Are you a hoarder?

According to Wikipedia hoarding is a pattern of behavior that is characterized by the excessive acquisition of and inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects that cover the living areas of the home and cause significant distress or impairment.

Thankfully, that clinical definition does not apply to most of us.  However, many of us do have too much stuff that we have either inherited from someone else or acquired ourselves. We end up in an overwhelming/cluttered place not because we have hoarding tendencies, but because of our inability to find a use, purpose, or place for the item. Then, either because we feel guilty or because it is too much work, we walk away from the "stuff" and it piles up. 

How do you process your stuff?  Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when trying to de-clutter your life.  

Can I use or display this item?

-If yes...

---How? Will I actually use/display it?

---Where should I put it so I do use it?

---How can I display it so I can enjoy the item without taking up valuable space?

-If no...

---Do I need to keep it? 

---Why?  Are you sure? 

---Where can I store it so that it doesn't take up valuable space? 

---Why am I holding to something that you cannot use? 

---Can I capture the memory through pictures, writings, or a small piece of the item and not keep the whole thing?

Overwhelmed or not sure where to start?  Pick one small space-just ONE. Process 5 items in that space. If you don't have a use for it, make a decision about what to do with it, and putting it back does not count!

Need help? Contact me today to eliminate some of the clutter in your life. Life is too short to be weighted down by your own STUFF. 

Take Control. Simplify. Make it Happen!