I am a Professional Declutterer. When people ask what I do for a living, and I give them this ‘title’, I always smile – mainly because they normally say, “oh I could do with you in my life” and we laugh.
When people ask me how long I have been a Professional Declutterer for, I always say officially since 2019 but, in truth, all my life. Maybe not so professional at age ten, but I certainly knew that letting go was a great way to keep my mental health in check.
Decluttering has become more than a fad, a phase, or a fashion trend. It is quickly being recognised as a great way to bring clarity, calm, and peace into your life. Everyone is talking about it.
However, many find it hard to do, as it does mean making decisions about whether something can go or stay. In many cases, emotions are attached to those items. That is where it can get hard and where it makes sense to call in a Professional Declutterer to help. I always say, if you are struggling, there is nothing wrong with calling in the Cavalry.
What can a Professional Declutterer do for you?
One of the things I come across time and time again is very capable people who could easily go through a space – may it be a loft, a garage, a bedroom, or a hallway – and work through systematically letting go of that which is no longer required. However, we are all individual, and for many, having someone with them to help them stay on track, keep focused, and get the job done efficiently requires another pair of eyes and another pair of hands.
Many of my clients are high-powered businesswomen who are time-poor. Although the pressure of clutter is getting to them, finding the time to focus on the project is too much. For others, they are simply overwhelmed and do not know where to start.
How I work with clients
I get asked regularly what it is I do. In summary, I help people decide what can stay and what can go, and relieve them of the items to be donated by taking them straight to the charity shop.
In practical terms, I create a decluttering plan with the client, which we both agree on. We then commit to hours or days and systematically work through the list until the job is done. I am highly skilled at keeping a client on track – that means sticking to the task in hand and not giving up until the job is complete. It is so easy to be distracted when you are decluttering, especially where memorabilia are concerned. Photos and letters can stir up emotions and slow progress, which is why I always suggest we start with the easy stuff first.
I always warn my clients that things could look worse before they get better, but I never leave without putting the space back in order. I always leave the place better than it was before, with clear organisation and, if requested, even some homework for the client too.
The benefits of decluttering
Decluttering your things can lead to freeing up mental space, which in turn creates calm in other areas of your life. It’s like setting off a row of dominoes – once they gather momentum, there is no stopping them. Once the physical clutter has been removed, you may even find that your mind feels clearer too, and that will positively impact the way your household flows as a family.
In this life, we all need a hand to hold at some point, and I like to think that a good Professional Declutterer can offer not only a hand to hold but also set a plan in place that is completed in full, leaving you happy and wishing you had done this before.
With Love,
Beth
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