Sherry Borsheim

I sure have, and I’m not surprised when I think of all the stuff that people have accumulated over the years. Especially since quick fixes and disposable gadgets have became very popular seemingly overnight, this situation has only inflated.

In fact, retail stores are now carrying more organizational products than ever before and personal storage has become a multi-billion dollar industry… and it is still growing.

With the current state of the economy though, more people have been thinking twice about their purchases and going back to the basics. We’re asking ourselves more often, “What’s really important in life?” and “Do I really need all this stuff?”

Clutter Anxiety + Too Much Stuff

People’s stuff says a lot about them. Your stuff, and amount thereof, is a direct reflection of what’s emotionally going on inside of you.

I often say, “A cluttered mind is a cluttered space.”

Many people avoid dealing with some deeply personal, unresolved issues. The consequence of this is that their things end up getting put off and piled up.

They say, “I’ll get to it someday” or, “I’ll deal with it later.”

The problem with things being left for “later” is that they can pile up quickly in a short period time. It can become such a big pile or spill into a bunch of piles, then you are stuck with not even knowing where to begin.

Next, this feeling of overwhelm and fear of failure sets in and they abandon the piles altogether. I’m sure we’ve all been there!

Emotional Clutter

For some, their identity is so wrapped up in their stuff. This inhibits them to live outside of the past. Their stuff and unfinished projects make them tired, lethargic, depressed, and also encourages procrastination.

For other cases, it’s people who haven’t developed good organizational habits yet. They’re still randomly putting things down on the first available flat surface they see. Oftentimes these people are late for appointments because they couldn’t find their car keys, reading glasses, wallet, etc.

And for others, their stuff really affects their finances.

Simply put; your stuff can run your life if you aren’t being intentional with it!

When peoples’ stuff affects their quality of life and/or the lives of others, that’s when you know it’s really problematic. Sometimes people put too much emotional value into their stuff, continue to live in the past memories, and aren’t able to live in the present moment.  They worry if they get rid of some of the stuff, they may need it someday or will forget about it.

The definition of clutter is “to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness.”

The definition of hoarding is “the act of collecting large amounts of something and keeping it for yourself, often in a secret place”  

Consider it an immediate warning sign to stop and re-evaluate what’s really important to you.

Unfinished Projects

So how do you know if your unfinished projects are becoming clutter or borderline hoarding? Well, it’s not as easy as it sounds. There is a fine line between a healthy amount of hobbies and materials, and when they begin to take over too much space.

To determine if your unfinished projects are causing clutter in your workspace and home, ask yourself the following questions and answer as truthfully as possible.

The First Step – Write it All Down

I invite you to take out a piece of paper (or use your phone/computer) and list every single unfinished project that comes to mind. It may take you an hour or two to complete this exercise.

As you write down your list of unfinished projects, you may feel like the mountain is just too big to tackle and you can already feel your stress levels rising.

I’ll let you in on a little secret… you’re not alone and there is help.

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Unfinished projects can slow a person down and their life can enter stuck mode.

When you’re in stuck mode, you tend to live in the past and often miss new opportunities that would have come your way if you had just created the space to allow it.

Purging the extra stuff is a necessary step here.

The Golden Organizing Rules

When we live without systems, resets of these systems, or even basic organizational rules for ourselves, life can quickly become chaotic.

What may come as a great spark of an idea can fade and be replaced with the next one, and the next, and before we know it there are piles around our home of knitting materials, bookshelves stuffed to the brim, dusty coin collections, an overflowing closet, etc.

To keep these piles at bay (and save our minds from stress and overwhelm), check in with your stuff using these two rules.

Two Key Rules:

1. Keep only what you love and use
2. Apply the 80/20 rule to your stuff – Something to keep in mind is that 80% of the time we use 20% of our favourite things. So which 20% of your projects are going to give you the best results?

As you finish these projects, the heavy weight you have been feeling will start lifting and you will feel feel lighter while noticing your is energy soaring, too! You’ll also feel a renewed peace of mind that everything has been handled and nothing is slipping through the cracks.

What unfinished projects are holding you back? Comment below!

(Part 2 to come next week)

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