Clear your home and clear your mind

Living in a messy and unorganised home can feel stressful and chaotic, and for those with hoarding issues the mess can often even feel overwhelming. We have put together a useful step-by-step guide to help you organise your home, declutter and, give yourself some breathing space.

Firstly, don’t be afraid to ask friends or family for help if you feel daunted by the prospect of decluttering your home. Organising your possessions and deciding what to keep or discard can be emotionally as well as physically tiring. But the end result is definitely worth it!

Set yourself some goals – decide to tackle one room or space at a time. It’s a good idea to start clearing the area that will have the biggest impact. This could be a messy room, wardrobe, or clutter filled cupboard that disrupts your day to day life.

If it feels daunting and you don’t know where to start, try setting a timer and working on one small area. You will quickly be able to see what you have achieved, and you’ll be surprised how much better you feel afterwards.

Set yourself some rules for how to decide to keep or dispose of an item. For example, if you haven’t used or worn something in a year then it’s probably time to get rid of it. You’ll need to make a plan of where your old belongings are going to go and make sure they go exactly where you planned as soon as possible.

Organising your items

Start by grabbing a bin bag and throwing away (or recycling) any obvious rubbish or waste, then organise your items in the following groups:

Keep

Essential items that you need on a regular basis, be very strict with yourself here. It’s easy to tell yourself you may need it or wear it again, but the reality is if you haven’t used the item in a long while then it is time to go!

Sell

Items like clothes, furniture, toys, and household belongings that you no longer need, but are in good condition, can be turned into cash using online marketplaces.

Donate

Pass on things in good condition to local charity shops, or place old clothes and bedding inside the textile recycle banks across the city.

Store

Belongings that you do not immediately need but are causing unnecessary clutter, such as sentimental items, should be put away for safe keeping.

Everything else

And anything that doesn’t fit in one of the groups above should be thrown away. If you have large items to bin, you’ll need to book a bulky refuse collection.

What next?

Once you have cleared the clutter and chaos from your home, you’ll instantly feel better. Not only will your home look great and be easier to keep clean, research has shown that decluttering can also help alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety.

Hoarding

If you or someone you know is hoarding or the disorganisation at home is so bad you can no longer sleep in the bedroom, bathe in the bathroom, or cook in the kitchen, then it’s time to get help and take action.

We’re here to help you get on top of the situation before it impacts on your wellbeing and affects your neighbours. Get in touch (or if you’re a leaseholder please call 023 8083 3003). You can also make an online referral or request support.