Clutter: One big tip – don’t “treat” yourself – plus eleven quick tips for keeping your home uncluttered.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday: One big tip – don’t “treat” yourself – plus eleven quick tips for keeping your home uncluttered.

When you’re feeling blue or overwhelmed, it’s tempting to try to pick yourself up by indulging in a “treat.” Unfortunately, a guilty pleasure is often just that – an ice-cream sundae, a cigarette, an extra glass of wine, an expensive splurge, and other treats give a short-term boost, but then just deepen your blues as guilt and remorse set in.

I realized that one of my personal “treats” is the decision not to pick up after myself. Instead of trying to tidy as I go, as I usually do, I let small tasks mount up. “I can’t possibly be expected to do something like that,” I tell myself. “I’m too busy/too frazzled/too upset/too rushed. I deserve a break.”

The problem is that, in the end, the mess makes me feel worse. Maybe I enjoy a tiny buzz from flinging my coat onto the hall floor, but the disorder just makes my bad mood deepen. (Plus it’s not nice for anyone else, either.) On the other hand, serene, orderly surroundings make me feel better. Outer order brings inner calm.

Now, instead of “treating” myself to a mess, I make a special effort to keep things tidy when I’m feeling low.

Here are my tips for quick, easy steps to keep your surroundings uncluttered. Practically all of them are simple enough to be followed even when you’re feeling extremely overwhelmed:

1. Make your bed.

2. Put your dirty clothes in the hamper.

3. Hang up your towel.

4. Keep magazines out of sight (people disagree with me on this one, but I find it impossible to keep stacks of magazines from looking messy).

5. Shut all drawers, cabinet doors, and closet doors as you go.

6. Pick up the mail, immediately sort it, throw away junk mail, and put real mail in the proper place (I have drawer for bills and a file for invitations).

7. Put dirty disher in the dishwasher, or failing that, the sink.

8. Deal with the recycling. It differs a lot from place to place, but you know what you’re supposed to do.

9. Put books away in the proper place: back on the shelf, in the library-return pile, or in the donation pile. Speaking of that…

10. Keep a bag of things you want to give away. As soon as you decide you don’t want or need something anymore, put it in the bag. Every so often, drop off the bags at a thrift store.

11. Hang up your coat. My epiphany: I never hung up my coat – why? – because I didn’t like dealing with hangers. Eureka! I decided to start using a hook. Problem solved.

“Treating” myself to overlooking these steps feels illicit and fun for a moment (yes, I realize how boring my life must be if throwing my coat on the floor feels illicit), but in the end, I just end up feeling worse. If I follow these de-cluttering steps, even if I don’t do anything else to keep my apartment in order, the chaos stays at an acceptable level.

What have I missed? Are there other quick steps to take to keep your home uncluttered?

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I get a bick kick out of Dumb Little Man, and never fail to find very useful and interesting material there – very engagingly presented.

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Comments

[Vi]

My comment isn't to follow up on cleaning up, but to follow up on a good "pick me up".

I enjoy escaping from my hectic life and going to a local coffee shop or a Dunkin Donuts (for coffee, not donuts). It's a wonderful way to relax. Sometimes I bring my small notebook and jot down thoughts. Sometimes I strike up conversation with the stranger sitting next to me.

[Maria Helm]

Create large, clear spaces. I clean off the counters, tabletop, desktop, and centers of the floors. (By putting the things that are on them into the places they belong, not just shoving them aside.)

For anyone has family members with ADD/ADHD, or anxiety disorders, it helps a LOT to create an open, clean, orderly environment.

[EscapeVelocity]

I find that when I'm getting frustrated at work, I tend to spend a lot of time surfing the web--which, of course, does not get the work I don't want to be doing done.

[jean]

I love that last idea, Vi. It would be a stretch for me, but that's part of the joy of it: breaking out of more than one box.

For me, too, tidiness = tranquility. And a few sprigs of holly in a pretty vase makes the environment better with no hangover.

[adora]

I'd also add, "Don't buy decorations", like those hard to clean figurines from gift stores. Being janitor to possession is no way a happy life.

