Remember the Flintstones and the dreaded closet where everything fell out on Fred’s head? If you’re younger than it would be the closet that the Kraft brothers open on Zamboomafoo. Or maybe it’s your real life closet. Do you open the door just wide enough to get your arm in so you can hold back what’s falling?

How does it happen? How do wonderfully organized, intelligent people get so overwhelmed and disorganized? In the professional organizing field this is considered situational disorganization. An event or series of events occur in life that takes our feet right out from underneath us and we get behind or we lose the umph for keeping things in order.

These do not have to be bad things; the birth of a baby, a child goes off to college, change of careers. Sometimes these things are more challenging; loss of a parent and gain of their stuff, moving to a smaller home, starting a business. All of these events are considered to be in the top 10 of stressful events in life – what if you have a few at a time! Whoa…hold on.

So what if the clutter takes less meaning while all of this is going on? No big deal unless it adds to your stress. During the time of change and grief we need to be kind to ourselves and allow ourselves to heal. We also need to keep moving in a forward direction so we don’t stay stuck.

So how do we keep the clutter from sucking our energy from us?

Do a little at a time. One drawer at a time. One shelf at a time. Ask for help from a friend or professional. Invest a few minutes to reduce stress – you would be amazed at the momentum that gets going when you just step in and start.

Give yourself the gift of stress reduction and order when all else seems to be going crazy! You deserve it!

Author's Bio: 

Kelli Wilson is a professional organizer and owner of A Simple Plan Consulting. Kelli started A Simple Plan in 2005 with the intention to help others reduce stress and find serenity by reducing clutter and streamlining their homes. Kelli is President of the Sacramento Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, a disciplined martial artist and mother of two. She strives for serenity in her life which she knows is contagious to those who desire it. Kelli can be reached at 916 765 6104 or Kelli@asimpleplanconsulting.com. Her website is www.asimpleplanconsulting.com