These holidays really got in the way of my clutter bustin’! Did they for you?
Hope you had a chance to watch an episode of Clean House for inspiration.

…and if you did’t get a chance, here are some Niecy Nash-isms to get you in the mood for bustin’ some clutter:

. Who wants a clean house?

. This room is full of mayhem and foolishness.

. Take me to your foolishness!!

. I'm going in. (flip of the head for emphasis)

. Time is Tickin’

. Oooooh! Miss Niecy's got some work to do...

. Mmmmmph! (full stare into the camera)

. Mmmm! Mmmmph! (with a knowing look and a flip of the head)

. Let's git to gittin'!

. Time to take a big girl pill!

. I have three children. Whining doesn't work on me.

. Owwwwwwwww!!!!!!!

. Ahh the mayhem and foolishness of it all!!

. Get your wax and stacks and head on down the tracks!

. This room was a *hot* mess!

. Baby, we cleaned *house*!

. I know what you're thinking. Oh, Miss Niecy. When are you comin’ to *my* house?

It's time for our New Year's Resolutions, y'all -
…so, let’s git to gittin’!!

How to Have a Low Clutter Christmas

from ehow.com: http://www.ehow.com/how_4601200_have-low-clutter-christmas.html

By AlohaVikki

How many of us really need more things cluttering up our already overly crowded homes and lives?

Here are some suggestions to minimize the accumulation of stuff that people have to find somewhere to stuff on Christmas.

1. Buy consumable items. Food is good. Can anyone say "chocolate?" Perfume (but make sure she likes and wears it.) Ditto cologne. Things like coffee gift boxes (If they drink coffee, that is.) Flowers are nice for relatives and in-laws. Gas cards for college students.
2. Buy clothes people want. That way they can pass on the things they don't need or want anymore and put the new ones in their place.
3. Provide a service like pampering your spouse for a day with homemade spa treatments.
4. Make your own: soap, candles, cookies, hot cocoa mix kits or whatever to give as consumable gifts.
5. Give a trip or cruise to your spouse with you to somewhere special. (But try not to go picking up a lot of souvenirs while you're there if you want to reduce clutter. Digital photos are good mementos of your trip instead.)
6. Gather up all those pictures of your loved one(s) that are lying around, pick out the best ones, put them in a picture or scrapbook made of acid-free paper and put cute little notes or stories on each page about the pictures.
7. Send Christmas E-cards instead of paper ones.
8. Provide an experience such as kayaking,skiing or flying lessons.
9. Give tickets to sporting events,concerts,theatre.
10. Make edible ornaments for the tree like stringing popcorn and cranberries(for the birds)and making gingerbread men(for the people.) Candy canes can be hung from branches and given to children and guests as well.
11. Instead of buying special holiday dishes and tablecloths, buy white ones you can use all year and
12. Give downloadable e-books,movies,video games or other wanted programs.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to tailor the gifts to the recipients.
• Investments such as savings bonds or college funds might make a good gift, but in this economy, who knows?

Mood and Mind Vegetate as Clutter Accumulates

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“Clutter” is a variation of the word “clotter” (Old English, now obsolete) – which is also the origin of the current word clot, which can be used as a noun or verb:

–noun

1. a mass or lump.

2. a semisolid mass, as of coagulated blood.

3. a small compact group of individuals

4. British Informal. blockhead, dolt, clod.

–verb (used without object)

5. to form into clots; coagulate.

–verb (used with object)

6. to cause to clot.

7. to cover with clots.

8. to cause to become blocked or obscured.

One definition of “clutter” that surely makes sense is: a state or condition of confusion.

Our mood and mind vegetate as the clutter accumulates!

It’s the confusion. Our energy is sapped because the coagulated mass of clutter is blocking our ability to move and grow.

Negative effects of clutter include (but are not limited to): lack of focus and clarity; feelings of being professionally, creatively, spiritually, and/or romantically stuck; insufficient time and attention for self and family; increased stress, irritability and depression.

