Let’s rewind about two years. There was this nuisance in my life.
Clutter.
For a house with two young children and two big dogs, I’d say our home was average for cleanliness. However, there was a recurring situation I’d find myself in. It went something like like:
I would need to find something. Let’s use the example of my child’s birth certificate, because it’s always the things you shouldn’t lose that you actually end up misplacing. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I would open drawers, look in cupboards, I’d repeat the process, going in circles, each time feeling more frustrated. No luck. In that particular situation I did end up finding it several weeks later. What a waste of time and energy.
I’d put in the effort to declutter and organize, but before long, the clutter would be back. It was relentless. I also had a bad habit of putting things in a “safe”place, only to completely forget where that place was. Clutter and “safe places” drove me crazy.
I’m a busy mom. Some day, when the kids are grown I will have time to clean my cupboards and I will know where everything is.
If I posted that on Facebook, I would have received many “likes” from my mom friends. Mom friends have your back on mom-ish posts like that.
I didn’t do that, though, because it actually really did bother me.
Sometimes, when I felt like my house was cluttered, I’d sit on the couch and watch a show about hoarders on TV. I would watch ridiculously cluttered homes, and then all of a sudden my own house wouldn’t seem that bad. In fact, my house would seem quite tidy and organized.
Um, temporary fix – but, not a permanent solution.
Someone suggested a book. I quickly dismissed that idea. I didn’t have time for reading – it wasn’t a priority for me. Someone suggested the book again. At least three people suggested the same book – so I finally got the book.
The book:
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.
At first, I was completely uncomfortable with the concept and found myself raising my eyebrows. It was so out there. I mean, not only did the author live with things that only brought her joy or served her purpose, but she wholeheartedly appreciated all of her belongings. She would thank her clothing for the service they provided her that day. She would empathize with the elastic on people’s socks if the socks weren’t folded correctly. I couldn’t quite grasp her extreme level of rationalizing this type of practice. However, the more I read, the more intrigued I became.
In theory, the concept was quite simple: Each object in your home should bring you joy, or serve purpose. If it didn’t, it shouldn’t be in your home. There was a process to follow, and although I did some adapting as I went, over a series of months I did complete the process to the best of my ability. It was really, truly effective. The more I purged, the lighter I felt. By the end of the process, I knew where pretty much everything was in my house. I felt less stressed, more energized. I immediately had a lower desire to purchase items, and a stronger desire to take care of my belongings. Is my house completely clutter-free today, two years later? No. Keep in mind I have others living in my home, too. The state of the clutter in my home today is totally tolerable for me. It’s much less than previous, and I still know where the majority of things are in my house.
I mentioned that the process took months. It’s important to note that the process itself is rewarding. You can read the book, or you can commit to the process. For me, it was worth committing to. Even though I didn’t realize it at the time, by conquering this, I was stepping into new territory and opening the door for a new journey.