Five Reasons Why You Can Successfully Declutter
Five Reasons Why You Can Successfully Declutter
“I have wondered how only 30 minutes works with 5 people plus you as the facilitator. That gives each person only about 5-6 minutes of personalized talk/sharing/asking questions time (at the most) including any help you share with the group.”
Does it feel like you’re starting in the middle of a story? Well, you are so let’s back up.
I recently asked my social media followers what kind of FAQs (frequently asked questions) I should answer on my UnjumbledNOW sales page (click here to check it out!) @dagszoo asked the question above.
UnjumbledNOW
UnjumbledNOW is my transformative small group program that takes you from a home that depresses you to one you want to show off to your friends. I take you step-by-step through decluttering whatever space you choose during our 4-week session. During your membership, I give you personalized advice and feedback in and out of class so you finally get a house you’re proud of and want to come home to.
Our small groups have no more than five members plus me as their professional organizer which prompted @dagszoo’s question: How do such short classes (30 minutes) deliver the personalized attention that brings results?
Kathy’s Story
Let’s take a look at Kathy’s experience.
Kathy’s house has bugged her for years. Boxes in the basement aren’t unpacked from their move—7 years ago. She cringes when opening a kitchen cabinet to get a storage container because something usually falls on her head. Guests mean she spends tons of time tossing stuff in rooms she thinks (hopes!) guests won’t go in.
But her clutter problem is getting more serious. She just cleaned out her mom’s house when Mom passed, and it was absolutely horrendous. The amount of time, energy, and cost was too much. Way too much. She swears she’ll never do that to her kids.
And then, she looks around her house and sees that’s EXACTLY what she’s going to do to her kids if she doesn’t change something. She has to declutter, but where to start? What to do with the stuff? It’s way too overwhelming.
Kathy is desperate and signs up for UnjumbledNOW. She selects the day/time she wants her classes. She’s ready to kickstart her clutter-free life. Awesome! I reach out ask what her decluttering goals are and where she’d like to start. In this case, Kathy doesn’t know. She mentions the basement . . . and the kitchen . . . and the guest room . . . and her bedroom . . . and the front closet and . . . She feels panicked and out of control.
That’s where my 20+ years as a professional organizer help her. I know the right questions to ask to figure out the best starting point. We agree that, for her, the best starting place is her bedroom closet. (Didn’t see that coming, did you?) Here’s the quick version of what goes on in my professional organizer brain to reach this conclusion:
dining room is full of things that never get put away >> when guests come, Kathy hides everything in her bedroom >> bedroom is full of stuff from other ‘ditch-and-runs’ >> getting to closet is challenging so clothes end up on floor >> closet is packed
I know that if we declutter her closet, she can then put away the clothes scattered around her bedroom. This makes it easier to deal with the remaining non-clothes piles. Focusing on the closet solves the closet problem, the bedroom problem and begins to solve the dining room problem because once everything has a home, it’s easier to put things away rather than drop them in the dining room.
Voila! We have our starting point.
It’s finally time for Kathy’s first UnjumbledNOW class. Woohoo! I send an email before class to let her know who her classmates are, how to join our private Facebook group, and how to access our meeting.
During classes, Kathy and her classmates tell me what they’ve done since we last met. They share successes that delighted them and challenges that held them back. I rejoice for their successes and provide solutions for the challenges.
Sometimes during class, Kathy works on decluttering. Sometimes, she sits back to chat, listen to my advice, and learn from conversations with her classmates. It’s amazing how many times hearing another member’s answer resolves a challenge Kathy is having.
Classes are 30 minutes long because I want members to realize how much they can accomplish by working for a short time but doing it consistently. But, a lot happens between classes!
Typical UnjumbledNOW 4-week Session
Class #1 – Kathy shows her closet and I advise her on what to keep and what to let go.
The day after class, Kathy takes a ‘before’ picture, declutters 30 minutes, and loves the progress she sees. She’s not finished, but she’s proud of herself. She takes an ‘after’ picture and posts it in our private Facebook group. Other members chime in with how impressed they are, how thrilled they are for her, how she’s inspired them to keep going, and to share a tip about awesome hangers they’ve used. No judgment, no criticism. Just love and support from others sharing the journey.
Class #2 – Kathy shows us the progress she’s made in her closet but mentions that she is starting to declutter some things in the bedroom because she knows she can do it pretty quickly. I remind Kathy of the importance of staying focused on the closet until it’s done. The bedroom clutter can be tackled when the closet is done, but it’s important to finish the closet so there’s a place for clothes to be put away when she starts the bedroom. I also explain that I want her to experience the feeling of success when she finishes an area. She’s earned it!
3 days after class, Kathy emails me because she found a box of yearbooks in the closet and isn’t sure what to do with them. After our email exchange, she knows just what to do.
Class #3 – Something has ‘clicked’ in Kathy’s brain and she starts to declutter faster and faster (this happens to most members). She’s not necessarily spending more time decluttering, but she’s more efficient and decisive as she works. The closet is done and she’s ready to start working in her bedroom. She needs to deal with her DOOM (Didn’t Organize, Only Moved) boxes. Brenda, a fellow class member, mentions she’s been working on DOOM boxes and has found that sorting them while she watches TV at night and dealing with the piles the next day has worked well for her. Kathy knows that would work for her too. Sharing is caring!
Class #4 – This is the last class for this session so we talk about what everyone is working on and where they’re going next. Kathy decides that she’s going to finish the bedroom and then move on to the dining room because it’s one of the first rooms you see when you walk in the house and sets a depressing tone when she sees it. Her closet is done and her bedroom is getting close. The dining room is a great place to keep the momentum going.
5 Reasons You Can Declutter Successfully
To answer @dagszoo’s question a little more succinctly, you’ll see results even though class time is short and there are others in your class because:
- You’re accountable to me and your group to show up every week. “I’ll do it later” doesn’t work when someone’s expecting you each week.
- The community support of your small group as well as the Facebook group is H.U.G.E. Everyone gets a chance to inspire and be inspired through their lifetime membership.
- Encouragement abounds in UnjumbledNOW. Not the fake kind, but the kind that recognizes that little steps often make the biggest impact in finally changing lives and homes. We see SO much to cheer about . . . space cleared, personal challenges solved, family relationships improving . . . it’s all there.
- You have ‘always-there help’. I’m your professional organizer during your whole membership–in class and outside class. I’m never more than a text, email, phone call, or Zoom meeting away.
- Staying focused on one or two areas over 4 weeks means not only do you declutter those areas, but you now understand what was broken before and how to fix it. Keeping the cluttered cleared? It’s a snap!
UnjumbledNOW members have tackled kitchens, bedrooms, closets, basements, craft rooms, studies/offices, guest rooms, linen closets, pantries, sentimental things, and more. You are successful because this is a group where you can find answers and support every step of the way.
If you’re like @dagszoo and have a question, let me know. I’ll answer you and may even write a blog—you never know!
Receive great decluttering advice AND be one of the first to know what I'm up to!
We being our clients’ biggest cheerleader as they work toward
an 
lifestyle.
