Overwhelmed By Clutter? The 'Pick Up Every Item' Method Can Help

Cluttered roomWhile I agree with organisation principles like Swedish death cleaning in principle, something about seeing my crowded junk drawer and stuffed top wardrobe shelf just makes me think “nah, not doing that.” After all, mess and clutter can leave us stressed out and overwhelmed; even working out where to start can be a hassle.Thankfully, Paul Gray from Chums has shared a simple rule to help sort through what feels like an unmanageable mess when it’s the last thing you want to do.The “pick up every item,” he said, sounds a little intense, but can make the process much easier than it would otherwise.What is the “pick up every item” method?According to Gray, the technique works exactly as you’d think. You go to a cluttered area, like the cupboard under the stairs or your hectic desk, and pick up every item on it.“It’s all too easy to cast your eyes over a desk full of papers or a cluttered bookshelf and assume you still need and want everything there,” he shared. “But by examining each item, you may well find the manual you’ve been holding onto for the kettle you threw out three years ago.” It can make a daunting pile of papers seem much easier to manage, he continued. “Although they’re small items physically, it’s worth taking the time to go through your papers and see what you need.“Anything that needs to be kept should be filed away properly so you can find it when the time comes; anything that doesn’t can be thrown away.” By handling your belongings, you not only get a Marie Kondo-style feel for what you truly want to keep, but you can rest assured you’ve not thrown out anything you might actually want or need either – meaning you may be less anxious to sort through your stuff in the first place.Are there any other tips?Yes! Gray shared three other rules that could make handling your mess easier: The 20/20 Rule – if an item can be replaced for less than £20 within 20 minutes, bin it.The six-month trial – if you’re unsure about an item, pack it away for six months. If you didn’t miss it, bin it.The ‘ifs and buts’ rule – when you pick up an item, ask yourself why you do and don’t want it. An example might be “The cut of this jacket is perfect, but that immovable oil stain means I never wear it out.” Be merciless with these items, Gray says. If you’re humming and hawing over something, chances are it’s time to replace it with something new.Looks like that’s my weekend plans sorted...Related...No, You Don't Need To Die To Benefit From Swedish Death CleaningCleaning Experts Explain How To Master The 'Closing Shift' In Your HomeThe 1 Reason Your Home Is Always Messy, Even Though You're Always Cleaning

Comments

Breaking news

Scottish-Japanese co-production the big winner at 2025 CATS

The Herald

I spent $120k on 14 plastic surgeries: These are the common procedures I regret... and one that stopped me closing my eyes for FIVE YEARS

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Cruel reason I'll never be able to get my dream boob job after near-death experience

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Albanian drug dealer who illegally sneaked back into Britain weeks after being deported succeeds in remaining in the UK by judge

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Moment Chelsea FC star Marc Cucurella is caught 'using his phone behind the wheel' of his £140k Mercedes G-Wagon

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Award-winning female sergeant caught drink driving after downing a bottle of wine while staying up late to do police work

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Two dead after car plunges 300ft off cliff at beauty spot 'as horrified holidaymakers watched on'

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Dressage rider left in a wheelchair after pack of dogs let off the lead by their walker spooked her horse wins £500k payout

about 1 hour ago

'One of Europe's best technicians' - why Man City want 'genius' Cherki

BBC News

Michelle Keegan flaunts her incredible figure in summer dresses just three months after welcoming daughter Palma as she enjoys Marbella holiday

about 2 hours ago

Disturbing secret history of woke LA mayor Karen Bass resurfaces amid immigration riots

Dailymail

Coronation Street legend hasn't aged a day as she poses with former co-star and her actress daughter - 22 years after soap exit

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Danny Boyle reveals how his daughter stopped traffic to create that infamous deserted scene in 28 Days Later

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

ABC News star SUSPENDED over late-night clash with Trump and top White House officials

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Adolf Hitler's bigamist brother's womanising legacy in Britain revealed... and the UK street that is horrified at becoming a Nazi shrine

about 2 hours ago

Legendary actor who starred alongside Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman looks unrecognizable on rare outing

Dailymail

Comments

Similar News

Voters overwhelmingly back tax on wealthy to protect public services

Parents Against Knives walk rescheduled due to 'overwhelming response'

'The Tiger Woods of my Life:' Luke Clanton Overwhelmed at Canadian Open

Made In Chelsea original Caggie Dunlop reveals the name of her baby girl as she shares first family photo after 'brutal and overwhelming' week with her newborn

Britain’s top cop slams Labour plans to slash jail time and says officers will be overwhelmed

Dozens injured by Israeli gunfire as crowds overwhelmed Gaza aid site, UN says

Widow of ex-footballer 'overwhelmed' as Frank's Law helps 71,000 Scots receive free care

Mothers and their babies face starvation in Gaza, where hospitals are overwhelmed

Hamilton bus service expands following "overwhelming" passenger support

Thousands of Chicks Left in Postal Service Truck Overwhelm a Delaware Shelter

Shipment of thousands of chicks found abandoned in USPS truck now overwhelming an animal shelter

Gove suggest second independence vote will happen if Scots show 'overwhelming desire'

'I Was Never As Overwhelmed As I Was At Eurovision': Reigning Winner Nemo Reflects On Their 'Whirlwind' Experience

NHS 'overwhelmed' by soaring autism as number of patients jump by a quarter - more than 200,000 Britons seeking specialist help

