Sorting and Organizing to Tackle Clutter

Tackling clutter can be an overwhelming task. That is kind of part of what clutter is, and overwhelming tasks are always hard to approach. The fact is the opposite of clutter is organization. So, one of the best things you can do to tackle clutter is sort through it and organize it. Sorting through clutter is easier said than done, especially when you are a collector, or someone who has trouble getting rid of stuff. However, learning the tips for sorting and organizing your clutter is a great way to get on top of the mess, and get your life in order.

You have to learn to part with things, or find a better way to store them. Clutter often happens because you do not want to get rid of things due to emotional attachments. You might keep hundreds of slips of paper, or ticket stubs, or worthless items simply because you have some sort of emotional attachment to that item. You may not even realize the attachment. However, if you are ever going to learn to sort and organize in order to tackle clutter, you have to start by learning how to let go.

Try sorting items into groups.

Next, you have to learn how to make groups. Your clutter can be easily eliminated if you learn how to group things the right ways. Take a kitchen for example, two kitchens holding the same number of items and laid out exactly the same can be very different. One can be a cluttered mess while the other is an organized haven. So, how can you make yours the latter? Well, the messy kitchen might be cluttered with bits and pieces of items in every cupboard. Meaning, instead of having one place for Tupperware, and one for glass bake ware, you might find a mix of each in every cupboard. So, sort through the items you keep in any given place, and group like items together. You might group all of the small appliances together, or all of your measuring items together, etc.

The next step to tackling clutter is organizing the spaces. You have to have them sorted out into like groupings. Once they are sorted into like groupings, organize the groups. The fact is that just because things are sorted does not make them organized. Clutter is quick to return if you do not organize the area in a way that it will stay organized. If you have, for example, a table by your front door, you can sort through the stuff on it, but it is just going to be a big mess again if you do not find a way to organize it. For example, you may want to buy an organizer. You might put a bin or basket for mail, a hook for holding keys, etc. Suddenly, an area that used to attract clutter, now becomes an organized place where you can easily find anything you are looking for.