My mom recently had to have the arteries in her leg re-routed and cleared because of blockages. The blood clots started small (as do the areas of clutter) – but after years of not being noticed the problem became painful and had to be addressed! I think that’s where some of us are in our lives with the clutter: to the painful point…

One of the principles on fastfengshui.com is to Clean up your clutter. It says that: “Dirt and clutter are like glue that stops chi in its tracks and keeps it from nourishing your home.”

Your chi is what Chinese philosophy teaches is the “circulating life energy”. Well, I don’t know about all that Chinese philosophy stuff – but I *do* know that clutter sucks the energy right out of you. They’re right about dirt and clutter being like glue. It gums up the works!!

I’m enjoying these articles by Stephanie Roberts on the fastfengshui website:

Conquering the Clutter "Yeah, Buts"

When 'Just Do It' Isn't Enough: Coping with the Emotional Aspects of Clutter Clearing
Clutter is Natural
What Clutter Clearing Can Do For You
Clutter's Side Effects: How the State of Your Home Affects Your Life
Clutter Clearing and Your Authentic Self

…and if you’re interested, here are links to the Fast Feng Shui Principles
Principle 1: Know What You Want
Principle 2: Locate Your Power Spots
Principle 3: Create a Path for Chi
Principle 4: Repaint, Repair, Renew
Principle 5: Clean Up Your Clutter
Principle 6: Neutralize Negative Influences
Principle 7: Activate Your Power Spots
Principle 8: Work on Yourself as Well as Your Home
Principle 9: Evaluate Your Results

How is Clutter Affecting Your Life?

Last meeting we watched the TLC special, “Help! I’m a Hoarder”.

A couple of things that struck me:
1) The brains of “hoarders/clutterers” works different from non-clutterers.
2) We’re not the only ones.
3) There is help for clutterers - but our brains have to be basically “re-trained” to think differently.
4) It could be worse.

Melodie update: She *was* evicted and has been homeless. She has a storage unit and sleeps there sometimes.

There’s more about Melodie here:
http://www.transom.org/shows/2006/200606_after_the_dumpster/

---

For next meeting the homework for this time is to think about ways that clutter affects your life.

Check out this article for some ideas:
http://blog.neatandsimple.com/blog/2006/05/clearing_clutte_1.html

…and be prepared to talk about a way that clutter is significantly affecting your life. We will discuss possible ways to work on those areas – or at least provide support for you in your hour of need.

:-)

Hoarding Research - Volunteers Needed

There was a post on a group discussion board on FaceBook. They’re asking for volunteers – and it looks relatively harmless, if you’re interested:
(Note: You do not have to be a Hoarder/Clutterer to participate.)

I took the survey, and it wasn’t painful. It took about 5 minutes, and they didn’t ask for *any* personal information.

This questionnaire is for a Sheffield University (U.K.) research study, looking at beliefs about relationships and hoarding behaviors.

If you want to contribute to this study, the survey is at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=MaXONc_2fHVL2np9lDv2JC5A_3d_3d

…and their website is here:
http://www.compulsivehoarding.net/

Make your contribution to society today!
(if you want to)

=============================================================================

Hello,

I am a Trainee Clinical Psychologist at Sheffield University, UK. My colleagues and I are interested in compulsive hoarding and are looking for volunteers to take part in an on-line questionnaire about relationships and hoarding behaviours. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. We are looking for volunteers both with and without hoarding behaviours.

Our website www.compulsivehoarding.net contains some information on our research project and a link to the online questionnaire in addition to some links to sources of support and information for people affected by hoarding.

This research has received ethical approval from the departmental research ethics committee and has university sponsorship / governance in place.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of our research or would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact me on research@compulsivehoarding.net


Your help will be really appreciated!

Yours sincerely

Emma Bodfield
Trainee Clinical Psychologist
The University of Sheffield, UK.

De-Cluttering Tips - from Last Meeting

Notes from last meeting (10/4):

Our homework assignment from the previous meeting was to bring a tip for de-cluttering or organizing. Here were our ideas:

Tips:

. Turn hangers backwards in closet for clothes you haven’t worn in past 6 months. In 6 months, if you wear those closes, turn hanger back around, if in 6 months the hanger is still backwards – this discard or giveaway clothing.

