able to get my message across.

Today though, one participant, Evelyn Kay of Entheos, made the point that we should all use our 60 seconds to ask for what we want. In other words, is there a particular type of person or business you need to meet? I shall certainly be using this technique in future.

This made me wonder about how often in our day to day lives do we actually acknowledge what we want? I think this is particularly difficult for women of, shall we say, a certain age. My mother for instance would rarely ask my father for anything but instead relied on dropping hints. As we all know, men don't pick up on such subtleties and can't understand the concept of hinting - why not just ask? Not asking for what you want leads neatly into feeling that we don't deserve certain things and of course that's a complete minefield.

So, if for some reason you feel your house is destined to remain cluttered because you have an untidy family - try asking for something different and then tell yourself you deserve it!

If you need a kick start and some inspiration, take a look at my newsletters.

Client of the year?

2010-03-04T09:52:00.007Z

Those of you who are self-employed will appreciate the sense of satisfaction that comes from a job well done and fantastic client feedback.

De-cluttering is quite a personal service. It's hard to work with a client without being drawn into their life to a degree. Sometimes I do repeat visits if the job is more than one room for instance, but generally speaking one booking is sufficient to make a huge difference. This might sound a bit odd, but my work is not just about sorting and shifting clutter. It's about changing attitudes and inspiring clients to continue the work on their own. You could say it's also about empowerment. So often my clients are feeling hopeless, having attempted to tackle their clutter on numerous occasions, but they've run out of steam and given up.

Part of what I do is about showing clients the actual method of how I de-clutter, so this gives them a framework. Also, at the end of the booking the client is able to appreciate the benefits of a clutter-free life. With many people this is enough to set them off on a new path, they become de-cluttering enthusiasts!

Most clients receive my regular newsletter and I like to think this helps keep them on track. I've just sent out the March edition and in response I got an e-mail from a lady I worked for last spring. I helped her clear out a large under-stairs cupboard which had become a dumping ground for all sorts of household clutter. I was pleased to read that my client had just de-cluttered the cupboard again and as a result had moved lots of items to other places in the house necessitating the purchase of some storage boxes.

I was thrilled to receive this e-mail and I think if I was giving out awards she'd qualify for client of the year!

If you just need some inspiration and help with how to attack your clutter but are happy to work on your own why not consider my telephone consultation service launched in January? Click here to load the January edition of 'The Chaotic Times' and find out how it works.

Time to get moving!

2010-03-03T17:10:00.009Z

I want to extole the virtues of exercise. Don't panic and hit the escape button, it's not what you think.

If you'd known me as a child, you'd realise that I grew up practically allergic to sport. I wasn't competitive and had (still have) poor co-ordination. Even during my adult life, for years the only exercise I did was in an effort to stop piling on the pounds when I had a desk bound job. I never really enjoyed it.

Fast forward a few years and I had back problems; as a result I joined a gym and then took up Pilates. Gradually my relationship with exercise began to change. I realised that there were benefits that I'd previoiusly not appreciated. Toned muscles were a novelty for me and I also began to notice increased stamina. Now, with obesity in the UK on the increase we are bombarded with government advice to take more exercise for the sake of our physical health.

The most recent addition to my exercise regime is probably the simplest. Every day I aim to go for a 20 minute walk. Preferably first thing in the morning and usually the same route around the block where I live. When the idea was first suggested to me it sounded rather a dull chore, I must admit. Walking along a regular and familiar route requires no brain power, I'm on auto-pilot. This means that my brain can free-wheel without distraction.

Basically, as I walk I'm de-cluttering my brain! A clutter-free brain means a sharper mind and improved concentration. I quite often get my best ideas as I'm pounding the pavement not thinking of anything in particular.

I have found that lots of clients not only have cluttered homes, they have cluttered heads as well. Tackle either your home or your head first - but make no mistake, the two are definitely connected.

Take a look at the'Testimonials' page on my website to appreciate the connection between mental and physical clutter.

www.judithmorris.co.uk/testimonials.php

The sun is out, the sky is blue . . . .

2010-03-01T16:28:00.007Z

You may consider me rash, but I really feel as though spring has arrived. Look at the calendar! Winter is surely behind us, and just to prove it today I have been enjoying sunshine and blue sky. Isn't that wonderful?

Spring is traditionally a time for some thorough cleaning as the sunshine falls on those dusty parts of your home that you've been trying to ignore. There is definitely a sense of increased energy as the days lengthen and mother nature gears up for her busiest season.

Why be in denial? Let the season inspire you to great things. Casting out your clutter is like casting off those thick coats and extra woolly layers that kept us warm all winter. As we head towards summer (yes, really) who would want to still wear their winter clothes? Imagine how you'd feel stepping out in the sunshine but dressed for the snow and ice. I guess you'd feel heavy and weighed down by it all, suffocated even. Well, that's pretty much how you feel if you hang onto old belongings that have outlived their usefulness.

