Generally speaking, every item in your space was acquired for a purpose, right? That box was to sort the items in the guest bedroom, the extra packs of toilet paper were purchased on sale, the books that cover the floor all have intriguing titles, the papers on the desk have great ideas or could have pertinent information. Listing items that were originally collected with intention but have a tendency to become clutter is easy, just look around where you are right now. Disproportionate quantity, lack of organization, and poor storage all contribute to turning usable, valuable or precious items to clutter. “…But I might need it someday” is true, but what do you need today?
Businesses need focused, efficient employees. Homes need comfortable, easy to maintain spaces. Put simply - people need a sense of calm that only comes from organization. It’s amazing how organizing and simplifying your space will make you feel because it actually invites focus and efficiency. As the quantity of items with potential increases, your personal potential will tend to decrease. For example, looking for a lost item or managing mounds of maybes takes time and energy - both precious resources. How could that time and energy have better been utilized? Maybe it could have been used to land that new client, take your spouse out on a date, or even take a well deserved vacation. Considering the real value of your time is something few people do. For a ballpark figure (we won’t discuss here if the figure is appropriate or not) consider your salary as a guideline. If it takes one hour to find or acquire an item, what would it have cost your employer in wages paid? Manage your return on investment (ROI) by comparing the value of your time spent to locate the item, add the cost of storing that item since its last use (square footage is expensive), and compare it to the cost to replace the item. It would make absolutely no sense spending 2 days looking for a stapler, but I know people that have done it. Chances are you do to.
So how do you know if it’s clutter? Quite simply, clutter is anything that no longer earns its keep. And yes, many of those things could be used “someday”, but quite frankly, if you can’t find it, you don’t have it and you probably won’t have the time and the energy to look for it when you need it. It is difficult to get rid of items that you could need “someday.” There is nothing more frustrating than needing something you just got rid of… except perhaps knowing you have it, but not being able to find it. So, if you use it, organize it. If you cherish it, store it well. An organized space starts with essential items in manageable quantities, organized according to a user defined group (i.e. crafts), stored in good condition, in the right container, in the right location, and clearly labeled. …”But maybe I’ll use it someday” items are welcome, as long as they don’t complicate today by taking up critical space for the “I need it today” items.
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