by Bruce Fletcher

So many times we let things slide. Our clutter is one prime example of this habit. How can you know when it’s time to stop the slide and deal with your clutter now, instead of putting it off again? Here are some signs to watch for.
·    Your possessions are starting to be noticeable — and not necessarily in a good way.
If one person makes remarks about the appearance of your home, whether inside or outside, you might just chalk it up to their peculiarities. But when other people or family members consistently bring it up, even in jokes or indirectly, then something is up and you should take it seriously.
·    You have started to put off cleaning up because it’s too hard to deal with the size of the task.
It’s common if not universal that you might not want to start on a cleaning project. Sometimes you think about the fun things you could do instead and soon you have left behind all thoughts of responsibility. But if you’re honest with yourself, and you know that the reason why you couldn’t finish in a reasonable time is all the decluttering, sorting, storing, etc. that you would have to wade through to get to the actual cleaning, then that clutter is blocking you from taking care of yourself and your life.
·    You can’t find that paper (address, phone number, tool, remote, cell phone!) when you need it.
Again, your life is being held up from going the way it should because of your stuff. Time to correct the problem.
·    You don’t want people to come over because they’ll see your stuff.
Now not only your private projects are impacted by your clutter, even your social life is affected. You have to admit, your possessions are probably not worth more than your friends or family. It’s time to put the stuff in its place, literally and figuratively.
·    Your kids are growing up in the middle of your stuff and you want to spare them the memory of "Mom’s or Dad’s stuff".
This may not be as important as I made it appear, but every little bit helps when it comes to helping your children grow up well and hoping they will come and visit you later. As they say, the sooner the better.
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