Enjoy the latest edition (v55) of the “What’s Interesting?” series, featuring my most recent finds that inspire, spark curiosity, and relate to organizing and life balance. These unique decluttering discoveries reflect this month’s blog theme.
You are an engaged, vibrant, and generous group. I am deeply grateful for your ongoing presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community. I look forward to your participation and further contributions to this curated collection.
What do you find interesting?
What’s Interesting? – 5 Best Next Step Discoveries
1. Interesting Read – Less Clutter
Do you feel overwhelmed by how much your things are taking over your life, space, money, and energy? If so, find inspiration and hope in The Year of Less by bestselling author Cait Flanders.
Cait takes us on her twelve-month journey to stop shopping and give away most of her belongings. During that year, she bought only items on her ‘sanctioned’ list of consumables, decluttered her apartment, let go of 70 percent of her belongings, learned to fix things, paid off debt, navigated family challenges, and worked through addictive behaviors and unhelpful habits.
Through personal stories and practical strategies, Cait guides you toward a more mindful life with less consumption and more time for what matters most to you. When working to reduce the things in her life, Cait said, “I had to let go of the stuff I wanted the ideal version of myself to use, and accept myself for who I really was.”
By the end of Cait’s year, after she took control of her life, released many of her belongings, saved money, and embarked on the next phase of her life, she said, “… all that remained was the real me. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. It was enough. I had enough. I was enough.”
2. Interesting Perspective – Time Clutter
Clutter isn’t only physical stuff that piles up. There’s also time or calendar clutter. Time clutter can show up as overcommitting, no downtime, double-booking appointments, consistently running late, being overstimulated, never having enough hours in the day, or feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list.
Artist and writer Jenny Odell coined the acronym NOSMO, “the necessity of sometimes missing out,” in her book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. Saying “yes” to everything, ignoring your needs, and lacking boundaries can leave you feeling stressed, time-poor, and exhausted.
If you want to declutter your schedule, start editing. You don’t have to accept every invitation. Instead, focus on how you want your days to flow, how much time you need for transitions, and how much time you want for relaxation.
What can you let go of today?
3. Interesting Article – Aspirational Clutter
In the HuffPost article, “Do You Have ‘Aspirational Clutter’? Here’s What You Should Know,” professional organizers explain why this type of clutter can be especially challenging to let go of. Why is that? Aspirational clutter includes “objects tied to our hopes and dreams.”
Aspirational clutter can look like gym equipment that’s never used, clothing that might fit someday, an abundance of yarn you’ve stored for years for sweaters and blankets you want to make, or sets of dinnerware and serving pieces for parties you hope to host someday. There isn’t anything inherently problematic about any of these, except that they aren’t based on what your life is actually like. These things take up space and mental and emotional energy, often accompanied by guilt and ‘shoulds.’
Some other thoughts include:
Seana Turner said, “Aspirational clutter refers to possessions we hold onto for our ‘future self,’ or an idealized future lifestyle.”
Regina Lark said, “Letting it go can feel like giving up on a dream version of yourself, or that you’ve failed yourself in some way.”
All is not lost. The article offers excellent suggestions for managing aspirational clutter, such as
Give yourself permission to let go.
Recognize that priorities shift.
Determine how your space could be better used if you let go of aspirational clutter.
Focus on the benefits of letting go.
Acknowledge who you are now.
“It was enough. I had enough. I was enough.”
4. Interesting Product – Organizing Clutter
The truth is, I don’t recommend organizing your clutter. Start by editing and decluttering. Why do that first? You’ll be left with only the things that remain, which are meaningful and useful. Second, the less you have, the easier it will be to organize and maintain.
When it’s time to organize the ‘keepers,’ Aozita’s multi-use caddy organizer is a great choice. Use it to organize art materials, desk supplies, bathroom products, kitchen utensils, or school supplies. It’s portable, available in many colors, adjustable, and inexpensive.
5. Interesting Thought – Life Clutter
What comes to mind when you think of clutter? In the 30-plus years I’ve been helping people declutter and get organized, I’ve heard clutter described as overwhelming, heavy, chaotic, burdensome, bothersome, impossible, frustrating, constant, distracting, stressful, paralyzing, and noisy. Do any of those resonate with you?
Many emotions are intertwined with your experience of clutter. As Peter Walsh says, “Clutter is…anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”
What would life be like if you unburdened yourself of the things weighing you down?
Which Clutter Ideas Work Best?
When clutter feels overwhelming and paralyzing, what will help? As I shared, there are many types of clutter and strategies to help you move forward.
Which of these discoveries resonates most with you? Do you have any decluttering resources or ideas to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to join the conversation.
How Can I Help?
Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? Is clutter preventing you from living the life you want? I’m here to help. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.
Let’s talk. I’m easy to reach.
Schedule a Discovery Call
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Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or
Call 914-271-5673
Decluttering and getting organized are possible, especially with support.