. Throw something away in each weekly trash pickup.

. Have a garage sale and do not bring anything back into the house. Leave on the curb and call Goodwill or just let scavengers have it.

. Create work/activity “stations” with the items used in that activity located close to where you perform the activity.

. Handle incoming mail (and other papers) only once. These are the options for decisions/actions that must be done:

- Keep (file/store for future reference – or scan/take photo to file and throw away original)

- Act on (bills to pay or other follow-up needed)

- Throw it away (or shred and throw away)

Accomplishments:

. I finally put-up the spaghetti dishes up, that my mom got me for Christmas

. I have a lot of stuff in bags, so I am cleaning out at least one bag to make the weekly trash schedule

. I had a garage sale – and did not bring anything that did not sell back into the house

. I am sorting my tools and creating a tool “center” that will be located close to where they are used. For me, I use them in multiple places (van to customer site, van to shop, storage shed and in the house) so will be locating the center near the side door for easy access to all of these places.

. I am (well mostly my husband is) keeping my counters relatively clear in the kitchen – and am trying to do the one-touch for paper items thing.

New Additions to Personal Goals:

. Look on Ebay to see the value of Grandmother’s crystal (for possible sale)

. Need to create a bill-paying “center” at home

Next Meeting Assignment:

. get rid of duplicates of clothing items – like if you have three blue shirts that are extremely similar, get rid of two of them. You get the idea. If you don’t have duplicates, get rid of some other un-needed clothing item(s). (baby steps)

…also, we will be viewing the “Help! I’m a Hoarder” video at next meeting. If you can’t make it to the meeting, the video is available (in pieces) on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Help!+I%27m+a+hoarder%22&search_type=

Afterwards, we will discuss.

Help! I'm a Hoarder - Repeat Showing Sunday, 10/5

The documentary, "Help! I'm a Hoarder" is being re-broadcast on TLC at 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM Central DST on Sunday, 10/5. (That's 8 and 11 Eastern.)
Description:
Three individuals face the damaging effects of compulsive hoarding.

I'm Tivo-ing it - so we can watch it for discussion at our next meeting.

Second Meeting - Notes

We had our second meeting last weekend (but I'm just now getting around to posting), and since we had some new attendees, we reviewed the short term/long term goals and talked about the definition of hoarding and why people hoard (previous posts). Our next meeting's homework is to share an organizational or clutter-busting tip/hint with the group - and to tell how we are using that in our own clutter-busting efforts.

Also - I wanted to let you know that I am duplicating these postings in a FaceBook group called "Hoarding/Cluttering Support Group" - in case you are a member of FaceBook.

One more thing: I had a question this week from one of our members - and will share the question and my answer - but would like to hear from you if you have other solutions they should try.

The question was:
How do you keep yourself focused on the project you are working on?
Such as: I’m working on my short term goal and before I know it I’m in another room doing something else. UGH

My answer was:
I think that you need to set “boundaries” for yourself. I don’t think you can totally keep from stepping beyond the boundaries, but when you notice that you have crossed the boundary, give yourself a (gentle) slap on the hand – and return to the assigned boundaries and continue your “project”. One thing is that you may have set the boundaries too large. For example, I’m thinking you may need to set a time limit and a smaller “piece” of the big project to do within the specified time limit.

(You may want to extend the time limit and add a piece – but knowing that you don’t have to “right now” may make it easier to stick to the boundaries.)

Also - Here’s a tip I found online:

3 Simple Steps to Clutter Busting

Have you ever noticed that clutter tends to suck the energy out of the marrow of your bones? Here are 3 simple steps to start breaking your clutter habit:

First. Select one SMALL area to clutter bust; not the whole kitchen, just one section of the countertop; not the whole office, just the top of one file cabinet or bookcase.
Get it? Messy closet? Just one shelf. Messy car? Just the front seat or glove box.

