Spring is in the air - finally!

by Lynette Allen

Everyone who knows me, knows I have a 'thing' about de-cluttering. I just love it, I get so involved in emptying cupboards, throwing away everything that doesn't fit, doesn't work or doesn't look right that just the mention of the words 'Do you still need this darling?', sends shivers down my husband's spine! Mind you, you'd think I live in one of those ultra minimalist houses with no shelves to dust and no idea where the TV was hidden...the truth? I don't! I kind of wish I did, but I do know I wouldn't be able to actually live in it. Much as I love the idea of white walls, cream carpets and no clutter spots, I live with 2 dogs and a husband...need I say more?

This is probably where the de-cluttering thing comes in. I like things around me but I do like to be tidy at the same time and every now and then without any warning at all, I get the urge to clear out papers and documents and do my filing with a ruthlessness even my mother has trouble understanding. Don't get me wrong, I'm not obsessed or anything, I do have piles of post and filing that creep up on me and yes, I've even been partial to a laundry pile or two (thank you!) but it never gets very tall before I scare the dog and throw all the laundry down the stairs at a rate of knots ready for the washing machine. In fact, I love de-cluttering so much that I offer it to my clients as part of my service now. I'll be the one stood there with one hand on my hip and a duster in the other waving it around and saying 'Give me one good reason why that should stay!' scary? No not really, gently persuasive!

I loved seeing my client Sam to help her de-clutter her office, she'd been for coaching on a few occasions and when she mentioned that she'd like some help sorting out her office, I turned up at 8am armed and ready! We spent the whole day sorting out, filing, dusting - dismantling the odd cot and hoovering up the odd spider. We finished up with five bin bags for the charity shop and at least another five for the paper recycling - her trauma isn't over yet as next week, we have 'systems' to put in place but she approached the day with such immense enthusiasm and brave determination to 'get straight' that I couldn't help but be very impressed indeed.

She's not the only one though, there must be something in the air, as Ally another client of mine, took it upon herself to completely re-arrange her office, in fact, she moved it entirely into another room, meaning that it's now free from shoes, cuddly toys and children's games - she now has a grown up home office to work from and grow her new found business - and it's all hers.

Yesterday, never one to feel left out, it was my turn and once again I have to admit to getting rather overexcited, as I woke with up sun streaming through my blinds and I realized for the first time that Spring could finally be here. After what seems like months of 'English' weather, grey dull days, occasional rain, drizzle and snow, the birds have finally woken up, the daffodils are at last blooming all over the place and the birds are chirping …literally for England. For some unknown reason, as I wandered aimlessly around the house with my first cup of tea, I opened the bathroom cabinet and the state of it shocked me into action. I must have spent the whole winter blindly stocking up on shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers and lip salves and hadn't noticed its slow decline. I started clearing out old bottles of shampoo, old half used cleansers, very old bottles of nail polish (where I couldn't even unscrew the top anymore!). I literally halved the shelves in three minutes.

Of course, it didn't stop there though as I moved swiftly on to the airing cupboard. My husband peeped out from under the duvet pretending to still be asleep as I energetically piled old duvet covers and towels into a bin liner ready for a charity shop. In fact, before I knew it, I'd even tackled my wardrobe and that's saying something! I'm not sure how waking up on a Spring morning, feeling the sun on my face, not having to put the heating on and making the decision to put the thermals away, evoked in me this passion for Spring cleaning but it did and Kim and Aggie would be very proud I feel!

Spring, ladies, could actually be here, so my tip this weekend is to delve into all those dark cupboards, take everything out, chuck old items in the bin, give stuff away to charity and be ruthless. If you need a bit of prompting, open each drawer one by one, take everything out and give yourself a valid reason why you should keep things as they go back in the drawer, if you've got 2 of anything (or heaven forbid more than 2 of anything) you could even sell it, there's e-bay, car boot sales or if it's in brilliant condition, you may be able to find a second hand shop that'll sell it on your behalf and give you a profit. Look upon this as an exercise to build up the holiday money fund if the idea of halving your wardrobe is too much to bear!

It's actually vital to take control of the clutter not just from an obsessively tidy view point but from a health view point too. When we're faced with clear surfaces, shelves and organized cupboards, it's easier to relax, easier to feel less pressured and some say it's much less of a drain on both your mental and physical energy and enthusiasm levels. This is important stuff ladies. The message this month is to take control of the clutter! Just 30 minutes armed with bin liners and Mr Sheen and you'll feel more angelic than you ever thought possible. Be ruthless though, no shoving boxes under desks or hiding away files in drawers, go through each one, be tough on yourself and you could feel a whole new you coming on!

Another strategy to help those who cringe at the thought of throwing anything away is to mentally go through each room in the house and work out where your clutter hot spots are. Work out what exactly in that room makes you feel anxious and on edge, make a note of it and then tackle one thing per day. This really will make huge differences and you'll benefit immediately from the satisfaction, try it and see - good luck!

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