[Susan]

Great advice...even though I avoided doing EVERY single one of these last night! I agree: outer calm = (or almost =) inner calm.
The good news is that I listen to other's advice a lot better than my own!:)

I'm new to your site and I've been enjoying your links, tips and insights. Maybe a little like what EscapeVelocity wrote above :)

[FupDuckTV]

Congrats on solving that "Coat / Hanger Problem". People have been looking for a solution to that problem for years. Be careful though, Pegs and hooks can make you look hunchback from the stretched material.

[Paige]

Great tips, as always. One I can add is "get rid of stuff". If you are never going to order anything from that magazine, don't put it on the desk or in the drawer, put it in the recycle bin. I've also found that it makes my life so much easier to have my recycle bins right outside my door on the deck. Create a system that works for you.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

[The Healthy Librarian]

Gretchen,
Last May I was frazzled with way too much to do & just happened on "The Magic Secret of Making My Bed".

Really--that one little step has changed me forever. When you see how quick it is, it reinforces how little time it takes to pick up the house.

The Japanese call it Kaizen-
small steps to continuous improvement.

Orderly house equals a peaceful easy feeling in my book.

Your list is right on the money! I clear 3 book shelves in my den for the ever rotating collection of library books. We're allowed up to 55 at a time--and you can keep renewing!!

If anyone is interested in my May experience:

Fighting Entropy with New Habits--Why I Vow to Make My Bed Every Morning

Click here:
http://www.happyhealthylonglife.com/happy_healthy_long_life/2008/05/fighting-entrop.html

[Shanna]

I followed here from Zen Habits and your guest post today. I liked your list over there and I love this one even more. Thank you, now I have some "expert" ammo to send my hubby's way since these are argument starters for us.

[HP van Duuren]

Thanks for your useful (Traditional) Organising Tips'

On purpose I say 'Traditional' because if you have had a look at:

http://www.organizedr.com

You will get an interely new look on 'Getting Organised', It will give you a new perspective on what 'Being Organised' is, and you will see that a genius like Albert Einstein is extremely well organised while you see him sitting behind an awfully messy desk!!!

Nevertheless I understand exactly what you are talking about, and that it has to do with how 'a mess' makes you feel. I can totally relate to that also, as you can see in my blogpost about how to be 'Neathly Organised', that you can find at:

http://hpshappy.blogspot.com/2007/06/happy-to-be-neatly-organized.html

All the Best,
To your Happy - Organising - Inspiration,
HP

[ToryL]

Gretchen, lovely post, but I do feel I should speak up for a neglected minority: the confirmed non-bedmakers.

I am married to a habitual, lifelong bedmaker so our bed does get made, usually by whoever is latest up (other than the cat). But this week my husband is OUT OF TOWN(!) and OH! -- the joy of NOT making the bed. (I am not a tosser/turner, so things don't come untucked.) It is LOVELY to go upstairs at night and see it there waiting for me and my cat, all rumpled and inviting, like a cozy nest. I am SO enjoying this week of non-bedmaking. It is making me, hmmmm, well, happy.

To balance things out, my husband habitually leaves wads of paper and other things by the kitchen sink that should be put in the garbage or recycling. This drives me nuts because I am the main cook and that is my workspace. Unlike the bedmaking, he has NOT changed his ways since we got married.

Just to show you there are TWO sides to every bed! And we are all made happy, and driven crazy, by different things.

Have a joyful holiday!

[Christy]

Two things that nag at me if I'm walking out the door in the morning if I haven't done them: put the remote back in the remotes basket (yes, I have one of those) and put the coasters where they belong. Those two things will often clear my coffee table entirely which makes the whole place look neater.

[Brittany M.]

I absolutely agree with you on this. If I have a clean house, or at least a clean room, I feel exponentially better! No cigarette or bowl of chocolate ice cream doused with chocolate syrup can give me that refreshed and productive feeling. :)

[TasterSpoon]

It's all so spot on. This post speaks directly to me, and I agree with everything in it. Except that I know I'll be jazzed by the idea of picking up after myself for a couple of days and then I'll backslide. What to do??

[Brian]

Ah, a wonderful list of things that I should be doing but never do. I find it extremely difficult to maintain cleanliness as I go, and as a result of this as soon as the weekend cleaning is done the clutter starts to build up again until the next weekend.

I continue to tell myself that I don't mind. But really, I enjoy having a nice organized environment and wish that I was able to maintain it like so many people do.

