A new year is here! You may have set up your goals for the year already, but I have one more for you: Declutter! Creating a ritual around decluttering will make all your other goals work better and keep your life simpler — and I’m all about keeping it simple.

At The Betty Brigade, we do a lot of home organization and clean-outs. We also have expertise in true hoarding situations, but in most cases, the problem is simply that over time, more has come into a household than gone out.

Does anybody remember that commercial for plastic bins? The family had too much stuff, so they bought a bunch of bins and packed it all away. Then they had extra room, so they bought more stuff! I have nothing against plastic bins; they’re great for storage. But they should allow you more space — not more stuff. And I bet you also remember your first apartment where relatives and friends gave you cast-offs, and you could barely furnish the place? Then, gradually, you replaced old pieces with nicer pieces, and more stuff started coming in.

In this country, all the way from toddlerhood, we’re primed to consume and acquire. It’s no wonder so many of us live with clutter. While we’re pursuing the American dream, we go from an apartment to a starter home, to a larger home to raise our families. Not enough room for our stuff? We must be outgrowing our house - time to move! 

All that stuff is a sign of success, right? Or are we confusing possessions with freedom? I believe that true success means you have more choices and fewer limitations. You can travel where and when you want to, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy your hobbies and your fulfilling work. Not much stuff is required for that.

A few years back, we worked with a family of four who was preparing to sell their home. It was cluttered and messy, and they needed help clearing it out and staging it. They had lived there for 13 years, having moved in with a toddler, and later they had a second child. Over the years, stuff came into the house — school papers, art projects, gifts, toys, sports paraphernalia, computer games, clothing, books, etc. Stuff became clutter… You see where I’m going, right? Very little ever went back out. The husband and wife called each other pack rats, but they weren’t holding onto things on purpose. They just never considered getting rid of anything. Closets were stuffed full, and furniture blocked the closets anyway, so no one even remembered what was in there.

We are all encouraged to consume, but few of us are trained to let go. Yet, this process is quite liberating. As we continued de-cluttering this home, one by one, the family members got on board. As more space appeared, tension levels subsided. Boxes of stockpiled books and clothing left the house. Recycling bins were filled. Stacks of papers were sorted into categories: Keep, recycle, and shred. The kids became excited to see their rooms transform into a nice place to spend time — to read, to work, to have friends over. Now that a new year has begun, consider a new habit: Decluttering and letting stuff go.

Get some free boxes at the grocery store and label them donate, keep, sell, and discard. Remind yourself that very little is irreplaceable. As you look at each item, if you keep hearing yourself say, “But I might need it someday,” you are keeping real stuff for an imaginary reason. Trust in your ability to find what you need when you need it. The world is full of amazing things. But they don’t all have to be in your house. Start letting things go and let me know what happens! And remember, we at The Betty Brigade can help you through the process.

Give us a call — Toll-free 1-888-742-3889 or 734-994-1000 — or check our services. Make it a simple 2024.