By Estelle Rodis-Brown
I was raised by a neatnik mother and a collector father. So I am a conflicted clean freak who loves holding onto memorabilia, paperwork and family heirlooms that nobody else wants.
I’m not alone in my chaotic clutter, straining to break free from accumulated stuff. Research by SurveyMonkey suggests that 66% of Americans are stressed or anxious because of a cluttered, unorganized or dirty home.
Clutter isn’t just upsetting; it makes life more difficult. It can complicate and delay daily tasks, making it challenging to focus and think clearly. Ever try to hurry out the door, only to discover you’ve misplaced your keys… and now you’re running late? Feel the pressure rise.
Living in a mess wastes time and money. People spend about 2.5 days a year looking for misplaced items, while 60% of us have repurchased missing things, resulting in wasteful impulse buying and reinforcing the cycle of over-accumulation. In more extreme cases, clutter gives way to dirt, insects, mold and other unsanitary conditions that can make people sick.
While the problem seems obvious, 54% of surveyed Americans are unsure how to handle all their household stuff. The overwhelm may feel too big to tackle, but autumn and post-retirement life are the perfect seasons to turn a new leaf, refocus on your goals and gain control over the clutter.
STREAMLINE YOUR STUFF TO JUST ENOUGH
When you enter your home, how does it make you feel? Do you open the door to a sense of comfort, calm and clarity? Or are you gobsmacked by frustration, irritation and anxiety?
Don’t panic. Just like any seemingly insurmountable obstacle, you simply need to take a first step to conquer it. Recognize that it took time for the problem to grow into its current condition; it will take time to bring order to chaos. Now that you’re spending more time at home rather than work, you can make small but measurable improvements that will inspire you to keep going along the decluttering pathway.
Remember what our parents used to say? “Clean up after yourself.” “You’re not done until everything is back in its place.” “The sooner you finish your chores, the sooner you can go out and play…”
If we straighten, sweep and clean throughout the day, this as-we-go approach can help us avoid huge pile-ups that could easily be put off for later. How to begin? All we need is a roadmap of sorts.
TRAVELING SOLO
If you choose the DIY route, you still need to follow a trusted expert, even if it’s from a book, Netflix series or website. Marie Kondo—and her KonMari method of decluttering, organizing and tidying the home—has taken feng shui principles to new heights. Her “Spark Joy” bestseller and multimedia spinoffs spell out her six-step process based on gathering together all your belongings, one category at a time, and then keeping only those things that “spark joy”…then choosing an appropriate place for everything else from there.
CALL A PRO
If you need extra help, there are several local decluttering/downsizing services to choose from, depending on the scope of your needs. Here are helpful tips from two of them; their methods differ, but both roadmaps intersect and can lead you to your desired destination.
Downsize & Thrive (downsizeandthrive.com) is an aptly-named moving service that provides start-to-finish options: planning/consulting, sorting/decluttering, packing/organizing and staging your current home for sale while ensuring a seamless plan, move-in and setup of your new residence.
If you or your loved ones prefer to age in place, Downsize and Thrive can make it safer by rearranging furniture, installing handrails and bars, and removing items from rooms you no longer use. They can also handle complete home cleanouts and bio-hazard situations, including hoarding and unattended death situations. Their website declares, “Let us handle everything.”
This Cleveland-based (Westpark) business is co-owned by husband-and-wife team Mick and Christie Jendrisak, whose combined experience in manufacturing, customer service, hospitality, logistics and real estate for older adults uniquely equips them to provide three tiers of service packages, depending on your level of need and how hands-on you want to be in the process.
The Jendrisaks say, “Our organizing philosophy centers on balancing expectations with reality and understanding the true level of necessity for each item in your home. We follow the Four R’s framework: Re-home, Recycle, Retail and Refuse. Everything can fit into one of these pathways, and the key is evaluating what you frequently use versus what has remained untouched. We believe in not letting the environment shape you, but rather, being the force that shapes your environment through intentional choices.”
Fivestar Space (5starspace.com) is owned and operated by Amy A. Mushinski, the only KonMari consultant in Northeast Ohio certified under Marie Kondo. She provides professional organizing and moving services, focusing on decluttering, downsizing and staging. She also offers three different packages, ranging from a space makeover (putting your house in order) to full interior organizing (purging what’s no longer useful) and mastering the move (sorting, pitching, boxing, unboxing and re-placing in your new or decluttered space).
Mushinski meets with clients around Greater Cleveland, both virtually and at their homes. She takes an encouraging life-coach approach to help them cast off paralysis, dread and shame, then create and maintain tidy, inviting living spaces that spark joy.
