Three habits that quietly change your relationship with clutter


Hello Reader,

Most of us imagine that getting on top of clutter requires a big push. A free weekend, a burst of motivation, a complete clear-out. And often it does, which is why I work with people in three day intensives.

But underneath all of that, there is another layer of work that happens in the small moments. The tiny decisions you make as you move through your day that either feed the clutter or begin to dissolve it. These habits can help maintain order once you have done a big declutter, or help you to make a start on the process and begin to shift your relationship with clutter, one decision and action at a time.

Here are three of the seven habits from my latest blog post.​

What every open drawer is telling you

Next time you open a drawer to retrieve something, pause for a moment and scan what else is in there. Ask yourself honestly: do I ever actually use all of this? You do not need to do a full sort. Just identify one or two things that could go in the bin or the donate box. Repeated consistently, this small act begins to retrain your brain away from holding on and towards letting go, which creates new patterns of behaviour that serve you rather than quietly sabotage you.

One in, two out

The one in, one out rule is a classic, but if your wardrobe is already overfull, it will not be enough on its own. This simple technique could begin to shift it. For every new item you bring in, look for two or three things you could let go. If that feels difficult, try framing it as a reward: every two or three items you release earns you the pleasure of shopping for something new. It turns decluttering into something you are moving towards rather than something you are forcing yourself to do.

Keep your vision alive

This one is easy to overlook, but it may be the most important. Taking even a few minutes at the start or end of the day (or week) to acknowledge your progress and reconnect with how you want your home to feel keeps the momentum alive on the days when it all feels too much. Your home and your inner landscape are more deeply connected than most people realise. Tending to one mindfully always affects the other.

These are three of seven habits I have written about in a new post on my blog. The full article covers all seven, including a simple re-entry ritual that takes less than two minutes and could stop clutter building at the front door, and one small thing you could do every time you leave the house that adds up more than you might expect.

You could read the whole thing in under five minutes.

​Read the full post here​

I hope it gives you something useful to take into your weekend.

Best wishes

Working with clients in London and all over the UK.

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Helen Sanderson, The Clutter Therapist

Author of The Secret Life of Clutter, psychotherapist, designer and one of the UK’s most well-respected clutter experts, Helen works with her clients holistically to uncover what their homes reveal about their psyches and what is blocking them. And then, with compassion, take positive action to clear those obstacles. This leads to life-changing shifts, which leave people with a new-found clarity and homes that support them to live their best lives

Read more from Helen Sanderson, The Clutter Therapist

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