I came away with quite a bit after watching todays Oprah so I’ve posted the main points here.Â
I can tell you, while I was watching it, I couldn’t sit still. I had to declutter something!
A FEW KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM THE SHOW
It was interesting, because as they mentioned on the show, a little at a time, after awhile you don’t notice it anymore, you BECOME ACCLIMATED TO CLUTTER.And there I was looking around the livingroom with new eyes, and saw the corner right beside the TV as if for the first time.
The interesting part is that I had known it was a “rough spot” but honestly didn’t think there was much I could do with it, that it was full of things that “had” to be there. After having a better look, I managed to make it much better, then got rid of a few other things that I had been procrastinating on moving where they belonged.
They mentioned that the big mistake most people make when getting overwhelmed with clutter is to look at the clutter. You need to LOOK AT THE VISION of what you want, what it will be like when it is gone…what it is costing.
NO QUALITY OF LIFE AT ALL - HOW MANY DEGREES ARE THERE?
The husband who was living with the compulsive hoarder, when asked what it was like living there said that they didn’t spend much time there, but when they where there, there was no quality at all.
Hmmm. It made me wonder how many degrees of no quality at all are there?
How much clutter does it take before it starts effecting us AND our family? How much quality of life on the degrees of quality barometer are we missing with even “some” clutter?
The biggest take away?
SET LIMITS AND BOUNDARIES. YOU MUST DECIDE AND STICK TO IT.
Ask yourself what do you want. The clutter or your vision. And don’t stop asking.
Set limits/boundaries. How much is too much. Decide and stick to it.
I struggle with this myself. It’s gotten better because as the kids get older, we get less things given to us. With a large family, that really was a problem. Some things where great, some things where just too much. But it is key to stop it coming and setting boundaries as to what you will keep.
How many of everything do you need? Do you NEED 6 pairs of running shoes?
WHAT IS CLUTTER AND HOARDING?
Speaking of shoes, Oprah’s shoe collection was mentioned. She laughed and defended herself saying that hers are organized and she has the space for them. It sounds funny but it is true. Clutter is a problem when it becomes clutter.
If you can find it and you aren’t tripping over it or digging through it, it probably isn’t clutter or hoarding - unless it is draining you when you look at it.
LIVING WITH A COMPULSIVE HOARDER
I am sure that it is no picnic! I think that the biggest thing they had to say on the show about “digging out” is that you can’t do it for them. They MUST be involved in the process. Watching Peter Walsh continue to bring the lady back to where she needed to be to stay straight throughout the process was truly amazing, it is an art form.
Taking notes and following the tips above may help, you also will probably need some added support.
I don’t think that most compulsive hoarders seem to be bad people, they are in heavy denial because they don’t know what to do - with themselves.
Get to the root of the issue and the rest will come easier, and stay that way.
A good investment would be Peter’s book.
He is a true professional who obviously knows
what he’s doing.
If I was living with a compulsive hoarder,
I would be snapping it up.
It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff
the reward.
