The Root of the Problem
Here is a typical scenario for a person working in the organizing business. Someone contacts us who is overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in their home. We go in, go through things, encourage the client to part with the items they no longer need, do our best to organize what remains, and go on our way, leaving a happy client. A few months later we get the call again and repeat the cycle. There are some clients who go through this several times and arrive at a level of items in their home that they can maintain but for most, it seems to be an endless cycle. We try to be honest and point out that the problem is too much stuff and encourage as much as we can to help them part with more, but it is hard. We love to please and don’t want to offend anyone. We also know that if a client is not ready to part with things it is really hard to force the issue until they are good and ready. This cycle of organizing and reorganizing is probably good for business but seems like a waste of clients money and more importantly, they are still feeling overwhelmed and stressed by the amount of stuff in their house.
That is what leads me to writing this letter. These are all of the things we would like to say to clients in a direct, clear way. If you someday get a copy of this letter, please do not be upset! It is all out of love! We also hope that if this applies to you or a loved one you can take it to heart or share it. Maybe even post it on your refrigerator as a guide to keep you on track.
Dear Client,
We've been working together on your organizing project for a while now, and I’m writing this because I care deeply about your success and, frankly, I know you deserve better than the cycle we’re currently in.
I need to be direct with you: You are keeping too much stuff, and it's the single biggest obstacle to achieving the organized, peaceful home you envision.
The biggest challenge isn't a lack of the right bins or a perfect system; it’s the volume. No organizing system in the world can successfully manage a quantity of items that exceeds the capacity of your space. Your space is finite. Tools, bins, shelves, etc. can make better use of the space you have but if there is too much stuff for the space it won’t matter. Not only that, if you manage to maximize every inch of available space it will be full to the point that you either won’t be able to see what you have to find it or there will be enough obstacles to getting to it that you will end up just buying the item you need again. The problem just gets worse.
I know letting go is hard. Your belongings hold memories, aspirations, and value—whether real or perceived. It is important to distinguish between:
A Memory vs. A Physical Burden: The memory of an event or a loved one exists in your mind and heart, not an object taking up prime real estate in your home.
A "What If" vs. A "What Is": You're holding onto items for highly improbable future scenarios ("What if I need this obscure spare part?"). The reality is that these items are preventing you from enjoying your home today.
The Price Tag vs. The Life Cost: The dollar amount you paid for something years ago is irrelevant now. The life cost of that item is the space, time, and mental energy it demands from you every single day.
For our next session, our focus must shift from "where can I put this?" to "do I truly need this to live the life I want?” Specifically I would like to focus on keeping in mind the following guidelines:
A Higher Standard: When sorting, the answer shouldn't be "maybe" or "I guess." The only items that stay must be "Yes, I use this, and I love this." Everything else has to go.
Zero-Tolerance for Duplicates: We will eliminate all unnecessary duplicates (e.g., three whisk brooms, eight identical coffee mugs, four flashlights with dead batteries).
No More Rescuing: Once an item is in the donation pile, it is off-limits. No more diving back into the boxes to "rescue" something you’ve already decided to let go of.
Broken and out of date items should go.
If the answer is “Let it Go” lets focus on making that happen as easily as possible. If we think a friend or family member might want an item, let's get it to them asap. Maybe for the time being we don’t make various piles for multiple charities but deliver them all to the same place that day.
You hired me to help you create a functional and peaceful home but right now the state of your home is causing anxiety. I am happy to walk you through the process and do the heavy lifting but you have to be the one to decide to draw a line in the sand and let go of the excess.
Let’s use our next session to make a breakthrough. I would love to truly make a lasting difference next time we meet!
Sincerely,
Simplified Home