“We are on a journey together,” Mushinski says. “Whether you’re the kind of person who can’t seem to put things away or the type who can’t throw things away, it’s daunting to tackle alone. Regardless of where you are right now, I want to know, where do you want to go? What lifestyle do you feel called to live? I help people create the environment in their home that supports that lifestyle, eliminates shame, and sets clients free to live their best life.”
The key to embarking on a successful journey is setting your sights on your desired destination, not the current condition you want to escape. Build a bridge by picturing your optimized home. Then follow a trustworthy roadmap to get there.
EXPERT TIPS
First Steps
The Jendrisaks at Downsize & Thrive recommend taking each organizing project a little piece at a time rather than attempting whole-house overhauls.
“Start with a single drawer. Set a timer and get to work. Clear everything out and separate items into categories: stationery, electronics, keys, tools, etc. If you don’t know what something is for, that’s a key indicator to get rid of it.”
Next, apply these same tactics to a closet, then expand to an entire room.
“The secret is to keep expanding your approach gradually. Small, frequent movements lead to big changes over time, and this approach helps you maintain momentum from room to room or category to category,” they advise.
“If you find yourself getting off track, remember that the ‘Do Over Or Move (DOOM)’ habit needs to be broken. Re-engage by going back to basics: pick one small area, set that timer again, and rebuild your organizing rhythm. Consistency in small actions creates lasting transformation.”
Amy A. Mushinski at Fivestar Space follows the category-by-category KonMari method. First, tackle clothing, then books, paperwork, Komono (ancillary/miscellaneous objects), and finally, memorabilia.
The objective is to keep what works for you and the life you want to live. Do you have a closetful of mismatched, worn-out, ill-fitting clothes? Be free of them. Keep the clothes that make you feel and look your best.
“Marie Kondo nails it in suggesting that clients begin with the clothing category,” Mushinski adds. “After all, when you wake up, this is usually the very first decision we make. If our closets and drawers are a mess, this first decision of the day can be a complicated and stressful one.”
Staying the Course
So, how do you maintain momentum once you’ve made some progress yet there’s still a long road ahead?
The key is to exercise daily habits for continuous organization. It’s like topping off your gas tank every day to fuel your journey forward.
“Staying on top of mail and paperwork is absolutely crucial for maintaining an organized home,” say the Jendrisaks. “We recommend trying to make your household as paperless as possible, as this can really clear a lot of visual clutter and mental load.”
They also suggest going through clothing and shoes to maximize your space and prevent closets from becoming overstuffed. As you run across items that don’t fit or are no longer useful to you, drop them into a bag or box you set in the corner of a room (even just for a week). This makes it easy to donate castoffs once the box or bag fills up, rather than letting things pile up in a closet or back room.
“The key principle underlying all daily habits is building structure around what you actually have, not what you wish you had,” they point out. “This realistic approach makes maintenance much more sustainable, long-term.”
Keep your process focused on details within your vision, advises Mushinski. In other words, keep the pathways clear so you can access your reward. For example, if you want to enjoy an evening curled up in your comfy chair with a good book, stage that corner of the room so it invites you to do just that, with no obstructions in the way.
“Focus not so much on what you’re getting rid of but what you want to surround yourself with. You deserve to be surrounded by beauty and order so you can return to whatever daily routine sparks joy for you.”
In practical terms, this means streamlining your clutter load down to a manageable level, so each household object has its own dedicated space within your home.
“Your things need their own place to sleep, just like you do,” Mushinski says. So, sometime after supper, make it a habit to put your stuff to bed. Set a timer for 15-30 minutes to clean the kitchen or tidy the rest of the house. Set out your clothes for the next day and ensure your keys, phone and charger are in their proper places. This will set your course for a better tomorrow.
Joy in the Journey
A decluttered, orderly home brings more rewards than you may expect.
“The benefits of clearing clutter are proven to be beneficial, both mentally and physically,” say the Jendrisaks. “When too much clutter keeps you up at night, it can affect your sleep quality, which can lead to lack of exercise and poor dietary choices… creating a cascade of health impacts.”
From a safety perspective, a cluttered home simply isn’t safe, they point out. Proper organization minimizes tripping hazards; the floor should be a pathway, not a storage area. Keep frequently used items at counter height to reduce the need to bend over; this reduces physical strain.
“A well-organized home creates mental clarity and peace of mind,” the Jendrisaks say. “When everything has its place and you can find what you need quickly, it reduces daily stress and frees up mental energy for more important things. The physical act of organizing also gives you a sense of control over your environment, which can significantly improve your overall mood and quality of life.”
Mushinski couldn’t agree more. She promises, “Having a house that supports the life you are called to live brings you joy and sets you free.”
That’s a roadmap we can follow. Welcome home.
