There’s so much uncertainty around decluttering-related terminology and I find in my work with clients, students and even the media that the definition of clutter (as I see it) is the first thing I need to share.

What Is Clutter ?

Broadly speaking, I believe clutter is anything that doesn’t serve you or make you feel good. Although mainly associated with the physical, clutter can also be mental, emotional or energetic. These areas are all interlinked too, in that clutter in one area will cause clutter in another – when we understand how life works we find that there’s no escaping this. No one else (not even a decluttering professional) can or should tell you what your clutter is, as it’s individual and we all have different “clutter thresholds”. We all have to learn what clutter is to us, as only this guarantees success.

On the other hand, disorganisation is the lack of systems for items we like and want to keep, and again, we all organise things differently and need to find the system that works for our brains, our homes and our lifestyles.

Organising, tidying and cleaning are of course part of the overall decluttering process, but they have really nothing to do with decluttering in terms of the ability to let go of what doesn’t serve you or make you feel good. If you can’t decipher your clutter from your disorganisation it will be difficult to make much progress with your decluttering in the first place. I work with many clients and students who are most wonderful at tidying, organising and cleaning, but they come to me because they recognise that they just don’t know to declutter and let go.

If you would like to learn to truly let go so you can create and enjoy the wardrobe and home of your dreams or help friends, family or paid clients to do the same you can find out more about The Declutter Academy, my professional organising and decluttering live training in Ireland and the Certified Professional Organizer online version of the training.