What is the Stuff Tipping Point?

There comes a point where no amount of “organizing”, no amount of cramming things in, no amount of playing Tetris is going to change the fact that you have too many things to fit in your house. I call this the Stuff Tipping Point.

How can you tell if your house is at the Stuff Tipping Point?

You might be there, if you’ve experienced one or more of these things:

This room can’t be used for its intended purpose (a bedroom or home office). Instead it has become a storage unit.

• You’ve accomplished washing, drying and folding all the laundry, but now there just isn’t enough room in your closet or dresser to put it all away.

• The pantry is at the bursting point, and you’re struggling to find someplace to put all the new food you just brought home.

• Your go-to strategy is to buy freestanding garment racks to hold more clothes, but you’ve now run out of floor space to park any new garment racks.

• You want to use the toaster (or the microwave, or the blender), but first you have to move the coffee maker (or the air fryer, or the food processor) out of the way

• You can’t find an item, so you buy another one. Later, you find multiples of the same item, (often hidden behind other items). You realize you’ve done this dance before.

• You are unable to access certain places in your home because of the pileup of stuff. This might mean a closet door you can’t open because stuff is blocking it, a shelf with things you’d love to use but currently are unable to reach, or a room you can’t use because it’s become a giant storage unit.

Just moving around this cluttered bedroom requires extra work. Note the “elf trails”!

Not only are you running out of space, but you’re also being forced to do extra work

What these experiences have in common is not only that you’re running out of space, but also that you’re being forced to do extra work. Living in a house that is at the Stuff Tipping Point is neither smooth, peaceful, nor seamless. You are always having to put in extra labor and effort, simply to go through the basic processes of living in your home. Whether that means taking detours around stuff because the straight-line route is blocked, spending extra time getting dressed in the morning because your closet is packed yet there’s “nothing to wear”, or losing essential items like keys, phones or important paperwork in the mess—the common denominator is extra work.

Even when you are sitting motionless in a home that is at the Stuff Tipping Point, you’re still doing more work, because visual clutter is literally more data for your brain to process. That’s one of the reasons that being in a cluttered space can feel so stressful, tiring, and overwhelming.

At this point, many people will decide they need to get organized. Unfortunately, a lot of folks will make their first step a trip to the Container Store to buy some of those lovely bins, boxes, and baskets. Why is this a mistake?

Don’t buy containers first

It’s a mistake because, if you think about it, containers are also stuff. As I discussed in a previous blog post, simply putting your stuff inside more stuff—without first deciding which stuff belongs in your life—does not magically cause you to become organized. It simply leaves you with a bunch of stuff inside containers. It’s very likely that in the future, more stuff will get put in front of those containers.

If containers aren’t the solution, what is? I always recommend paring down your belongings first. In a house that is at the Stuff Tipping Point, this can seem like an overwhelming, unsurmountable task. Here are some tips that can help.

What can help?

1) Do a quick first pass to clear out the “low hanging fruit”—any items that clearly need to go. This includes household trash, broken or damaged items, as well as expired food and medicine.  It shouldn’t take much (if any) decision-making power to select these things. If you find yourself spending minutes thinking about an item, set it aside and move on.

2) Next, break the big overwhelming decluttering task into manageable chunks by focusing on a category (type of item). Instead of “the entire living room”, you could focus on the mail, papers and magazines cluttering up the entryway. Instead of “the whole closet”, you could focus on just sweaters, or just button-down shirts. Gather similar items together—this will help you get an accurate idea of what you own.

3) Then make decisions. Let go of things you don’t use or need—whether you’ve never used it, or it’s been a long time and you’re unlikely to use it in the future. Let go of “just-in-case” items and “I might need it someday” items. (There are notable exceptions, such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers.)

4) Let go of things that make you feel bad. Whether it’s a gift from someone you’re no longer friends with, a piece of clothing that cost a lot but doesn’t fit right, or unflattering photos, let them go. Only have things in your home that make you feel good, are useful, or are necessary.

