When it comes to decluttering, the focus is usually on how things look. Look at that bedroom! I can’t see the bed! I don’t see how all those clothes can possibly fit in the closet. But we have five senses, and they all come into play when deciding what to do with clutter. Paying attention to what you see, hear, smell, feel and taste is a mindful way to take a step back from the emotions that might surround an object.
That baby blanket is so soft and brings such good memories of holding your newborn. The very sight of such a treasure warms your heart. And yet the persistent streak of mildew that runs through it gives the blanket a musty, dank odor. Your sense of smell has stepped in to protect your health and override the feedback from your other senses. The blanket has become clutter.
Ever step on something sharp? The searing pain in the arch of your foot as you step onto a piece of Lego can be one of the strongest motivators you’ll ever have to declutter your carpet.
A shrill alarm clock could be useful but if you never use it because it makes your head hurt, it’s clutter. If you can no longer hear the gentle buzz of a timer, that timer has become useless to you.
Many of my clients have cans of expired food languishing in their pantries because they never want to be without food. The sight of all those cans feels comforting. And one of the reasons they’re still around to debate the merits of keeping all those old cans with me is because if they were ever to open one and try to eat the contents, their sense of taste would leap into action to stop them eating anything rotten which could poison them.
Moldy potatoes, bread with green spots, and trash that should have been emptied last week all create an unmistakable aroma that tells you it’s time to declutter the pantry. As we age, our sense of smell becomes less acute. Those potatoes might not smell so rancid to us anymore but we can feel that the skin is wrinkly and the potatoes are soft. We see there are long eyes protruding from the potatoes. We definitely don’t want to chance tasting them at this point and we can almost hear the other residents of the pantry voting to kick those potatoes out.
This Saturday, find one sharp, sticky or uncomfortable item and either move it where it won’t hurt you or let it go. Or see if you can find a CD that no longer makes you smile. Or find out what smells bad in your house and take it to the trash. If it’s the trash itself, empty the trash can right now. Or find something in your pantry that’s been through at least three major crises and never been called into action. Thank it for trying to protect you and then let it go.
Professional Organizer Lucy Kelly shares decluttering tips on her blog, www.joyfulsurroundingsllc.com. Reach her at 720-526-211.
The Link LonkSeptember 12, 2020 at 07:49PM
https://www.timescall.com/2020/09/12/send-it-away-saturday-sensing-that-its-time-to-get-rid-of-that/
Send It Away Saturday: Sensing that it’s time to get rid of that - Longmont Times-Call
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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