When you put something down as a reminder to do something, do you eventually walk past it without noticing it? Perhaps you have piles of magazines in your office to remind you to read them, but you no longer “see” them. In fact, they seemingly blend right in with the furniture. Maybe stepping over the pile of toys on the floor is now a normal routine. If this sounds familiar, you might be oblivious to clutter.
“Look at old problems in a new light.”
Unknown
What is clutter?
The dictionary defines clutter as “a disorderly heap or assemblage.” Suppose you have a cluttered room or area. You might be avoiding it because it’s too overwhelming to deal with. Maybe you have tried unsuccessfully to sort out the mess but decided it was easier to become oblivious to clutter rather than to figure out how to deal with it.
Shift Your Perspective
If you grew up in cluttered surroundings, you might have become accustomed to that type of environment, and being oblivious to clutter is your default mode. To shift your perspective, you could go away for at least a few days. Then, when you return home, you will walk into your space with a new way of looking at the situation. Then you may gain clarity on what you need to do.
You almost have to retrain yourself to become more sensitive to your surroundings. Visualize what your space will look like when you clear the clutter. Hold that vision in mind as you create a plan to tackle the space. If visualizing feels difficult, look at old photos of the room when it was tidy or use a room-planning app to help you reimagine the space. Then ask yourself:
- How am I using this space right now?
- How would I like to use it?
- What do I want this room to feel like?
The answers can help guide your decisions as you declutter.
What to Do With the Unwanted Clutter
One of the biggest challenges when decluttering is finding solutions for disposing of the items you no longer need or want. Often, the Disposal Step is the most challenging for many of my clients. First, simplify the disposal process and take the clutter from where it is to its final destination without creating steps in between. For example, put a garbage bin and a recycling bin in the space and empty them regularly. And establish a Green Zone for items you want to donate. Finally, set up a system to keep clutter from accumulating.
If you are ready to tackle your clutter but can’t face it alone, get some help. It is difficult to ask for help and let someone into your space when you feel you should be able to do it yourself. So, if you ask a friend or family member, have them agree to withhold judgment. And remember, organizing and decluttering professionals can help and will work collaboratively with you to find a solution.
Have you ever been oblivious to clutter? What methods did you use to change your perspective?