Jackie Vanthournout Jackie Vanthournout C.D., RDH, POC.D., RDH, PO

What is clutter?What is clutter?

Delayed decisions.Delayed decisions.

How does clutter affect your life?How does clutter affect your life?

FamilyFamily RelationshipsRelationships Loss of self esteemLoss of self esteem EmotionalEmotional Physical healthPhysical health Mental healthMental health Safety and HygieneSafety and Hygiene TimeTime Your futureYour future FinancialFinancial..

Top 10 Reasons to get organizedTop 10 Reasons to get organized

more timemore time Save $$$$Save $$$$ Improve healthImprove health Better impressionBetter impression improve mental healthimprove mental health increase self confidenceincrease self confidence eat bettereat better make more moneymake more money controlcontrol Be a better parentBe a better parent

15 Steps to a decluttered home15 Steps to a decluttered home Kitchen : ask yourself what items do I use daily?Kitchen : ask yourself what items do I use daily?

Ask yourself how many of each of these items Ask yourself how many of each of these items you need to have a reasonable amount on handyou need to have a reasonable amount on hand

donate or discard your extra itemsdonate or discard your extra items

clear your countersclear your counters

Discourage paper pilesDiscourage paper piles

Clean off your fridge!Clean off your fridge!

Bathroom- clean out medicine cabinetBathroom- clean out medicine cabinet

Clear bathroom counter Clear bathroom counter

Make personal bath totes Make personal bath totes

Use wall spaceUse wall space

Bedroom-create peaceful retreatBedroom-create peaceful retreat

Clean out stuffed drawers and closetsClean out stuffed drawers and closets

Create peaceful havenCreate peaceful haven

Remember the one in one out ruleRemember the one in one out rule

Place 4 containers in your laundry roomPlace 4 containers in your laundry room

DownsizingDownsizing

Do I downsize or not?Do I downsize or not?

Where am I in my life?Where am I in my life? Is it myself and my spouse remaining in our Is it myself and my spouse remaining in our

original home that previously housed an army original home that previously housed an army of kids?of kids?

Or are you alone?Or are you alone?

Now that your kids are grown and gone, do Now that your kids are grown and gone, do you still need your 5 bedroom/2 bath home you still need your 5 bedroom/2 bath home with a full garage to boot?with a full garage to boot?

Are you tired of:Are you tired of:

Cleaning it?Cleaning it? Climbing stairs to do laundry?Climbing stairs to do laundry? Dealing with ever increasing costs to Dealing with ever increasing costs to

maintain your home? maintain your home? Don’t forget the exterior maintenance of Don’t forget the exterior maintenance of

gardening, grass cutting etc.gardening, grass cutting etc.

Speaking of kids….

Why burden your kids with the stress of clearing out your home when you can get a handle on it now!!

But I am only in my fifties!!But I am only in my fifties!!

Where there’s a WILL there’s a Where there’s a WILL there’s a wayway

Power of Attorney/ExecutorPower of Attorney/Executor

Orderly files- know where they Orderly files- know where they areare

Wish listWish list

If you love your kids….Speak If you love your kids….Speak up!up!

Leave a legacy not resentmentLeave a legacy not resentment

Good reasons to downsize…..Good reasons to downsize…..

How much lighter you feel

How your life is simplified

It’s a new trend, with all the new organizing shows

If you are not going anywhere and your health is pretty good, start now, take your time and spread it out over time

There are plenty of options…smaller home on one level…condo…apartment

And best of all….your kids won’t walk into a lifetime of clutter and be overwhelmed

Family visits:

you should not feel obligated to house your family in their original rooms

Simplify it a bit with spare room

Or a pull out sofa etc.

Of course you will need to get rid of some stuff

Admission!!

You already have more stuff than you need and probably more than you can use

Hands up for……

Cool Whip/Margarine containers

Stacks of magazines and catalogues more than a year old

Glass containers, twist ties

Expired medicine

A jacket that is perfectly fine but you haven’t worn since 1982

Things we tell ourselves….Things we tell ourselves….

I just never know when I am going to need it

There are so many things I can use it for

I had to go without as kid, so I will never go without again (respecting great depression survivors)

It was a gift, and I will honour the giver by keeping it

If I hold onto it long enough, it might become valuable

The more I leave the kids, the more they will have

Seven reasons to get rid of your own stuff:

1. You will experience less anxiety and worry about all of the stuff you seldom use

2. You will spend less time looking for things

3. You will be helping people in need

4. You will have more time to do what you really want to do

5. You will find things you forgot you owned

6. You will revitalize your routine with a new adventure

7. You will protect your kids from ever having to do what you may done with your OWN PARENTS HOME

You never know!You never know!

Reasons why it is so hard to downsize for some:

One spouse is a hoarder and to keep the peace the other spouse just tolerates it

Clever advertising screams an irresistible message: you need to buy this to be happy (slap chop)

We can afford it but do we really need it

Even if we can’t afford it, one swipe of a card

Peer pressure doesn’t stop at high school

Blurred lines between needs and wants

Indicators that tell you that you have too much stuff:

When I go to hang up a shirt or blouse in the closet, I have to push apart the other clothes to make space

I can’t see the floor in my closets

All of our kids have moved out

At least one bedroom has been turned into a storage area

We rent storage space or have filled a small storage barn

We have at least two empty bedrooms that are seldom used

There are more licensed vehicles than licensed drivers in our home

We have more than one credit card, and on at least one we are only paying the minimum balance each month

We can’t put our vehicles in the garage because we use it for storage

Organize before you move!!

Get rid of obvious garbage

Keep furniture that will fit in your new home

Purge….Be ruthless, simplify, lighten up, downsize

Pass along items you no longer want, use or need to your favourite charity

Get help with packing

Pamper yourself- take breaks

Pause and take time to check books, under shelves for money

Plan to surround yourself with things you love and treasure….Remember we don’t own anything forever we’re only caretakers

Pace yourself- enjoy finding things you haven’t seen in ages

Questions?...Questions?...

Thank youThank youHappy organizing!Happy organizing!