The Clutter Fairy Weekly #215
A Brighter Emotional Landscape: Declutter for Positive Change
Many of us experience a feedback loop between clutter and negative emotions—we feel bad, so we ignore or exacerbate our clutter, which makes us feel worse. Living with clutter can reinforce unproductive patterns such as self-distraction, resistance, and avoidance of pain. In episode #215 of The Clutter Fairy Weekly, Gayle Goddard, professional organizer and owner of The Clutter Fairy in Houston, Texas, explains how the decluttering process can help us release bad feelings and work toward a more positive emotional environment.
Content in this episode is based on the results of audience surveys.
Some content in this episode is based on results of a survey of our audience.
Watch on YouTube
Listen to the Podcast
Click the Share button to share the podcast, download an MP3 file, or subscribe through your favorite podcast platform.
The Weekly Tittle is an exercise designed to focus your attention on a specific space, aspect, or challenge of decluttering and organizing your home. We assign a new tittle in each webcast/podcast, then check on your progress the following week.
Self-care for a Positive Decluttering Experience
This week’s assignment is to try one or more of our declutter-focused self-care suggestions:
- Express your gratitude (or positive attitude). Post on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel, or in a comment below when you’ve accomplished a clutter-reducing task.
- Journal. Take a moment to write in your journal about the experience of letting go of something, or call a friend to talk about it.
- Exercise. Set a timer and declutter for 15 minutes a day, or try the “10 Items Exercise.” Each day, pick up 10 items to throw away, 10 items to donate, 10 items to put back where they belong—or any combination thereof.
- Meditate. Sit still in a clutter-free space and focus on how you feel. If your home doesn’t yet include such a space, find one out in the world. Go sit in a furniture showroom, a model home, or a museum or art gallery. Notice how your mind feels in this environment.
- Not-so-random acts of kindness. Give something away as a donation, then tell us about it in a blog comment below, on YouTube, or on our Facebook page.
For the full discussion of this week’s tittle, watch the Weekly Tittle segment on YouTube.
I worked with the exercise portion of the tittle this week. Putting items back where they belong. A lot of times these items did not have a regular landing pad so the next question was ‘where would I look for it or where/how will I use it’. This came in handy Saturday when looking for the tablecloth for canasta as this was the first time the game was at my house since last summer. Players help set up table and chairs since these are stored under the stairs. I mentioned I had gotten a tablecloth to cover the split in the folding table. Skeptical looks from one person in particular (I swear you could eat off her floors) but it was most gratifying as I was able to reach in close to where the table had been stored to grab said tablecloth for its first use!
Thank You Very Much for these timely tips I’m able to put into practice.