TOYS

Doing the Spring Fling

Spring has sprung
The grass has ‘riz
I wonder where my sandals is

Okay, so that’s not exactly how the poem goes and then there’s the little matter of spelling and grammar. Still, the point is: IT’S SPRING.

Long pants turn into shorts, heavy coats become light jackets, and sandals replace boots. Salads are favored over heavy stews. Convertibles lower their tops, and sunroofs open up to let the fresh air in. Everything about the season makes us want to lighten up.

What a perfect time for a spring organizing fling. 

Sure, spring cleaning gets all the press, but even if it’s clean, your spaces aren’t as functional or stress reducing if they remain cluttered.

Clutter by Definition

Perhaps you are wondering what I consider clutter. Clutter is the stuff you keep that is broken, never used, or hardly used – the things you “might need someday.” It’s the items you do not have room for, even if they are functional. It’s the gifts you keep because someone gave them to you even though you don’t like them or use them. Most of all, clutter is the thief that steals your money, space, time, energy, and happiness.

Clutter takes three forms—physical, visual, and mental.

Physical clutter + Visual clutter = Mental clutter.

Here’s one more organizational equation: 

Happiness = the amount of clutter you keep. 

If you look around your home and are pleased with what you see, you have peace and happiness. It feels warm and loving, and you are comfortable in your space. In this case, you probably don’t have much clutter. However, if you have so many things you can’t find what you want, you shove things in boxes, or are embarrassed when people come to your home, you have clutter. It’s time do to the spring organizational fling. 

The spring organizational fling clears your mind just as a good spring cleaning clears your home of dust and dirt. It gives you more mental clarity because clutter eats away at your mental storage space.

As I work with people in their homes, most everyone welcomes the idea of less clutter and longs for the increased mental clarity that comes with a good spring fling. I often hear the same questions, though. Here’s the answer to some of the most often asked queries:

My ___________ (insert mother, father, mother-in-law, best friend, etc.) gave me this. I’ve never liked it or used it but I don’t want to hurt his/her feelings. What do I do?

First of all, there’s a pragmatic question: Will they ever find out? If there is little chance – they live in another state, seldom visit, etc. – that relieves a lot of the pressure. You graciously accepted the gift and can just as graciously pass it on to someone who will love it or need it without guilt. You can let go of the gift and still love the giver. Just because I got rid of a sweater my sister gave me, doesn’t mean I don’t love her anymore. Besides, someone may really need or love that sweater. 

However, if there is a good chance the giver will find out and be hurt, keep it. You never want to damage a human relationship over a thing.

I have a collection of _____________ (insert type of collection) that some people say are clutter. Do I have to get rid of them?

If you honestly still enjoy the collection and you honestly will take the time and energy it takes to maintain them – cleaning, displaying – then seriously take a look at your space and decide where they can be displayed where you can still enjoy them. Sometimes it is as simple as buying a curio cabinet. Other times, they can be displayed on shelves above the doors.

Many collectors find themselves with a place for part of their collection but not all of it. In this case, you have two choices. One is to divest yourself of the ones you don’t truly love and that won’t fit in the space. The other option is to rotate your collection. Put out part of them and store the others. Then next season, rotate the collection. This allows you to enjoy all of them without feeling hemmed in and the season change gives you a queue that it’s time to clean and arrange them.

Remember that the cost of a collection is not just the financial investment you made when purchasing the items. There is also the time and energy it takes to keep up with them. You are forever investing in the collection by displaying, maintaining and storing it. When the investment becomes an expense, it’s time to sell.

How do I get started?  It seems so overwhelming.

First, gather your supplies — boxes for sorting, bags fro donation, can for trash, pen and paper for labeling boxes and any notes and a timer. Remember a timer is your friend during the process.  It tells you when to start and gives you permission to stop.  It’s amazing how many people get back with me and tell me that the timer trick has helped them in so many ways. Also, in order to stay on task and respect yourself and your time, please let the phone go to the answering machine. They can leave a message and you can call them back.

Now it’s time for *SPACE:

     Sort:                     Divide items into like kinds, i.e. Noah’s ark

                  Purge:                   Purge your stuff by eliminating what you don’t use and keeping                                 what you do.  Have a donation box/bag on hand as you purge.

Assign:                   Assign a logical home for the items you keep; kitchen drawer, closet shelf, etc 

Containerize:           Containerize your items for physical and visual peace; knowingwhat basket or bin to find it in and return it to.

Remember the trick with the rocks/pebbles and the jar. If you put the big items in first, the smaller ones will fit in around them, but if you put the small items in first, you won’t be able to get as many big ones in.     

    Equalize:                Maintain what you’ve organized.  If you’ve made the time and                                       effort to get organized, respect your things and yourself by                                       keeping it up.  If this is a new habit you’ll need to schedule time                                    to maintain it – just like you have to keep up with laundry,                                             dishes, mowing etc.

*Julie Morgenstern

As you go, divide items into different boxes. Clean and return things that belong in the space. Create other boxes for items that need to be returned, trash, and donations. At the end of your spring fling, take those items to the appropriate place. Remember also that you may find things with tags on them that you simply aren’t going to use. Take those to consignment shops or donate them. Imagine the delight for someone who really needs the item to find one at a thrift store with the tag still on it.

          The whole house needs a spring fling? Which room do I start in?

Start in small spaces to gain experience. Understand how the process works for you and celebrate your success.  Great starting places are under the kitchen or bathroom sink, because you’re typically not emotionally attached to anything under the sink. Also, this is an area you can do within 30 minutes.  Dresser drawers, the kitchen junk drawer, sock drawers—these are similar areas you could complete between 30-45 minutes. Set a goal that’s easily met – maybe two 15 minute sessions a week or 1 drawer a week.  Make your goal very easy to meet, so you meet the goal and feel successful and motivated to set your next goal. When you experience and feel progress, you’re more equipped to take on the bigger projects (in small snippets of time) because you have the smaller projects in your win column.

There are some items I might use; I just haven’t seen them in a while. What do I do with them?
Get them out and put them where you would normally use them. Mark a day in your calendar when you’ll ask yourself if you’ve used the item since it has been out.  If you haven’t, it may be time to donate it.  If you have used it, mark another date in you calendar and ask yourself if you continue to use it.  Then make a keep or donate decision accordingly.  If you’re still undecided, go back and ask yourself why you’re doing the spring fling in the first place.  If it’s because you want to simplify and de-clutter, parting with it may be your answer.

           What is the most important thing most people forget to do?

That’s an easy one. The answer is intentionally schedule the next step in their calendar. Write in your calendar the day you are actually going to take items to the donation site. You have to have a plan to get them out of the house; otherwise, they will simply move from one room to another or out to the garage.

And speaking of moving, we are going to tackle that subject next month. Even if you have no plans to move, I am confident there is much you can learn from this approach.

Until then, have fun and fling into spring - less encumbered by clutter.