Confronting Clutter by Gregg Robinson 6/07

The phenomenon of clutter

We are a materialistic society, encouraged at all ages and at every turn to be consumers and accumulators of possessions.  Americans, it seems, have a “thing for things.”

Almost unknown before 1970, the storage unit business has grown since then to 45,000 facilities nationwide, with almost 2 billion square feet of storage space.

The average American home has grown from 1,500 to 2,400 square feet in the same time period.

Some people can maintain order with all of these additional things in this additional space, but for many others, it is a serious problem.

Clutter has become such a big issue that there are now enough professional organizers and “de-clutterers” to form their own trade group (the National Organization of Professional Organizers).  The wish to get better organized and “downsize” one’s home has led to the publication of many books and articles on the subject, as well.

Cluttering, and the more serious problem behavior known as hoarding, are often issues with the elderly, but can affect anyone.  For people who grew up in the Great  Depression, there are real historical antecedents to their tendency to save things, and their great reluctance to throw things away.  For others, though, clutter is more of a psychological issue.

The psychology of clutter

Smith College psychologist Randy Frost, PhD, has studied and written on the phenomenon of “compulsive hoarding.”  His studies indicate that hoarding behavior exists across the income spectrum; it is related to materialism, but is not just a Western experience.  It may have a cultural component, and tends to run in families.

Frost has identified a continuum of behavior, characterized at the extreme end by Compulsive Hoarding, a serious psychological condition.  Hoarders are characterized by (a) compulsive acquisition of useless possessions, (b) living spaces so cluttered they can’t be used and (c) distress or inability to function because of the hoarding. 

This problem has been linked to OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder).  Because it runs in families, it may have a genetic component.  There is no link to childhood poverty, as originally thought, but there is a link to emotional deprivation and the level of warmth expressed in the family during adolescence.  Frost estimates that there are as many as 4 million hoarders nationwide, but many more individuals who fall somewhere else in the spectrum of problematic cluttering behavior.

The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization has developed a 5-Point Clutter Scale.  Homes at Level One are characterized by clutter that is “not excessive” and by “normal housekeeping.”  Levels Two and Three have “increasing blockage of hallways and exits, certain rooms not fully usable, poor housekeeping, indoor items stored outdoors, pet problems, and possible rodent or insect infestation.”  Levels Four and Five require professional intervention.

Cluttered people (CP’s) are creative, tend to have lots of interests; they may be teachers or have craft hobbies, an unrealistic numbers of projects in process, with a backlog of materials.

Clutter and the “MS brain”

MS cognitive problems may include deficits in:

• short and /or long term memory
• concentration
• complex problem solving
• conceptual reasoning
• decision-making
• planning

Fatigue is also a huge problem.  Each of these can make sorting and organizing difficult and can lead to excessive clutter, or can make the tasks of organizing seem overwhelming. 

Why reduce clutter?

Living in a cluttered home can worsen depression, reduce motivation and productivity, and can be physically dangerous as well (danger of tripping and falling, exiting quickly in an emergency, etc.), especially for someone with mobility or balance problems.  Clutter tends to worsen and to feel more overwhelming the longer it is not addressed, often working in tandem with depression to form a “vicious circle.”

Getting organized can help you think more clearly, find things more easily, plan your days more effectively, and have more time and energy for other things (this may be especially important for people living with MS).

How to help others with the process of sorting and reducing clutter

Much of the sorting process involves deciding what to throw or give away.  The hardest items to throw out (especially for the elderly) may not be related to fond memories but to untapped potential- “artifacts of unused life” (i.e., projects never completed, books not read, trips not taken, etc.)  The process is very much a life-review and grieving process.
For people who are unable to tackle the problem alone and must ask for help, there may be denial or shame involved.

Helpers may need to do a lot of listening, and would do well to plan on this and leave ample time for it.  An impatient, well-organized helper might have difficulty with this part of the job.

When getting started, “prime” the person who needs the help – ask them what their most ridiculous area of clutter is, or what area or category bothers them the most, and start your work there.  It is important to pay attention to mood; if someone is angry, for example, it may be therapeutic to begin with something like throwing away old letters. Another suggestion is to start with the bathroom, where most people start their day.  Even something as simple as a clean, washed sink and mirror gives someone a psychological boost when this is the first thing they see in the morning.

Work out a specific plan with the CP for getting organized, with step-by-step, attainable goals.  Involve other friends and family members - give them attainable goals to help the CP.

