Making the decision to get organized—and to let go of the things that don’t enhance your life—is not easy. After all, in a way, it goes against the very habits and emotions that led to that buildup of stuff in the first place.
This is something that you have to want to do for yourself; it’s like quitting smoking, or changing your eating habits, or anything else that requires significant lifestyle changes. If you try to do it for someone else, your heart won’t truly be in it, and it’s unlikely to stick.
Leanne and I first met during a virtual class with the Hoffman Institute, a not-for-profit organization where participants learn how to transform counterproductive beliefs, perceptions, and emotional patterns that are limiting to their lives. During our class, she shared how she was overwhelmed with the stuff in her home, and that she just couldn’t get a handle on it.
I offered my help, but even though Leanne knew she needed a change and had been trying to declutter for years, she wasn’t quite ready to take the next step. Months later, our paths crossed in another course—and things hadn’t gotten any better. Seeing me again was the trigger that told her it was finally time. We began the work shortly after.
Going remote
This was at the height of COVID, and Leanne lives in Los Angeles; the timing was perfect to take on my first virtual client. However, I didn’t yet have a virtual process! So we were both going to learn a lot during this project.
To start, I had Leanne give me a video tour of her home, walking me through the front door as if I was there. I learned about her lifestyle, her history, and her son, and also created a shared folder where she could upload videos and photos.
The process was going to involve three dimensions of wellness: Spatial, physical, and emotional. The spatial aspect is obvious, of course—we wanted to create a space that worked for Leanne, that enhanced her life rather than detracting from it. On the emotional side of things, she needed to set boundaries for herself around her old ways of thinking. For instance, she used to accept hand-me-downs whenever possible, a habit that stemmed from not having much as a child.
We even tacked on a bit of physical wellness in the form of meal planning; in addition to ensuring healthy, fresh meals for Leanne and her son, it also would add efficiency and allow her to manage her time more effectively.
Digging deep
As we started to work on each category of stuff—clothing, books, sentimental items, etc.—I listened very closely when we were together online, taking lots of notes as Leanne shared her feelings, her fears, her desires. She would send photos of each location, uploading them into the shared folder, and I would create detailed project plans and assign homework. Then she would send “after” pictures so I could chart her progress.
It’s not always a linear process; sometimes items and areas take multiple passes. For instance, sentimental items are usually the last category because it is the most difficult for people. Leanne simply organized them on her first pass, working toward eventually letting go of the items that no longer served her.
Even her 10-year-old son got into the project, going through his clothes, books, and toys. Leanne added my KonMari instructional pictures to his closet door so he would know how to fold his clothes—and have a built-in reminder to do it!
‘It has really changed my life’
Today, more than a year after the project, Leanne is proud of her home. Everything is still in its place, every drawer and cabinet is organized, and the stuffed filing cabinet (with papers stacked on top, too) is gone altogether. She and her son follow “rules” for clothes, books, papers, and other items. Whenever she needs something or asks her son to get something, they both know exactly where it is.
She doesn’t accept hand-me-downs any longer—because perhaps the most important part of this entire process is that she learned to let go, to escape the scarcity mindset that had been with her since childhood. Leanne doesn’t need to hold on to everything any more.
“It has really changed my life. A whole weight has been lifted off my shoulders … like anti-gravity,” she says. “My stuff was full of so many sentimental items. It was scary, but freeing to let most of it go. And now that it’s not here, I don’t miss having it.”
Are you ready to transform your space?
Big change begins with small steps—maybe it’s letting go of that shirt you haven’t worn in years, creating a dedicated space for your bills, or just putting your socks all in the same drawer. If you’re ready to take the first step, I’m ready to help. Contact me today at natalie@natalievanderpump.com for a free consultation!