Second. Set a timer for 15 or 30 minutes to work on it. Don't do anything else during that time but put things away; make a place to put something and then put it away; or get rid of it.

Third. Approach the job with a huge trash can or bag, a container for stuff you will donate and an attitude of "If I don't need it or use it NOW, I will toss it, donate it or recycle it.."

Even clearing out this one small area will leave you feeling terrific. You know the old saying, "Success breeds success." Well, every time you look at his clutter busted area, you will feel successful, more organized and - best of all - energized.
And once you get started, you might even enjoy bringing order to your chaotic clutter.
Happy Clutter Busting. - http://www.ritaemmett.com/tips/tips-2007-06.htm

Keep it Klean! - Deby

Saving Your Children From the Trauma

As I am getting "up there in years" (I'm not saying *old* - but just a little closer to Heaven than others), it occurs to me that I do not want our son to have to go through the trauma of dealing with all of our clutter. I just went through three weeks of intensive clutter-busting, and it was *extremely* traumatic for me!!
I was talking about this with my hubby the other night, and we are beginning to realize that all of those projects that we thought we would get to one of these days - may just not make it to fruition. It's time for us to take a more realistic look at the project "bits and pieces" that we have been collecting (hoarding?) for 30+ years and pare down to some more realistic objectives.

Save the Children!!

Why Do People Hoard?

Here are some reasons. I didn't write this, but way too many of them apply to me. WOW!! You'll probably recognize me, when you read those parts...

Can you think of more?

SENTIMENTAL VALUE.
* Now you would expect for these things that are kept to have a purpose, to be meaningful or valuable. But for the person that Hoards, the usefulness and/or value may lay in the most unexpected things. Sentimental value is only 1 of the criteria to keep just about anything. This value is also about feeling the item is part of "you" - or a part of the person who gave it to you, not just an independent object.
MISCONCEPTION: The moment I discard of this item I discard a part of myself or the person who gave it to me.

DECISION MAKING.
* The "What If's" that are so typical of OCD are found here too. Those with Hoarding Behavior find it extremely difficult to make decisions, and end up avoiding having to make any by keeping everything.
"What if I may need this 1 day? Where is the harm in keeping just this 1 extra thing?"
Not having to make the decision of discarding something literally means that they can't make any mistakes while doing so. Sounds simple enough, but how better to avoid making mistakes than to yes, avoid doing things, making decisions. You can't do anything wrong if you don't do anything. Those who don't try can't fail.
MISCONCEPTION: The moment I decide to throw something away I may be making the wrong choice.

ORGANIZING.
* There is also the difficulty with knowing how to organize objects, not being able to see how you would possibly store them in a logical fashion (Which is ironic considering the visual chaos that is created by the Hoarder). But while this chaos may be painfully apparent for outsiders, the hoarder himself often finds some logic in this. To him a pile of junk may very well be the only way he can sense some control and order. If only because the pile will literally be created by stacking what is most important on top.
MISCONCEPTION: The moment I am unable to know how to categorize an item, I will place it in sight so I will know where it is.

RESPONSIBILITY.
* As you may see in OCD, you also have a tendency for people to feel Hyper- Responsible for what is happening around them and the people they care for. With Hoarding this can result in the accumulation of "Just- In- Case" Objects being carried around with them at all times. For me this means hauling a huge purse around that could easily knock anybody out.
* But you also have the obligation of HAVING to use a certain item. This has also been expressed as needing to SAVE an item - but not save, as in save this for later - but save as in RESCUE. Discarding seems to be wasting something and this is why so many items will later on be categorized under "Recycling", "Giving Away" and so on.
MISCONCEPTION: The moment my object has a use, I have to keep/use/save it so it doesn't get wasted.

CONTROL/PERFECTION.
* Then you have the issue of Control/Perfectionism, again so present when looking at OCD. The fact that when you throw something away, it's gone and once the trash will be picked up you will never be able to find this item again.
MISCONCEPTION: The moment you decide to throw something away, you no longer are the person in control and what happens to this item will be in the hands of others.