Take photos of old items or record reminiscences, and make a “memory box” – this validates the objects for the CP.  Have them give items to, and thereby support, their favorite charity or organization.  Other items can be given away to specific, identified friends or family members.

Finally, while acknowledging that many items will have to “go”, it may not be helpful to refer to “the dump” because of its negative connotations.  It might be easier for the person you’re helping if they’re not assigned the job of final disposal.  

Tips and Strategies

~ Major De-Cluttering Strategies ~
(Cynthia Townley Ewer)

1. The “Four Box” Method.

• Gather three boxes and a trashcan.
• Label them “Put away”, “Give away/sell”, “Storage”, and “Trash” (or Recycling).
• Pick an area, like a drawer or a room, and work through each item in that area, making sure to not release your grip on an item until you’ve made a decision on which box it goes into.
• Reserve 10-15 minutes to empty the boxes to a more appropriate place inside (Put Away), or to storage outside (garage or trunk of car for trip to charity drop off).  Label storage boxes, write the inventory on the outside, and then store.  Keep the inventory list brief; don’t get too detailed.
• Empty trash or recycling quickly!

2. The “Box and Banish” Method.

• Gather all items in an area into a box or bag until the area and all surfaces are clean and clutter free.
• Open each box or bag one at a time, and put each item into a four-box arrangement, as before.
• Advantage to this method: instant results (great when guests are coming!).
• Disadvantages: your energies may flag before all boxes or bags are sorted, and they then add to the clutter; this method does not change the underlying problem of being disorganized- it works better when combined with a new system of organizing.

3. Ellen’s “Penicillin” Method.

• De-clutter one area, like a kitchen table, and think of it as being inoculated with Penicillin – do daily clutter checks to make sure clutter does not return.
• Next, start on a new area and repeat the process (focuses on prevention).

4. The “Closet-Go-Round” Method (Whole house de-clutter).

• Leave lots time (2-3 days).
• Identify each storage need and storage space (shelves, drawers, closets, etc.) available in your home (make a list); plan what should be in each space, regardless of what’s there now.  Plan and designate a “launch pad” (see #5 below).
• Get lots of boxes; place them in front of each storage area, starting at your front door.
• Go back to the first place, remove all items not assigned there, put them in a box.
• Move to each storage space and re-store items that belong there (gloves in the glove drawer, etc.), until the space is clear.
• Continue steps d. and e. at next area.

5.  The “27-Fling Boogie” (from Fly Lady – www.flylady.com).

Walk through your home with a garbage bag and don’t stop until you’ve tossed 27 items.  Do the same with a box for charity, and take the box out of the house right away.

6.  Organizing and De-cluttering Your Desk or Work Space

• Pick a limited area, like your desktop or work-station surface, so that the job is manageable in one session (mine took about 1 hour – 2 should be the maximum.) 
• Decide what is important to you to have on your desk at the end of the process; ie. computer, phone, calendar, current call list, bills, or other daily work.  What really belongs there?
• Identify other available storage areas; ie file drawers, shelves, bookcases, etc. and make sure there is space in each.
• Decide on priority space for priority items; ie. current projects or work (vs. items from last year, etc)
• Get a supply of folders ready, as well as a note pad for a “to do” list.
• Get a large box, and empty everything (carefully) from your desk or area to be de-cluttered into it.
• Take the time to wipe your empty surface with a cleaning spray or other product – it smells good and makes you feel better!
• Beginning with the top item in the box, decide one by one where each item is to go.  Only items that meet criteria #1 above should go back onto your desk.
• Create, label and date folders as you go.  Put newer or higher priority items in top drawers, near the front, or on your most reachable shelves.
• Don’t get distracted – if you have a “current projects” file or pile, assign something to it, put it there, but don’t work on it now.  Use your note pad to remind yourself to come back to something later.
• Time permitting afterward, you can refine your “current” pile to things that you really are or should be working on this week or month.  Perhaps you can create a “near future” or “to do soon” file and date it as such.
• Throw out or recycle as much as you can, especially dated material that no longer has relevance to your work.

 

~ General Tips ~

1.  “Launch Pad”

A “launch pad” is a dedicated space for each family member, a single location for all “out the door” essentials of life (handbags, wallets, keys, return videos, medications, appointment cards, etc.).  This could be a small table, or a plastic bin or pan.

