Many times I’m hired by parents to help organize their homes and the first place they want to start with is their children’s rooms. I suggest we start in the parent’s room because this is the best way to show children how an organized room can look. Often the children want their rooms to be next.
Keeping your shoes, coats, car keys and paperwork organized will set a good example for others to follow.
If your spouse or children have too much stuff, making it impossible to organize, it’s time to downsize. Before tackling the clutter it’s important to find out what their goals are. Do they want to have more time for hobbies, entertain more, play outside with their friends, or do less housework?
Once you find out what their goals are there’s a very good chance that some of the items they are saving will be keeping them from reaching these goals. If they have a difficult time parting with something they no longer use, ask them, “Is this helping you reach your goals?”
Sometimes they don’t want to part with something because they think it’s valuable. Finding out the true value of the items may be all that is needed for them to part with them.
If an item does have value, offer to help them sell it. Sometimes people are willing to part with something, but doing the legwork of selling it keeps them from it.
Finding a good home for their stuff may be all it takes. Donating craft supplies to a nursing home, bath towels to an animal shelter or costume jewelry to a school’s theater program can be great avenues for items they no longer need. Check the websites of favorite organizations for wishlists.
Remind the person if they don’t deal with the excess now someone else will have to at a later date.
Helping others to get organized takes patience and understanding. Be compassionate and know that even though it’s stuff, it also holds memories. The past is important, but it’s not your life.
Holding on to items we no longer need may be holding us back from the life we’re living today.
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