SCARED OF FORGETTING/PERFECTION.
* Because of the fear of forgetting and the inability to accept that we can't be in total control, items will be kept so that with written/printed material for instance, it can be re- read at all times.
Some will find themselves looking through the garbage, checking if they (or someone else) haven't thrown out something they shouldn't have or resort in writing information down what they see in every- day life, such as license- plate #'s, to make sure the information won't be forgotten. The inability to remember all, becomes the behavior of keeping all within "arm- reach".
Hoarders have been noted to have a greater sense of Perfection than non- Hoarders and will even EXPECT this Perfection whereas others may STRIVE for Perfection.
MISCONCEPTION: The moment you throw something away, you may forget it's content or the way it looked and it will be gone forever.

LETTING GO OF THINGS.
* 1 other point that for me was a motivation to Hoard was the fear of letting go, of moving on. I used to hoard when I was younger, I would keep candy wrappers, elastic bands and small pieces of about..... anything. The idea of loosing things that had even a remotely sentimental value to me, scared me. Because there would be no turning back, no control.
But to me it also had something to do with things being ephemeral, keeping things or parts of them, meant that I would literally prevent them from ceasing to exist, scared that parts of my life may be forever forgotten. So I picked up small stones, leaves and kept notes and bills. I didn't want to let go of my life and forgot there was still much more to come.
All part of being afraid of death.
Letting go of things in life is so needed if we want to experience some sense of freedom, but for someone with OCD this means letting go of the control we want so badly. My items became part of who I was, thus letting go would be letting go of myself.
Today I am still unable to discard or to give away certain items because they are "me", and giving them away would mean part of me would be somewhere else, belong to someone else.
MISCONCEPTION: The moment you throw something away, you let go of that specific part of your life, however insignificant it may be.

What is Hoarding?

I like this definition:

Hoarding is:
* the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value.
* living spaces sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities for which those spaces were designed
* significant distress or impairment in functioning caused by the hoarding
* Reluctance or inability to return borrowed items. As boundaries blur, impulsive acquisitiveness could sometimes lead to kleptomania or stealing.

The hoarder may mistakingly believe that the hoarded items are very valuable, or the hoarder may know that they are useless. A hoarder of the first kind may show off a cutlery set claiming it to be made of silver and mother-of-pearl, disregarding the fact that the packaging clearly states the cutlery is made of steel and plastic. A hoarder of the second type may have a fridge filled with food items that expired months ago without ever eating them, but would vehemently resist any attempts from relatives to dispose of the unusable food items. Ee-ewww!

Our First Meeting

OK - so for our first support group meeting, we just kinda talked about the fact that we knew we had this "issue" - and talked about some long-term-ish goals and some short-term goals to use as "homework" for our next meeting. The long-term goals are not for us to worry about yet - but just to have as a carrot to think about in the future. Here are some of the goals we talked about:

Person #1 (that's me) - has a long-term goal of getting her recently cleaned out downstairs bedroom organized as a guest bedroom. For her short-term (homework) goal, she's cleaning out her clutter-collector-chair and clearing off the stairs. Person #1 is ready to get well!!!!!

Person #2 - has a long-term goal of getting all of the moving boxes emptied out and all of the contents in their "home". Her short-term (homework) goal is to recycle/donate the jeans she wore in high school. This was in the 70's, and let's face it: she'll never get back into them. She had an epiphany as we talked - that the reason she was holding onto those jeans was that her mother had bought them for her. It's very common to attach a "person" to a thing - and not be able to "let go" of the "thing", because it would be like letting go of that person. Good work, Person #2!!!
This person is going to take a photo of the jeans - and do a scrapbook page with the photo and with journaling about the way they felt about them - and the realization - and the willingness to let them go.

Person #3 - has a long-term goal of cleaning out his workshop so that he can use the space again. His short-term (homework) goal is to clear off the dining room table and the floor space in his office. He's getting there!

We agreed to meet again in two weeks.