What's Your Clutter Personality?

**AmyBoz** · 01-30-2006, 07:46 PM

I have posted this before, but I think it's worth another look with all of our new members, and with our NYNH challnege. Never hurts to be introspective to find the source of your clutter!

http://organizedhome.com/content-32.html

**madkat2618** · 01-31-2006, 07:52 AM

I'm somewhere in between the 'Deferrer' and the 'Rebel'.
Somehow, knowing that, doesn't make me want to do the dishes any more than I did before!

Really, though, that was an interesting article. Thanks!

**SewCrafty** · 01-31-2006, 09:35 AM

The Perfectionist: "Next week, I'll organize everything ... perfectly!"

Perfectionists are wonderful people, but they live in an all-or-nothing world. They do wonderful things--when they do them!

Perfectionism forms an inner barrier to cutting clutter because the Perfectionist can't abide doing a less-than-perfect job. Without the time to give 110% to the project, the Perfectionist Clutterer prefers to let matters--and the piles of stuff--slide.

For example, plastic food containers may be overflowing their cabinet, but the Perfectionist Clutterer won't scrabble them to rights until he or she can purchase the perfect shelf paper, lid holder organizer, and color-coded labels. As a result, the massed and crowded containers stay put, falling down onto the feet of anyone hapless enough to open the cupboard door.

Perfectionist Clutterers need to remind themselves of the 20-80 rule: 20% of every job takes care of 80% of the problem, while fixing the remaining 20% will gobble 80% of the job. By giving themselves permission to do only 20%, Perfectionist Clutterers get off the dime and get going.

It is perfectly fine to tell the inner Perfectionist, "Today, I'll do the important 20% of that job: sorting, stacking and organizing those food containers. Later, I'll do the other 80%, buying organizers and putting down shelf paper. If later never comes? Well, you've outwitted your inner Perfectionist Clutterer...congratulations!