A cluttered pantry… before and after paring down.

If you did nothing else, simply reducing the amount of items you own will help—a lot!

If you did nothing else, simply reducing the amount of items you own will help—a lot! There will be less stuff to look at, less stuff to navigate (and clean) around, less stuff parked in front of the item you’re looking for. Let go of enough stuff, and you will have pulled your home back from the Stuff Tipping Point. That means less stress, less clutter, and less work just to go through the basic processes of living in your home. And you’re going to feel better.

Decluttering and discarding is the first step of organizing. Step two is deciding where to store things, in a way that works for you. See this article for help on where to put things, and what to put them in.

I’m Kammy, a Chicagoland-based professional organizer. If your home is at the Stuff Tipping Point and you’d like things to be different, but you don’t know where to start, I’m here to help. Reach out to me or text (773) 756-5414 for your free 30-minute consultation. 🌱

What to do about toy clutter

Photo: Victoria Art from @Pexels

Toy clutter happens! It's important to remember that just like grownups do, kids also feel overwhelmed by too much stuff.

As kids grow, learn and change, they outgrow older toys and move on to new toys. Toys and games break or lose some of their pieces, while the leftovers stick around as clutter. Birthdays and holidays bring new toys into the home. There might also be the generous grandma who brings new toys every time she visits, just because. Add the hand-me-downs from relatives and friends, and it’s easy to see how busy parents may be experiencing toy clutter overload.

Parents feel frustrated by the amount of toys kids have, the mess it creates, and the time it takes to tidy things up. Sometimes they'll comment that "the kids don't even play with these toys any more."

It's important to remember that just like grownups do, kids also feel overwhelmed by too much stuff. Instead of bringing joy, a huge amount of toys can turn into a source of stress, something we definitely don't want for our kids!

What can help?

Photo: Yaroslav Shuraev from @Pexels

Pare down! Rather than feeling deprived, having fewer toys actually allows kids to more easily focus on and enjoy the toys they have. You may do a toy purge while kids are in bed or at school, but it’s best to involve kids in the process whenever possible. Kids may enjoy choosing which toys they’d like to gift to someone less fortunate.

Strategize. Plan toy purges and donations to occur before birthdays and holidays, when new toys will be entering the home.

Create zones. Have an area for arts & crafts, an area for dress-up, an area for building toys like blocks and legos, a reading area with cushions and stuffed toys.

Involve kids in keeping things tidy. Choose a home (such as a bin or basket) for each kind of toy. Teach kids how to put toys back in their homes after playing with them.

Toy rotation can help keep toys manageable. Create sets of toys (involve kids in the choosing process!). Have one set available to be played with, while you store the other toy sets out of sight. After a while (weekly, monthly, or seasonally) put away the current set and bring out a new toy set.

Rather than feeling deprived, having fewer toys actually allows kids to more easily focus on and enjoy the toys they have.

Sometimes we think of kids as preferring things to be messy. But I’ve seen over and over how kiddos love it when their play area is tidied up. Instead of feeling overwhelmed or bored by clutter and excess, they’re excited to play with their toys. Just like grownups, an organized space has a positive effect on them.

I'm Kammy, a professional organizer serving Chicagoland's hardworking professionals. If you're a busy parent with kiddos, I'm here to help you make your playroom a joyfully organized place where your kids can truly thrive. Reach out to me or text (773) 756-5414 for your free 30-minute consultation. 🌱

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"The kids were so excited to see the room, and they played with the toys!"

—my client after her daughters’ playroom was tidied up

Before doing a toy purge…

… and after!

"I don't know where to put things."

When nothing has a home, then everything lives on the counter—or the floor.

Are you somebody who has trouble deciding where things should "live" in your home?

You're not alone! “Where to put things” is a challenge that many people face. It commonly causes clutter, for two reasons: (1) it's unclear where items belong, or (2) it's difficult or inconvenient to return them to their homes.

The result: things wind up wherever they get put down, often covering every surface.

What can help? First, pare down.

