This week's "My turn" column is by Karen Sheesley, owner of Straighten Up! Organizing Services.
Simplicity. The word itself is soothing, bringing to mind tranquil uncluttered spaces and an uncomplicated world. Don't we wish!
Life gets busy and things accumulate and get out of place _ that's life. But if you find yourself losing ground, feeling overwhelmed by clutter and disarray, please consider some of the suggestions that follow.
As a professional organizer, I work with people to help them bring peace and a sense of well-being back into their lives. Feelings of frustration, inadequacy, embarrassment and social isolation are common in people whose "stuff" has taken over their lives. This clutter can take a toll on both mental and physical health.
Let me offer a dictionary's definition of "stuff," just so we are on the same page. "Stuff" is "household or personal items collectively, belongings, worthless objects, junk."
Stuff is not all bad. We certainly need it. But how much do we need? What value is it serving in our lives? It is good to step back and really think about this, especially if you are feeling that your personal space is decreasing as your belongings increase.
One of the major reasons for clutter is that items don't have a home, a place where they belong. Things that are left out and about become part of the background and lose importance.
Try walking around your house, room by room, and deliberately looking for things that are out of place. Pick them up and put them into a box or some other container and then put them where they belong. Just this simple exercise can make a big difference.
If a room is generally in order (by this, I mean no piles on the floor or on the furniture), but still feeling cluttered, try clearing off all the surfaces.
Put the items you remove back where they belong or someplace else where you can find them but don't have to look at them.
You may find that the lack of clutter is just what you were looking for.
Keeping a surface absolutely empty of anything is a good (and surprisingly difficult) exercise. You may catch yourself putting something down "just for a minute." Don't do it! Most of the time, it takes only seconds to put something into its rightful place instead of starting a clutter pile.
Sometimes it is not small things that clutter up a room, but too much furniture or the arrangement of the furniture.
If you come up with a box of things you no longer use or need, consider donating them or giving them to a family member or friend.
Please do not give your stuff to anyone _ friends, family, organizations _ unless you know they want it.
Consider having a frank conversation with your loved ones about gift-giving. You might discover that they are as interested in simplifying or eliminating gift-giving as you are.
Think about gifts that won't become clutter. If you can, give gifts that will be used up in some way while they are being enjoyed _ restaurant gift certificates, gift cards, coupons to an ice cream store, candles, spa supplies.
Also good are gifts that create special memories of good times together _ tickets to a show or movie, a trip to a special event like a circus or a museum.
Gifts of service, such as baby-sitting or elder-sitting, car washes, or a personal chef night where you prepare and serve a meal for someone, can be very helpful, and even fun.
Don't take on your whole house all at once _ just aim for a room or a corner at a time. Keep at it, and before you know it you will have the atmosphere you want in your home. Happy organizing!
Karen Sheesley owns Straighten Up! Organizing Services. For more information, visit www.straightenupcny.com. She can be reached at 643-1625.
To write for "My turn," contact Daily Star Publisher Tanya Shalor at tshalor@thedailystar.com or 432-1000, ext. 214.
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