A busy mind equals cluttered spaces, and vice versa, says Sarah Reynolds, a professional organiser who puts houses in order …
After the annual circuit breaker of last year, 2025 is here. A blank page waiting to be filled, or a cluttered mess waiting to be cleared, depending on your current state of mind. Clutter can weigh you down, mentally as well as physically. When our minds are full to the brim – with life admin, work stress, family tension, financial worries – our spaces can become cluttered too.
Conversely, clutter and disorganisation can be a symptom of what’s going on inside, says Sarah Reynolds of Organised Chaos, a service which helps people to organise, clear out and bring order to their homes, and offices. “Physical space gives mental space, when you eventually do declutter and organise your space, your brain can begin to see everything clearly.”
Photograph by Darren Fitzpatrick
If clutter is causing you overwhelm and upset, it’s time to do something about it. Sarah offers a service (starting from €500) which involves an initial consultation by phone or video call to discuss your needs before tackling the issue at hand, followed by a visit to your home. Depending on the size of the job, Sarah can organise additional helpers too, which will increase the cost. You should start by cleaning, decluttering or organising just one area of your home, she says. “Clients always think big, saying they want to declutter the whole kitchen, or even the whole house,” says Reynolds. “My advice is to start by organising your kitchen cabinets, your wardrobe, or a bookshelf overflowing with items that don’t have a home. It’s a less overwhelming experience, less time consuming. Seeing change leads to more motivation, rather than feeling deflated if you don’t complete a huge task.”
Of course, it’s not just the new year that brings this urge for clarity. People often declutter during big transition periods, before having a baby, moving house, or retiring. “They will find their environment coming into focus and not supporting their transition or growth,” explains Sarah. But once clients start, they almost always say they wish they had done it sooner. One thing to keep in mind, says Sarah, is the reality that things can be replaced. Don’t be precious about holding onto items that do not serve you right now, or that you don’t have space for. “We can often be resistant to letting things go. Just let them go!”
“Reminder: everything should have a home. If it doesn’t have a home, create one, or get rid of it.”
Setting up systems is important too. What happens to paperwork when it lands into the house? Do you have an in-tray that it can sit in before you get to it, and a folder or drawer it can live in once the contents have been processed or actioned? If you despair at finding shoes/schoolbags/toys left all over the house, can you introduce systems to prevent that from happening – a bench with concealed storage in the hall, baskets or built-in storage in a high-traffic living area? These steps may seem simple, but if you feel you have lost control of order in the home, these systems can be a good place to start. If you want to begin decluttering at home on your own, Sarah recommends starting with just one surface. She describes as “clutter magnets” kitchen islands, dining tables, desks. Clearing one of these will motivate you to move on to the next task.
The best advice is to work in time blocks. Focus your mind for 30/60/90 minutes. Set a timer, and always allow 15 minutes at the end to tidy up your work, whether that’s bringing bags for the charity shop out to the car, sorting the recycling or bringing items back to their homes in other rooms. Don’t zig-zag. Stay focused on the task at hand. Instead of getting distracted and moving from room to room to organise the clutter you are clearing, create a pile to be sorted at the end of your time block to bring it back home. Reminder: everything should have a home. If it doesn’t have a home, create one, or get rid of it. Once you have tackled one area, you will have the urge to keep going. Keep going!
If you feel the process of clearing out and decluttering will be difficult for you emotionally, approach it mindfully and allow yourself more time than you think you need – emotional processing can take time. Sarah runs regular online workshops. Clients join a session which begins with meditation to get into the right mindset before Sarah shares some tips on decluttering and organising. Attendees are invited to complete tasks to tackle their own clutter in real time while on the call, but the option to just observe and take notes is also available. This community aspect can be effective for those who may be hesitant to get started – and eye-opening for those who feel they are alone in their hoarding habits. www.organisedchaos.ie
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