2.  Other Tips

• Start slow, small and steady.
• Schedule regular de-clutter sessions, as little as 15 minutes a day, though 2-4 hours/day, once or twice a week is more effective.
• Don’t just “move” clutter; don’t begin until you’re ready to finish the job with the space you’ve identified.
• When sorting, don’t stop to work on something else, or to reminisce; create a “memories” file or box, a “to do” list and a “to do next week” file.
• Create islands, then peninsulas, then continents of de-cluttered space.
• Use Craig’s List to give things away.
• Pharmacies may be able to recycle or otherwise safely dispose of old medications (which should not be flushed down the toilet).
• Find a hazardous waste disposal site nearby, for old paint, chemicals, etc.
• If one system doesn’t work, discontinue it and try another.

3.  Staying De-Cluttered

• “Home on the Range” – establish homes for the “homeless”- mail, newspapers, magazines.  Give paperwork a file – bills, restaurant menus, etc., and use your recycling bin liberally.
• Establish “Clutter Preserves” – we can’t be perfect - allow a limited area for clutter, i.e., a kitchen junk drawer.
• Build good habits – i.e., establish a “returning home” routine (remove coat, always put in same place, keys, etc [launch pad]); immediately sort incoming mail directly over the recycling bin.
• “One comes in, one goes out” – for every new thing bought or obtained, an old one must be tossed, recycled or donated.
• Rely on outside resources – rent or borrow tools instead of buying them for one job; use the library to find and read back issues of magazines (instead of storing them yourself), or to find books or CD’s.  Similarly, you can use the online archives of a magazine or newspaper to find and read old articles.

 

~ Tips for Organizing ~
(Laurie Long, Gregg Robinson)

• Keep important items in a consistent place/location.  Write a list if needed; tape it to your refrigerator.
• Label storage bins and boxes, and keep current/running list of what’s inside.
• Organize papers into folders – clearly label the folders and date the info that’s included; this helps with discarding later.
• Use a calendar, and create a “tickler file” to remind you what to do later.
• Use a dry-erase message board.
• Use a message pad with a carbon copy page, if you’re prone to misplacing messages.
• Try a color-coding system for folders, calendars, etc.
• Using a good-quality shredder is practical and cathartic at the same time!
• (Jessica Duquette) To stay clutter free, daily maintenance must be worth it to you; you must be willing to spend a few minutes on this rather than on something else.
• Don’t micromanage – i.e., you don’t need to alphabetize CD’s; create two slots to sort mail, rather than four or five.
• Bar clutter before it gets in; for example, new mail should be looked at once, then thrown out or filed.
• When donating, think of the thrift shop as your friend, and don’t give them anything you wouldn’t give a friend.  Otherwise, it’s perfectly ok to throw the item away.
• It’s ok to get rid of things that other people gave you (keep sentimental items in one area, or take pictures of them instead).
• Consider giving things away to friends or family who would really enjoy or appreciate them, rather than keeping them yourself.
• Put a trash (or recycle) can right where your paper clutter accumulates, rather than across or in another room (this saves time and energy).
• Don’t assign more than one purpose to a sorting tool (i.e., a mail bin should be for mail only).
• Make wise use of “prime real estate” – keep important, often used items easily accessible.
• Keep whatever is truly important to you, but if it’s worth keeping, it’s probably worth using or displaying.
• Use a closet organizing system or product (worth the cost).

~ References and Resources ~

References:

Dudley, David, “Conquering Clutter,” AARP Magazine, www.aarpmagazine.org.

Duquette, Jessica, in “When ‘the Diva of Letting Go’ Steps In, Clutter Is On Its Way Out”, by Rebekah Denn, Seattle P-I, 5/7/05, http://seattlepi.nwsource.com.

Ewer, Cynthia Townley, “Declutter Guides, Parts One, Two and Three,” and “Tame Morning Madness With Launch Pads,”  www.organizedhome.com.

Long, Laurie, “Missing in Action – Coping With Memory Loss in MS, MSA of King County, www.msakc.org.

Websites:

National Study Group oin Chronic Disorgization (NSGOD), www.nsgcd.org.

National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), www.napo.org.

 
Books:

Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui
http://www.elliottbaybook.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=0767903595

Organizing for the Creative Person: Right-Brain Styles for Conquering 
Clutter, Mastering Time, and Reaching Your Goals
http://www.elliottbaybook.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=0517881640

Thanks to MSA volunteers Holly Quinn and Jim Andrews for their valuable contributions to this article.

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