Sacred Heart - Inspiring Health

Say So Long TO CLUTTER "Decluttering is all about recognizing what you need and use, putting those things in places that make sense, and getting rid of the items that don't work." —Nancy Rothwell, owner, Straighten-Up Organizing HAVING A GOOD ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN IS THE KEY TO KEEPING STUFF FROM CAUSING TROUBLE. PILES OF MAGAZINES, paperwork, knickknacks, and clothes— clutter can take many forms. While accumulating things may seem harmless in theory, disorganized stacks of stuff littering your home are bad for your mind and your body. MAKE A PLAN Nancy works with clients to break their homes into zones, one for the kitchen, one for the bathrooms and so on. Start organizing by moving all the things in your home to the correct zones. Then sort your belongings using a bin system to place items into keep, trash and donate piles that make it easy to handle all that extra stuff. Get rid of anything you haven't used in the past year. ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT "You see your belongings every day, and it can be hard to tell what you need and what needs to go," Nancy says. "When this happens, an outside perspective helps." Whether it's a friend or a professional like Nancy, a second set of eyes can help you pare down the bulk of your belongings, freeing up space for things you love and use. "Clutter is a perfect breeding ground for dust, mold, and rodents, all of which can have a negative impact on your health," says Nancy Rothwell, owner of Straighten-Up Organizing, an Eau Claire-based professional organizing company. "It's hard to have peace of mind when you are surrounded by chaos. Unchecked, clutter can take over your life." As a professional organizer, Nancy helps families make sense of their space. That includes getting rid of troublesome belongings and putting things in the right places. Here she offers tips for turning your cluttered rooms into a clean, family-friendly environment. START SMALL Don't let the size of a messy space intimidate you. Set a timer for 15 minutes and start organizing. Stop when the timer goes off. "Breaking up large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps keeps decluttering from feeling overwhelming," Nancy says. "Don't expect to finish an entire room in 15 minutes and don't give up. Little things add up when you do them regularly." Sometimes, excessive clutter is a sign of a serious compulsive disorder known as hoarding. Call 715.717.5899 for information about behavioral health services at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital or 800.680.4578 for HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital. 1 5 S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G

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