10 Questions that will Transform your Home–

I went into my son’s room the other day and saw piles of clothes on the floor of his closet.  WTH?  I could see they had not fallen from hangers because each hanger was already occupied.   I could not understand how this chaos happened until I opened his dresser drawers.  Bingo.  They were all filled to the brim.

I immediately did two things.   

First – I went online to Purple Heart Donations to schedule a pickup for the following week. 

Second – I gave my son a huge black trash bag and told him that he had 5 days to fill it up completely with clothes to donate.  

But that got me thinking.   

Chaos and disorganization only exist when the items you possess have no sensible, logical storage locations.  Those items are homeless.  And when your items are homeless, either you have too many items or your house is too small.  

Moving to a bigger home may be the solution for some.  Having gigantic walk-in closets and pantries like the Kardashians would certainly solve the disorganization problem for most people.  But if you keep adding items to a space without ever purging it, that space will eventually get disorganized, cluttered and chaotic no matter how big it is.  

Most people can’t move anyway and neither can I.  So the only way to stay organized is to find sensible, logical storage locations for every item in your home.  Every item you own needs a good home.  And here’s the tough part, homeless items need to be evicted. 

That has always been easier said than done for me.  I get attached to things, especially things connected with my children.  If I lived in a big enough house,  I probably would have found a way to save every piece of artwork they each ever scribbled since birth.  And actually, I did just that.  

Until my a-ha moment when I realized:

Three fundamental truths-

#1 – If everything is special, nothing is special.

#2 – Nobody will care about my “special” stuff when I’m dead  – not even the kids who made, played with or wore that “special” stuff. 

#3 – There will never be enough time to re-read the hundreds of books that cram my bookshelves, cook the recipes from the dozens of cookbooks in my kitchen or watch all the DVD’s I purchased years ago that I wanted to enjoy when I had some free time.  By the time I get that free time, DVD players won’t even exist!  

I was living in the world of “someday” and those future plans were threatening my present-day efficiency.  Once those truths solidified in my brain, I realized what I had been doing wrong.  I had been asking the wrong question every time I decided to tried to declutter and organize.  

I had been asking: Where can I put this item? 

I should have been asking: Why should I keep this item?  

I will admit that getting a glimpse into the future helped me learn those fundamental truths.  My father died and my mother has vascular dementia so as an only child, I have been responsible for her care and for the multiple properties my mom owns.  

At one point she owned 4 homes in four different states and three of those homes were filled with her belongings. One house has been emptied and sold but I will likely spend the next several years continuing to deal with the others. 

Therefore, keeping my three fundamental facts in mind, I have devised a plan with a series of questions that I am now using to help me organize my house.  

Drawers and Cabinets Matter Most

I realize that opening up the drawers and cabinets that are neatly hiding all of the mess inside of them seems counterintuitive.  This is particularly true when there is so much visible chaos and clutter in your face.  But invisible clutter causes visible clutter.

I’ll say that again.  

Invisible clutter causes visible clutter.  

That is why you must handle the invisible clutter first.  Here’s how. 

Pick a drawer, cabinet, or bookshelf and touch every item in it.  As you touch or hold each item, ask yourself the following question:

When was the last time I used this item?

That’s the easy question.  If you have used it within the last 12 months, that item can stay.  

But if you have not used it, you will have to ask yourself the 10 questions that will transform your home. 

1- Will I have to wait until another season of life before I will use this item?

2- Will I have to wait until another season of life before I might use this item?

3- Will I have to gain or lose more than 10 pounds before I can wear this item?

4- Under what circumstances would I choose this item to use or wear over the other items I own that are in the same category?  

5- Can this item be easily and cheaply replaced should I need it in the future?

6- Can I take a picture of this item or scan it into my computer to preserve the memory of it?

7- Given the size of the drawer, bookshelf or cabinet, will eliminating this item make the space function better?

8- Is this item occupying a space that should be occupied by a more frequently used item?

9- Will my future grandchildren actually want to play with, use or wear that item?

10- What will my loved ones realistically do with that item when I am dead?

Ok I admit, that last question is morbid.  Sorry.  But that is what the decluttering and organizing process will ultimately boil down to.  You truly can’t take anything with you.   Your family will have to make a decision about every single thing you own once you are gone.  

Trust me, it will be a daunting task.  

I’m pretty sure the minimalists have the right idea.  That’s the bandwagon I’m jumping on eventually. Maybe you will join me.

Happy Organizing!