It's important to remember that in the organizing process, storage is the very last step. There's no point in trying to find a home for everything you own, before you have decided whether you really need or want to own all of it.

So pare down first. Letting some things go will free up space and reduce clutter, even if you did nothing else.

Have you heard the saying “A place for everything, and everything in its place”? It’s a simple but powerful concept!

Eliminate the uncertainty of where things belong.

Choose a home for each item, and make it a habit to return it to its home after use.

Not sure where to put it? Store it close to where you use it. Example: I keep the cat food in a cabinet near the cat's food & water bowls.

Still not sure where to put it? Don't sweat it. Just put it somewhere, and see how that works. If you decide the home you've chosen doesn't work, you can always change it.

Keep all items of the same type in the same place. Example: There's only one place where batteries live in my house: a certain kitchen drawer.

If you live with others, designate a storage place for each person. Try to focus each person's storage in one spot, such as a closet or cabinet. Avoid having numerous storage spaces throughout the house (for example, a situation where Dad's socks and underwear live in the bathroom, his shirts in a closet, and his pants in a dresser in a different room).

Reserve "prime real estate" locations for everyday, frequently used items. Example: My coffee machine lives on the counter but my waffle maker is stored in a cabinet.

Make it easy to put things back.

Store items in a way that makes them easy to put away. (Don't worry about making things easy to get out. When you need them, you will get them out.)

Have the simplest system possible. Avoid spending lots of money on clever-looking "storage solutions". Not everything needs to be in a bin or a container. As I said in a previous post, containers don’t make you organized. For things that do need to be containerized, try to use a box, bin or basket you already have.

Notice what’s already working in your home, and build on it. Example: Do you file-fold your T-shirts in a drawer? Try doing the same with your dish towels.

Taking care of your home feels good! This helps reinforce positive habits.

Build positive habits.

When things have a home, they're much easier to put away, because where to put them doesn't require a decision. The decision has already been made. It can feel satisfying to return things to their place, because you're taking care of your home. This feeling can help build and reinforce positive habits that will keep your home tidier and you happier!

Longing for an organized, peaceful home? I'm a Chicago-based professional organizer and I'm here to help. Reach out to me for your free 30-minute consultation. 🌱

The high cost of office clutter—and what to do about it

Do you believe that office clutter increases creativity?

It’s actually quite the opposite. Studies show that workplace clutter can be harmful to your physical & mental health, your workplace performance, and your employer’s bottom line. It's time to ditch the clutter and create a peaceful workspace that works with you, not against you.

It's time to ditch the clutter and create a peaceful workspace that works with you, not against you.

A cluttered workspace forces us to waste time looking for lost items and information. We may end up doing duplicate work to replace what we can't find. And wasted time means wasted money.

When we’re distracted by a cluttered environment, we lose our focus. The result: errors, reduced productivity, the loss of our creativity and our ability to problem-solve. In other words, clutter makes it harder to get things done, and can lead to reduced quality of work.

Clutter also affects how others perceive us. A messy office (seen in person or via Zoom) by coworkers & supervisors could be viewed as a sign of a poor work ethic or poor time management skills. This could result in a lack of confidence and trust, and could adversely impact your career.

Clutter can lead to negative feelings about work, according to a recent study. Feeling stressed or burnout at work can also lead to clutter. Clutter can be part of a vicious cycle. Stress leads to an office that is cluttered, which leads to more stress because of not being able to find things or keep track of work progress, which leads to not having the mental energy to tidy up, and the clutter may worsen.

With many people working partly or full-time from home, our living spaces are often forced to do double duty. It’s even more important to stay on top of clutter and maintain an environment that supports us and makes our work days easier, not harder.

What can help?

Just like with home clutter, office clutter happens for one of two reasons: We fail to return items to their home, or it’s not clear where the items belong. To tidy up, use these steps: Sort items by category, use a container to keep similar items together, and choose where the items should be stored. Use labels to make it easier to find things, and as a reminder to return things to their places.

