As I pulled out and inspected this piece of clothing and that, I saw him wearing each outfit in my mind’s eye and recalled the many events and occasions we attended with family and friends whether decked out or hanging out. The clothes were telling me stories, bringing up memories and sending me back in time. And while certain clothing invoked reminiscing, I know that cherished memories do not disappear into donation bags.

While enduring the age of COVID, decluttering has become an act of self-care.

But what is it about the New Year that makes it the best time to invoke life-changing habits? Sure, we’ve been at it for 4000 years and its traditional roots run deep, but what magical thing happens as the calendar page turns?

The visual presence of clutter and the quantity of it, frequently is the trigger to decide once and for all that it’s time to get organized. Decluttering the physical stuff is certainly one piece of the organizing puzzle.

I was recently contacted by Marni Jameson, a nationally syndicated lifestyle columnist. She was seeking resources to respond to a letter she received by reader of her column. The letter came from a gentleman who recently lost his wife.

It takes less than five minutes of watching or reading local, national, or international news to learn of a disaster somewhere in the world. Disaster comes in many forms and in the wake of the unspeakable tragedy and disaster of September 11, 2001, the US deemed September National Preparedness Month.

It’s a fairly common refrain, and one that I and countless professional organizers hear quite often. It ranks right up there with ‘I don’t know where to begin.’

The internet abounds with tips on how to pack, ideas for donating or selling unwanted items, how to choose a moving company, and so much more. Until it is all organized into a useful plan, it is a jumble of information adding to an already stress-laden event.

More and more, it is becoming a well-known fact that a disorganized and cluttered home is a direct link to stress. Women unfortunately suffer the stigma of this more than men.

The garage does seem like a logical place to store some items. Without a shed, yard and gardening tools likely call the garage home, as do bicycles and other outdoor toys or equipment. But it also becomes the drop zone for things to be dealt with later, or not at all.