Business Owners Say Gen Z 'Extremely Overwhelmed': Poll

Bitter inheritance row after 'secret' daughter of rockstar tattoo artist who became the Queen's handyman demands share of his £413k estate from his disabled widow to make up for the 'overwhelming grief' from his death

King George's overwhelming realisation following Edward VIII's departure - which got him sobbing on his mother's shoulder for an hour

My Mum Abused Me For Years. After She Died, I Was Overwhelmed By What I Discovered In Her Diaries

Poll: Overwhelming Majority of Americans Support Eliminating Medicaid Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Breaking news

Scottish-Japanese co-production the big winner at 2025 CATS

Price of Freddo increases yet again as popular chocolate suffers shrinkflation

Teenage boy killed in Manchester with local pub cordoned off

Trump calls Musk ‘big-time drug addict’ according to report, as feud shows no sign of ending

Two people dead after car leaves the road and plunges off cliff at world-famous coastal landmark

Harrowing new details revealed in autopsy report after grandma accused of murdering two grandsons in their rural home

Urgent hunt for missing woman, 44, last seen leaving pub as cops urge anyone who sees her to dial 999

Youngest Omaze winner selling £3m mansion just six months after big win

Raducanu says she's not 'playing for money' - as women tennis stars return to Queen's

BBC The Gold star Hugh Bonneville's tragic split from wife before meeting new girlfriend

Coleen Rooney's mercy mission to meet Ukrainian child victims of Putin's evil war

Alum Bay: Two dead as car plunges 300ft off cliff in beauty spot horror

National Guard arrives in LA following days of chaotic protests and looting over Trump ICE raids

I spent $120k on 14 plastic surgeries: These are the common procedures I regret... and one that stopped me closing my eyes for FIVE YEARS

Cruel reason I'll never be able to get my dream boob job after near-death experience

Albanian drug dealer who illegally sneaked back into Britain weeks after being deported succeeds in remaining in the UK by judge

Moment Chelsea FC star Marc Cucurella is caught 'using his phone behind the wheel' of his £140k Mercedes G-Wagon

Award-winning female sergeant caught drink driving after downing a bottle of wine while staying up late to do police work

Two dead after car plunges 300ft off cliff at beauty spot 'as horrified holidaymakers watched on'

Dressage rider left in a wheelchair after pack of dogs let off the lead by their walker spooked her horse wins £500k payout

'One of Europe's best technicians' - why Man City want 'genius' Cherki

Zurcher: Trump's intervention in LA may thrill his base but inflame tensions

BBC on the ground as National Guard set up in Los Angeles

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Sickens Dozens

Trump’s Feud With Musk Highlights His View of Government Power: It’s Personal

Mum wants to change the law after ex killed her dog in house fire

Murder of Texas megachuch pastor Joel Osteen’s relative is back on the radar of investigators

ABC suspends reporter who interviewed Trump after devastating analysis of president – and Stephen Miller

'Not just a party:' World Pride celebrations end with defiant politics on display

Two men charged with murder after boy, 16, killed in ‘hit-and-run’ in Sheffield

‘Deranged’: Newsom and Hegseth trade insults as Defense Sec considers deploying Marines in LA

A runaway pet zebra has been captured in Tennessee

Brit sailor arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after ‘throwing girlfriend into river’ in Portugal

Captain arrested after boat bursts into flames in NYC forcing terrified passengers to leap into water and swim for lives

Two men charged with murder after boy, 16, who came to UK months ago ‘for a better future’ killed in ‘hit-and-run’ crash

Brit man dies while go-karting with his two children at largest outdoors track on Spanish holiday island

Woman who alleges Madeleine McCann suspect raped her at knifepoint 'fears' his release from prison

Bogota earthquake as huge 6.3 tremor causes chaos at Colombia tourist attraction

Bogota earthquake LIVE as huge 6.3 tremor sparks chaos at Colombia tourist attraction

Apply for 'Best job in Britain' - offering £10,000 worth of free holidays

Pontins holiday ruined by 'drunk parents and drugs everywhere' in nightmare Southport stay

British dad dies at Spain go-kart track in front of his heartbroken kids

One in 10 Brits have had the same best friend since they were 10 years old

Omaze's youngest ever winner sells glam £3million mansion at massively reduced price

DEAR JANE: My dad paid for my sister's boob job. I fear the two-word slur friends now say behind her back is true

West Ham star Michail Antonio releases footage of painstaking recovery journey after surviving horror car crash

Mass shooting at Ohio drag race leaves seven hospitalized

Michelle Keegan flaunts her incredible figure in summer dresses just three months after welcoming daughter Palma as she enjoys Marbella holiday

Disturbing secret history of woke LA mayor Karen Bass resurfaces amid immigration riots

Cadbury confirms it's discontinued much-loved biscuit treat after launching five years ago

'Bitcoin Family' take drastic measures to protect themselves amid crypto kidnappings

Coronation Street legend hasn't aged a day as she poses with former co-star and her actress daughter - 22 years after soap exit

Danny Boyle reveals how his daughter stopped traffic to create that infamous deserted scene in 28 Days Later

ABC News star SUSPENDED over late-night clash with Trump and top White House officials

Adolf Hitler's bigamist brother's womanising legacy in Britain revealed... and the UK street that is horrified at becoming a Nazi shrine

Legendary actor who starred alongside Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman looks unrecognizable on rare outing

Millionaire futurist creating 'mutant humans' reveals when new race will make ordinary people 'obsolete'

Internet divided over fresh twist on the pricey Birkin bag... So would you wear it?