Maintaining a Healthy Clutter Equilibrium

Equilibrium can be defined as "a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced." Clutter equilibrium is an idea I stumbled upon while talking with my husband about the concept of maintaining order once a space has been decluttered. Think of clutter equilibrium as the balance between an orderly space and incoming clutter. 

I've written a lot about how to declutter, but it's also important to think about maintaining a clutter-free (or significantly clutter reduced) environment. That is the key to long-term success. So here are a few simple ideas for maintaining a healthy balance between clutter and...clarity. 

Stop Clutter Before It Enters

Every day we're bombarded with potential clutter: free samples, junk mail, brochures, fliers, invitations, catalogs, kids' paperwork (to include artwork), etc., etc. etc. Sometimes it is thrust upon us, and sometimes we invite it in, either consciously or unconsciously. 

Unconscious clutter includes the many seemingly innocuous bits of paper listed above. We pick up a brochure or flier because we're interested in whatever it's advertising. We receive an invitation in the mail Our kids bring home an information sheet about an upcoming school or sports activity. These things are all innocent enough...until they start to pile up. Conscious clutter is the stuff we choose to bring into our homes to stay - the new DVD or book or board game to add to our collection, the new kitchen gadget, the six bottles of our favorite shampoo that we found on sale. All of these things are perfectly normal and acceptable. We need access to information. We're going to get new stuff. But if all we ever do is bring stuff in without thought, our clutter equilibrium will quickly become a clutter imbalance. 

Here are some suggestions for stopping clutter before it enters:

• Don't accept free samples or other swag unless you know you've got a use for them. If you do accept a free sample, place it where you're sure to use it right away.
• Instead of bringing home fliers, announcements, brochures and other advertisements, use your phone to snap a photograph of the details. Set up files on your phone for upcoming events, things to do, and things you want to remember (like the name of a new restaurant or the brand of shampoo the stylist used on your hair). Store the photos in the appropriate files. In the case of an event, enter the details in your calendar or schedule a reminder on your phone. 
• Contact the companies that are sending you catalogs and ask them to take you off their mailing list. If it's a store you think you might like to purchase from in the future, look them up online and bookmark their website. then recycle the catalog. 
• Set up a recycling bin close to where you sort mail. Dump junk mail directly into the bin as soon as you bring in the mail. If you live in an area where recycling is not available, drop it in the trash. 
• Be a conscientious shopper. If a new blouse catches your eye, think before you purchase. Do I have other similar items that are perfectly serviceable? Do I have anything that will go with this item? 
• Assess your storage space. Decide how much space you have available for storing surplus food and household supplies. Only store what you have space for. When you use an item from your stash, replace it, but don't buy more than you can easily store. 
• Practice the one in, one out policy. If your DVD collection is bulging, choose an old DVD to donate when you buy a new DVD. The same principle can be applied to clothing, shoes, books, kitchen gadgets, and more. 

Establish and Maintain Systems for Decluttering

Sometimes clutter results from things being out of place or not having a place. You can solve these types of clutter problems by setting up and maintaining systems to keep things organized. A system is simply a way of doing things. I've written about the process of developing simple systems here. 

We've all heard Benjamin Franklin's famous saying "a place for everything, and everything in its place." It's a simple, yet profound solution for preventing clutter. It's also an example of this concept. Having a designated place to puts things constitutes a basic system. 

Almost everyone struggles with paper clutter in one form or another. While there are ways to limit the amount of paper that comes into or stays in our homes, there are also many papers that we want to hang onto for reference purposes. I've developed a simple three binder system for organizing paperwork. You can read more about it here. 

Develop a Decluttering Mindset

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy clutter equilibrium is to develop a decluttering mindset. Make decluttering a habit, something that comes naturally to you. Here are some examples of what it means to have a decluttering mindset:

• When unloading groceries, look for outdated items or items you know your family won't eat and discard or donate them. 
• When you're folding laundry, identify items that are overly worn, damaged, or getting too small for their owner (mainly children). Instead of putting these items back in the drawer, assess what needs to be done with them. If an item is damaged in some way, decide if it's beyond repair. If the answer is yes, get rid of it. If an item is too small (and there is no younger sibling who could use it) set it aside to donate.
• When dusting, look for books that you haven't read or didn't like. They're good candidates for the donation pile as well.
• Be always on the lookout for items that are broken, missing pieces, outdated, or otherwise beyond their prime. Instead of holding onto them, send them to a better place. It may be the trash or it may be the donation box. 

​Clear a space for collecting items you wish to donate in your garage or mud room or some other out of the way space. Once a quarter (or whenever the space is full) gather up the items and take them to the thrift store. 

People often talk about the need for maintaining balance in their lives. It's something we're all striving for. Clutter is one way in which a person's life can become out of balance. Decluttering is just half the battle when it comes to righting the situation. These simple suggestions can help you maintain your clutter equilibrium long-term.