Just think about shedding all those belongings that are weighing you down. It feels good doesn't it?

If you want hints and tips on how to get started, why not sign up for my newsletter?

www.judithmorris.co.uk/newsletters.php

Psst! Pass it on

2010-02-26T08:29:00.006Z

This is really an addition to yesterday's post, 'Inspirational people'.

I forgot to mention one of the major benefits of surrounding yourself with inspirational people. I see this as a three stage process:

You are inspired
As a result, you make changes to your life and become enthused
You go on to inspire others, without even thinking about it

The point is, the whole inspiration thing rubs off.

Inspiration is contagious, luckily for us there's no cure!

Inspirational People

2010-02-25T17:50:00.010Z

I'm sure we can all think of people who have inspired us over the years, whether it be friends, family, or people in the public eye. Whether it's your Auntie Sue or Nelson Mandela, it doesn't really matter. What is important, is that they've had a positive effect on how you live your life. Sometimes the inspiration is in great courageous deeds, sometimes it's the little things that matter.

As far as personal development is concerned it is always helpful to have someone to inspire us to greater things. I'm very fortunate to have a network of friends who are always positive about my business and inspire me by their own example of hard work, enthusiasm and creativity. The same goes for my writing, I belong to a writers' group and benefit greatly from feedback and support from other members of the group. Such support and encouragement inspires me to continue to aim higher. Thank you, all of you - you know who you are!

When it comes to working with clients I aim to inspire them to achieve the results they want. Sometimes the perception can be that I use the 'big stick' approach, brow beating people into parting with their clutter, even against their will. Of course if I did work like this I could no doubt achieve some impressively tidy homes! On the other hand, I doubt those homes would stay tidy for very long because the occupants would not have been inspired and enthused to change old habits.

So often people say they don't de-clutter because they haven't got the time. Maybe what they really mean is they don't have any inspiration. If you're not sure where to start my suggestion would be to surround yourself with inspirational people.

Read how others have been inspired on the testimonial page of my website,
www.judithmorris.co.uk/testimonials.php

Never say never

2010-02-23T09:04:00.008Z

Since I first started my de-cluttering business Organised Chaos, I have always been on the lookout for different ways to promote myself. Meeting people face to face seems to work best. After all, if someone is considering inviting me into their home they need to feel comfortable with me as a person and there has to be an element of trust.

I regularly attend small business exhibitions which give me the opportunity to meet and talk to lots of people. What surprises me most though, is the number of people who approach my stand to tell me how organised they are! They seem to show an almost morbid fascination with my display of 'before and after' photos, tutting and shaking their heads. These people have absolutely no comprehension of how a person could find themselves in a badly cluttered environment. In their world, everything in the garden is rosy.

I can certainly empathise with clients whose lives have been turned upside down by stress at work, just as mine once was. Stress manifests itself in many ways, and it can indeed contribute to creating a cluttered environment. Stress and low self-esteem often go hand in hand, and if you don't care about yourself then you're hardly likely to care about the state of your home.

I suppose the point I'm making is that it's all too easy to be judgemental. We all do it. I've worked with all sorts of people, some are just generally untidy and it's got out of hand. Others have had life shattering events such as divorce, bereavement, chronic illness and depression. Who amongst us can say we will never be affected by these things? Can you begin to imagine how you might cope?

If you know someone who might benefit from help with de-cluttering, take a look at my website for further details of the Organised Chaos service:

http://www.judithmorris.co.uk/

Gadgets and gizmos

2010-02-22T10:08:00.008Z

My car is rather old by most people's standards, nonetheless it's reliable, comfortable and economical, so I'm quite happy.

This winter seems to have been one of exceptionally cold and icy weather and in typical British fashion it's given us all lots to talk about. One recurring theme is the reading on the temperature gauge inside the car. Groups of friends meet and compare notes, "minus 2 when we left home, but by the time we got to the pub it had gone up to zero." Fascinating, I'm sure and I suppose there is an element of sour grapes on my part. My car is too old to have this feature. When I go out to the car I have to use my own judgement to decide if it is icy, or if it is likely to become icy later on. I also wonder if the difference between minus 1 and minus 2 is at all critical, maybe it is, but I seem to be managing.

This set me wondering about the gizmos and gadgets we all take for granted these days. Some are really useful, some we could manage without. I've confessed before to not being technically minded. Creative yes, technical no. I'm always trying to think of different ways to help my clients and wondered if a clutter-o-meter would be a useful gadget. I know exactly how it would work. Simply place the clutter-o-meter in an area prone to clutter. Set the gauge at high, medium or low and wait for the alarm to go off. When you hear the alarm it's time to get de-cluttering.