Common types of office clutter

Office supplies: Only keep what you’re currently and regularly using on your desk. Choose a home for these items, whether it’s a drawer or a container. Find another home for “back stock” (such as in a shelf or cabinet)—again, using containers to keep similar items together.

Paper clutter: Only print when you really need a hard copy. Have a designated inbox for incoming papers. Shred or recycle duplicates and outdated papers as soon as possible. Make sure each paper has a home. Discard papers that have no clear purpose.

Make filing easy by having file folders readily accessible nearby. Some people get hung up on not being able to file anything until the folder is labeled. If this describes you, keep your labelmaker (or a sharpie) close at hand for this purpose.

Clutter under the desk: Extra supplies, old technology items, and miscellaneous objects too large to keep on your desktop may tend to accumulate under your desk. Revisit this area on a regular basis to make sure it doesn’t become a dumping ground. If other people are dropping items off at your desk, have a designated box or bin for this purpose.

Drawer clutter:  To avoid having drawers full of miscellaneous office clutter that you must then rummage around in to find things, use the containment strategy. Contain office supplies and other items by category, using small bins, baskets or boxes inside a drawer. Rubber bands and ziplock bags can also be helpful. If you have a number of drawers that need tidying up, pick one a day and use the basic tidying procedure under “What Can Help?” above.

Personal items: Many people display personal items on their desks, such as family photos, childrens’ artwork, mementos from professional conferences, funny gifts from the last office party, and other personal items. These items feel important to us, but they can also contribute to clutter and distraction in our workspace.

One strategy is to remove them temporarily, and try working for a week or two without the items visible. Many people are surprised at how much less distracted and more peaceful they feel. It can also help to limit personal items to just a few really important ones, or to periodically rotate the items you display.

Banish clutter and reclaim your workspace

Clutter isn’t just superficial. It hurts us physically, mentally and emotionally. It affects how our colleagues & supervisors see us, can negatively impact our performance and our job satisfaction, and can even affect us financially. But there’s hope! Using simple organizing tips and skills, we can get clutter under control and reclaim a more peaceful and productive workspace. 

Want to banish office clutter and create a workspace that works for you? I’m here to help. Reach out for your free 30-minute consultation. 🌱

Clutter hurts your wallet!

Keeping unused items actually costs you money

Does keeping things because “I might need them someday” seem like the thrifty option? Think again—keeping unused items actually costs you money. 

If you have a storage unit, you’re not alone—one in ten Americans pays for self-storage. And we’re collectively spending $38 billion (yes, billion!) per year on self-storage. Most of that figure is from households—not companies. That’s an average of $2000 per person per year.

Even if you don't have a storage unit, clutter in your home could be costing you money. Home storage of unused items is estimated to cost an average of $10 per square foot. Or divide your monthly rent/mortgage by home’s square footage to get the cost per square foot for your particular space. Then figure out how much space is being taken up by unused items and multiply to find your personal clutter cost!

The average American spends 2.5 days per year searching for lost items

Clutter also costs us when we waste time searching for lost items amid household disarray. The most commonly misplaced items are: TV remotes, phones, car keys, shoes, & wallets/purses. The average American spends 2.5 days per year searching for lost items. Think of what you could do with an extra 2.5 days—or what you could do with the money you earn in 2.5 days of work!

More money is wasted when those lost items need to be replaced with new purchases. It’s estimated we collectively spend $2.7 billion a year on replacement purchases. Two-thirds of Americans will spend up to $50 a year replacing lost things.

It’s time to rethink holding on to items you don’t use, need, or love

Here are some other ways clutter can cost you money: 60% of people have been late to work or school because they were searching for a missing item. 50% have missed an appointment or a meeting. Think of the potential consequences: missed work hours, maybe even a lost job or promotion, and the money that would have come with it.

It’s time to rethink holding on to items you don’t use, need, or love. Here’s the bottom line: Clutter hurts your wallet!

Ready to let go of unused stuff (and save some money while you’re at it)? I’m here to help. Contact me for your free 30-minute consultation. 🌱