Thanks for the reminder!

[Janet Bell]

The problem with recycling--where does it go? Material costs have dropped by 80-90% in the past month--globally. Which means all of our organized well intentioned attempts to be "green" and recycle is for nothing. So my piles of newspapers and magazines will get higher and higher--no place to go--except the landfill. Sorry to be depressing.

[dgm]

I'm doing better than I would have expected on this list, but I swear that #6 and #9 will be the death of me. . . .

[Anne]

I recently began doing this for myself. I finally acknowledged that 1) we no longer can find household help in our area (too remote) and 2) husband was not going to take responsibility for the housework for a variety of reasons. So I made a weekly list and put it up and have started following it. It's a small start but it has made me feel so much better. My big ones are: clean the bathrooms, change the sheets, and mop the floors weekly; and keep the dining room table cleaned off daily, so we can eat like civilized people. The more you do, the more it spreads. And the more I do, the more hubby pitches in.

[Heather at Grace303]

These are good reminders! By the way, I enjoyed your piece in Real Simple. Happy Holidays.

[Lynn]

Don't forget to empty the dishwasher promptly so that you can put the new dirty dishes right in!

[Kisa]

Thanks for this post - it was right on target for me.

My experience parallels that of EscapeVelocity: surfing the web is so easy to do ("it'll just take a sec") but contributes to a mental feeling of clutter that makes it hard for me to focus on anything else. So I've made a deal with myself that I don't open the laptop till the baby goes down for his nap. That gives me several morning hours to concentrate on "real life" and to feel grounded.

I tend to get al gung ho and make a schedule of perfect household cleaning, which I can never follow. Upon closer examination, there are a few things, easy to fit into small spaces of time during the day, that calm me and give me a sense of organized freedom. Making the beds (just taught the kids to do theirs, which is blissful), keeping up with the laundry (one to two loads a day, fold yesterday's each morning), emptying the dishwasher and putting in what's accumulated since dinner. Vacuuming downstairs each evening (now also a child chore).

In our family of five it's impossible for me to achieve the minimalist clutter-free space I had when I lived alone, and I suspect it's a "wrong goal." My desire for organization shouldn't trump a cosy, warm, friendly, inviting environment for my family--which it does when I get hell-bent on decluttering. But I've noticed that when I organize one little thing, be it a pile of old papers or an "everything" drawer, I feel great the rest of the day.

[kate]

Thank you Kisa - i struggle with the house and you are right, my goals are set way too high and what a shame it would be to spoil what i have : )

[Rose]

I already do all 11 of the items on the list; it wouldn't occur to me not to. A place for everything and everything in its place saves me tons of time when I have to find something. Difficult to get things done when the place is a mess, whether it's mail clutter, magazine clutter, messy bedroom or bathroom. Occasionally, I won't want to fold the laundry, but I know it will take me no more than 3 minutes to do it and then I won't have that chore hanging over my head, leaving me free and uncluttered inside, too.

[Anita]

I used to be in a relationship & he was very untidy. It used to drive me crazy until I discovered little routines like tidying up the sofa area before going to bed, or making the bed. The little things definitely help :)

[Marie]

I'm the worst when it comes to a 'pick me up'. Since I started my new job, about 2 months ago, I've been indulging in a treat almost every day for simply getting through the day. After first it was to keep the stress down during the first week. Then it was to keep my stress down toward the end of tax season. Now, I'm not too sure why, but it seems that every night I have a reason to stop by the mall, and buy myself either some item I don't need, or I pick up dinner on my way home. I'm actually pretty broke so I can't really afford it, and these things don't make me happier as I feel bad about it. How should I change that though?

[M.G.]

I've recently discovered a nearly guilt-free treat that *does* make me feel happier - fresh flowers! My mother gave me some money for my birthday with the explicit instruction to use it to buy fresh flowers every couple of weeks, and it's made such a difference in the "vibe" of my work space! They're not expensive, they last anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks, and they don't create any lasting clutter. But I feel so special when I'm unwrapping the latest bouquet and arranging them in the vase, and it's an instant lift to glance over at them and smile :-)

[Sherry]

I am one of the worst when it comes to picking up things in my room. I hate not being clean but the little things on the table and the bed is what I need to work on.

Thanks