Of course I've no idea how such a gadget could be made, so the clutter-o-meter is destined to remain in my imagination. But honestly, does anybody need such a thing? In this modern age it is easy to ignore intuition and gut feeling, not to mention commonsense. In the same way I know when the roads are likely to be icy, most people know when they have too much clutter; whether they choose to acknowledge this or not is a different matter.

If you're interested in learning more about my de-cluttering business, take a look at

http://jwww.judithmorris.co.uk/

Chipping away at the ice

2010-02-21T11:27:00.009Z

I finally ran out of excuses yesterday to tackle one of my least favourite jobs. Yes, it was time to defrost the freezer. Actually, it was more like a polar expedition which generated a sink full of slabs of ice. Not pleasant.

Now I have more space in my freezer, primarily due to the removal of all the ice, not to mention one or two items of food, defintely past their best. So you see, de-cluttering comes in many guises! Although I hate this job, I do like to know what's in my freezer, so I keep a little notebook which I use to record the contents. Not 100% foolproof, as it requires all users of the freezer to participate, but it's better than having to rely on memory alone.

The act of de-cluttering can rarely be described as 'fun' whether it's your freezer, or a cupboard which is bursting at the seams. However, when the job is done there is an enormous sense of satisfaction which makes the exercise really worthwhile. In addition of course, life is made just a little bit easier - you have more space and you can find things more easily.

If you would like more hints and tips on de-cluttering, straight to your inbox - why not sign up to my regular newsletter at:

www.judithmorris.co.uk/newsletters.php

Observations on Mr Ripley and Dorian Gray

2010-02-20T12:29:00.006Z

We watched 'The Talented Mr Ripley' last night, having recorded it last week. What a fantastic film! It was a rare treat, a film that my husband and I could enjoy together with neither of us being bored or confused. I always think that the test of a good book or film is that days afterwards you're left thinking about the content and the implications.

I realised this morning that in fact 'The Talented Mr Ripley' shares a common theme with one of my favourite novels, 'A Picture of Dorian Gray'. For me that theme appears to be a sense that when a person has a darker side to their character, committing crime or generally behaving badly, these acts become something of a burden to that individual. Mr Ripley admits to storing such facts in 'the cellar' of his mind, thus enabling him to live life in a carefree manner. Dorian Gray of course carries on oblivious as his portrait takes on all the characteristics of his cruel behaviour. Mr Ripley is tormented by nightmares, proving that his 'cellar' could not entirely contain the full implications of his wrong doing.

This in turn prompted me to think not of wrong doing, but the implications of a cluttered mind generally. So many of my de-clutter clients have lived with homes full of clutter for years, in the belief that apart from being untidy there are no other implications. When they suffer lack of energy, lack of enthusiasm, general tiredness, apathy, low mood, or depression they fail to make the connection back to their environment. I've worked with people whose homes are badly cluttered and seen them change before my very eyes as the clutter that holds them back is cleared and sorted.

So you see, it doesn't matter if your clutter really is in the cellar, or if it's in your 'mental cellar', your brain still knows it's there. It takes up valuable space in your head and consumes equally valuable energy.

If you want to know more about how I work, check out my website

http://www.judithmorris.co.uk/

By way of introduction

2010-02-19T14:06:00.004Z

Well, I'm going to try and hit the ground running as it were. I'm new to the world of blogging but since I'm on a mission to spread the word about de-cluttering and the fantastic benefits it can bring to life - here goes!

If you take the time to read my profile you'll see that I've been working since 2007 as a Clutter Consultant. Bit of a daft title, but what else do you call someone who works with their clients to help them get their homes (or offices) tidied, organised, sorted, or if you like - de-cluttered?

My passion for all things organised goes back to childhood when I would happily spend time arranging and rearranging my books into order. My father was a pharmacist and he was a great influence. I hold him responsible for my obsession with labelling everything!

Whilst I am organised, I'm certainly not perfect. Most people I talk to seem to have the idea that I live in some kind of haven where there is never a sheet of paper out of place. Well, I should be so lucky! I honestly believe that clutter is an inevitable aspect of modern living. The key factor is how you handle it, and that's where I can help my clients develop strategies to ensure they don't disappear under a heap of clutter.

I pondered the title of this blog for quite some time and it is rather tongue in cheek. Mind you, if you work at being clutter free you'll soon realise that the benefits are not just a tidier house, your mind will be less muddled as well. If your memory's anything like mine that's got to be a bonus.

One of my aims in writing the blog is to de-mystify my work. There have been a number of de-cluttering makeover type programmes on TV and they all rely on drama to make them interesting. This is fine for viewing figures, but doesn't do me any favours. I'm sure people expect to be traumatised after my visit to their home and some people actually admit to being scared!

Hopefully, if you like what you read and you come back for more you'll realise that I'm human like everyone else and just want to share my organisational skills with others for their longterm benefit.

Take a look at my website for more information on how I work as well as an archive of my regular newsletter 'The Chaotic Times'.

http://www.judithmorris.co.uk/