The Clutter of Good Intentions
Some of the hardest clutter to eliminate isn’t made up of things we don’t want, it’s made up of things we intend to do something with.
The clothes you’re going to sell online.
The pictures you’re going to hang.
The chair you’re going to have reupholstered.
The box of things you’re saving to give someone.
The donations you’ve been meaning to drop off.
The stack of articles you plan to read.
None of these things feel like clutter because each one has a purpose attached to it.
The problem is, that purpose hasn’t been completed.
When an Intention Becomes Clutter
Good intentions can give belongings an unlimited stay in our space.
We tell ourselves we’re going to repair it, research it, see it, use if or find the perfect person to give it to. Sometimes we do…but sometimes months or even years pass and the item remains untouched. At some point, it’s worth asking:
Am I realistically going to finish what I intended to do with this?
If the answer is yes, create a deadline date and make a plan. If the answer is probably not, allow yourself to change the plan. Donate the clothes instead of selling (take the donation tax deduction). Let go of the projects you no longer want to complete. Recycle the articles you’re probably not going to read. Changing your mind is also a form of finishing.
Make Decisions, Not Holding Areas
Many cluttered spaces are really just holding areas for decisions that haven’t been made. Instead of moving those things from one shelf or room to another, decide now what happens next.
Do it. Schedule it. Delegate it. Or let it go.
There’s a surprising sense of relief that comes from finally resolving something that’s been quietly waiting for your attention. Sometimes getting organized isn’t about finding the perfect place fro everything, it’s about realizing that everything doesn’t need a place in your home.
Chaos To Order can help you work through those unfinished decisions, tackle the projects you’ve been putting off and create a home that feels lighter and easier to manage.