We start at a young age to collect things. It could be clothing, pictures, collectibles, books, letters, greeting cards or other items that belong to us. They are our possessions. We get great joy from gathering items we can call our own. Over the years, our collection of things tend to grow.

Then, we grow up and move out of our parents' home.  We take our "stuff" with us. However, we tend to continue to collect things.  Our wardrobe, our collection of books, items for our apartment or home, for example, continue to expand.  Before we know it, we have filled our space with so much, we lose track of what we have. Sound familiar?

When does it become a time when we finally say "Enough already!"?

Over the years, I have works with hundreds of clients who contacted me because they were at the end of their rope. They felt that it was "enough already!".  That is the big picture, a general statement. 

However, when we actually get down to the nitty gritty, sometimes it becomes difficult to say "I have enough".  We look more closely at our possessions. Do we have enough black pants?  Do we have enough sets of dishes or glassware? Do we have enough bed linens?  Do we have enough artwork? Do we have enough books?  (The list goes on and on.)

Personally, I have been living in my current home for over 18 years.  I, like everyone else, have continued to collect items in my home. I, too, have filled my home with special possessions, practical possessions, etc. 

This year is different.  This year I have declared the year 2017 as the year I say "Enough already!".  I am, like I tend to do on a semi-annual basis, going through my possessions to get rid of what I no longer need. The difference is, this year I am saying that I have enough and want to focus on using the items I already have and avoid going out and buying more.  (What a great way to save some money!) I want to become more realistic about what I truly need to hold on to and what things I can let go of, because I have more than enough of something.

This, sometimes, can be very difficult to do.  We can always come up with reasons as to why we should hold onto something.  "It's still in good condition."  "I spent good money on it."  "Someone gave it to me." 

If you find that you are making these statements and using them as an excuse to hold onto something, it might just be time to let it go.  

Make 2017 the year that YOU say "Enough Already!".  If you find it difficult to do on your own, simply reach out to a professional, such as myself, who can help you to decide how much is the right amount to hold onto and how to let the other stuff go.  Remember, it's all about balance. It's all about having "A Better Space"!

When was the last time you looked around your home?  I mean, when was the last time you looked closely at your possessions and evaluated them?

When we have lived in the same home for a long period of time, we tend to not see the clutter that is "hiding in plain sight".

Our homes can have everything in its place and still be cluttered.  Some of those items which are well organized are actually things we can do without.  However, they go unnoticed.  

One example might be an old music system.  So many of us listen to music these days online and have downloaded our CD's onto our computer or an ipod and we no longer pull out a CD to listen to our favorite tunes.  So why are we holding onto those CD's?

Another example are books.  When was the last time you looked at your collection?  Perhaps your taste has changed.  Perhaps you have read a certain book several times and will not be reading them again. Perhaps you got some books as gifts and felt bad about getting rid of them.  Perhaps you now have a Kindle or other electronic reader and use it now, instead of reading a physical book. So now, they are just taking up space on a bookshelf, collecting dust. 

How about those collectibles?  I see this all the time when working with my clients.  Whether its stuffed animals, antique model cars, Precious Moments, etc., they might be collecting dust and no longer appreciated.  When was the last time you really looked at your collection(s) and appreciated them?

Other types of hidden clutter that might not be in plain sight but still are accumulating could be pantry items you never use, holiday decorations stored in a bin you never pull out and most commonly, old paperwork. (I once met someone who had old paystubs dating back to the 1960's which he kept in his attic.)  

Sometimes we have clutter we purposely chose to hide. Many people have never-given gifts hiding out in the back of a closet or on shelves in a basement.  Some have gifts they received and feel guilty about getting rid of. 

Although this hidden clutter might not seem as problematic as the more obvious clutter, it can be worth tackling.

Selling some of those items will give you financial benefit while making someone else happy who wants to use them.

Keeping your spaces uncluttered makes it easier to clean, easier to move items around and easier to find storage space for the things we really do want to keep.

So, what clutter are you hiding in plain sight?