For many, January is a time when we think about changes we want to make in our lives or how to improve them for the year ahead. Too much clutter - whether it be mental, emotional or physical can be an issue. Professional declutterer, Zemirah Moffat, shares her advice.

By Dr Zemirah Moffat aka. Zem

Illustration by Suzie Cichy

Clutter Clearing is an art. Its essence is simple, but that does not mean it is easy. It can be anything but.

I have been a professional Declutterer for ten years. Before this, I lectured in Visual Anthropology, the discipline of my doctorate. My PhD was all about a wonderful queer club in London called Club Wotever. It was a place that welcomed people of all genders and sexualities; supportive, celebratory and encouraging. A marvellous space that continues to this day.

Clearing Clutter is rather like coming out. It takes bravery, stubbornness, creativity, smart thinking, good friends and a supportive community. This is possible, particularly in Govanhill!

So, what is clutter?

Clutter is a blockage. It is stuff that gets in the way of what we want to do, what our housemates and families want to do and/or what our communities want to do. This is where it gets tricky as sometimes what we want is at odds with the wants and needs of others.

Clutter is too much unopened mail, circulars and leaflets; too many broken, forgotten and unused items; unwanted gifts. inherited things. Clutter is a bouquet of feelings: roses with thorns, colourful stems and deadwood alike. Clutter clearing is about creating that bouquet that makes your heart sing, and then passing onto others the things that make their hearts sing.

At this point I need to tell you the uncomfortable truth: clutter clearing never stops. As we change and the people around us change, our needs change and so must our things. The best we can do is get good at giving and receiving, at fixing things and at moving things on to better places.

So, what are the main causes of clutter and how do we sort it?

There are four main personal causes for clutter: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. But for me the most critical cause is the sense of 'lack of time.' On a simple numbers level, I don't understand. We are living longer and yet we have less time? This perplexes me, as does the fact that there are more than twice as many people on this earth as there were 100 years ago, and yet we are lonelier.

I encourage clients to challenge both these ideas, through taking time to deal with their clutter and nurturing friendships and relationships that will help get their clutter moving.

We also need to identify the main causes of our clutter. Is it that we can't see where things should go and don't know how to organise; or are we too emotionally attached to things? Perhaps we know what to do, but we're not able to move them and simply need physical help? Or could it be that our spirit really wants to play tennis, sing or learn Swahili, and is frustrated and so messes around with the unimportant, like excess shopping for example!? If so, let's find that racket, join that community choir and sign up for language classes.

When people ask me about my work, I describe it as 'intelligent tea-drinking'. It is very similar to the work I did as an anthropologist: sitting with people and listening to what they said, and to what their things and places told me. As a professional declutterer I use these skills to help people shift their focus and re-evaluate the importance of their things, reflecting better who they are now, so they are in a place more in harmony with themselves and those around them.

Advice for clearing clutter

Start with a cup of tea and spend some time working out your barriers. Next, think about what the solutions could be. If you need more ideas, here are my top recommendations:

Clutter Chat: an online and Glasgow-based meet-up where peers support each other getting through their clutter (first session free, then pay-what-you-can monthly donation) clutterchat.co.uk
YouTube: a brilliant (free) resource of 'how to fix' videos, decluttering ideas and inspiration
APDO-UK: The UK's Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers where you can find local and experienced professionals (£45-£60/hr) apdo.co.uk
If you think your barriers are mainly psychological, visit hoardingdisordersuk.org for info and support. (In 2018, hoarding was classified by the World Health Organisation as a medical condition and our medical doctors can help too.)

This issue will be featured in Issue 5 of the magazine - out the first week of February!