When you put something down as a reminder to do something, do you eventually walk past it and not notice 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 you have a pile of toys on the floor you step over daily without noticing. 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. Or maybe you have tried to unsuccessfully sort out the mess but decided was easier to become oblivious to clutter than to try 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 re-train yourself to become more sensitive to your surroundings. Visualize what your space will look like when you clear the clutter. Hold that vision in your mind as you create a plan for tackling the space. For some people, this is a challenge. To facilitate your vision, you could look at photographs of the room when it was clear and tidy. Or, you could try re-creating the room virtually with an online room designer app such as Roomsketcher.
Next, ask yourself how you are using the space now. Then, imagine how you could use the area once you declutter it and how you will feel about it. Hold on to the vision and feeling throughout the decluttering process.
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 and recycle 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 to allow someone into your space when you feel like 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?