Release And Organize

The Risk of Having Relationships with Things

by Frances Piekarski on April 22, 2013

After many years of working with clients I have noticed one fundamental thing; those that have deep relationships with things often go through the five stages of grief as they go through the process. Do you remember this concept? Denial, Anger, Sadness, Bargaining and Acceptance. Sometimes we loose them for a period of time during this process because the emotional upheaval is just too difficult. I want to share a colleague’s perspective on this process and how it relates to grief. Read the re-posted blog below from Courtney Carver of Be More with Less The Five Stages of Clutter. Maybe you’ll recognize yourself in one of these stages.

The Five Stages of Clutter

Posted: 11 Apr 2013 07:44 AM PDT

If you’ve ever thought about decluttering and then stopped, or started actually decluttering and then stopped, you might find some aha moments below. Think about these words the next time you dust a vase with no flowers, spend an entire weekend at Target or Home Depot, or try to fit into a pair of jeans that will not zip.

Depending on where you are in your be more with less journey, you have either said some of these things, or will say them soon.

This may sound similar to the 5 stages of grief, but it is in no way meant to diminish grief or other emotions.

Denial

Clutter is a problem before you ever recognize it. Often heard in this stage …

  • What clutter?
  • Let’s look through the sale flyers.
  • I’m saving that for my kids.
  • I need to get organized.
  • I’ll keep that just in case.

Anger

When you finally feel trapped by your stuff, it will piss you off. Often heard in this stage …

  • I spent so much on that.
  • I’ve never worn it and the tags are still on.
  • The collection company has me on speed dial.
  • I work so hard to have nice things.
  • I’m not happy.

Bargaining

When you start to picture your stuff in the perfect organizational system, you are bargaining. Often heard in this stage …

  • I need some good Rubbermaid containers.
  • We need a bigger place.
  • Storage space isn’t that expensive.
  • Ikea has the perfect …
  • We can get rid of it when we move.

Action

Boxing up your useless stuff is the first step and it feels so good. Every box out the door creates more space. You feel lighter. You can breathe. This stage has its own mini-stages ranging from slow and steady to everything must go. Often heard in this stage …

  • I don’t even remember what was in that box.
  • We may need to consider a smaller space.
  • What else can we give away?
  • Do we really need more than one?
  • She won’t even notice it’s gone.

 Freedom

Every little thing that you let go of creates space and time that you didn’t know existed. Minimalists claim that freedom is the number one benefit of simplifying their lives. Often heard in this stage …

  • Why did I wait?
  • What else can I get rid of?
  • I quit my job.
  • I moved into a smaller space.
  • I’m finally happy.

If you find yourself desiring freedom but you are still bargaining or maybe you are ready to take action but are too overwhelmed to know what to do first, let us help. The journey of 1000 miles starts with one step.

Overwhelmed?

February 13, 2013

  Do you ever feel like there is so much to do that you don’t know what to do first or how you will ever get it done? I do. When you are a creative idea person, it seems like opportunities present themselves all the time. Ideas flow and make it difficult to determine what [...]

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What does done look like to you?

December 29, 2012

That is a question I often ask clients. Your vision of what done is and an organizer’s vision are two different things. It is all about perspective. Often when we don’t define what done looks like so there is no end to the organizing or re organizing. This can be very overwhelming for someone that [...]

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What is Enough?

September 5, 2012

I recently gave a seminar where I imparted to the attendees a quote “clutter is the physical manifestation of indecision”. Now I don’t know who to credit for that quote but I do know it to be true in most cases of clutter. My solution to indecision is that often we don’t ask ourselves the right questions [...]

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Creating abundance. This year’s theme.

January 23, 2012

Does abundance come from stuff? Really if you believed that you would never have enough stuff. Truly if stuff provided abundance wouldn’t you be fulfilled by now?  No, abundance comes from a heart of gratitude for the blessings we have. It comes from the peace in knowing that no matter how much or how little [...]

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Paper Management as We Approach the 2012 Tax Season

November 17, 2011

Tax season is here. Maybe you had to get an extension last year because you couldn’t get it all together or maybe you are like me you procrastinated to the very last minute. I confess, I, a professional organizer, procrastinated. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the paperwork together, I did. I just didn’t want [...]

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Never Enough Time: series in caring for an elderly parent

April 2, 2011

As I sit here in the ICU with my ailing mother I lament on what I should have done. What else could I have done? There is never enough time. We all have choices as to how we live our lives and sometimes it is difficult to know when you need to take time away [...]

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Natural Order

April 1, 2011

There is a natural order to the world. Think about it. There are all sorts of ways that nature keeps a balance to prevent clutter. Rain washes away debris and feeds the earth. Flowers die and drop sees to reproduce more flowers. Forest fires while not always good can rekindle growth in an over grown [...]

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