It's Just Stuff: When to Declutter

If you've got too much stuff in your house, or a cluttered room, Suzanne Allbee, CEO of Bee Organized Seattle, talks about how to go about changing that. She talks about the first steps of their process. Environmental wellness is one of the 8 foundational principles of wellness, a focus of the Vitality Revolution podcast series sponsored by Humana. Suzanne Allbee mentions some signs people can look for to know it's time to declutter. "Some of the obvious ones are when someone's health is not doing so great, perhaps that they are struggling with energy levels, or they know that down the road they will likely need to move. That's an easy one. If you sit in your home, and you look around, and you're not comfortable with your space, or it's not making you happy, it's not sparking joy, there's an opportunity there. I tell everybody, it is truly a gift to your family and friends for you to take the time to go through your things while you are physically and mentally able." Suzanne Allbee says, "When someone is ready to start the process of decluttering or downsizing, the first thing is literally just to begin. Make a calendar date with yourself, start small. It doesn't have to be done overnight. Number two, engage an organizer, a third party to help. Sometimes if we rely on friends or family, we put a burden on them. They don't have the time for it, frankly. It's easier, sometimes, with a neutral third party. Number three, we always suggest a regular schedule, set up a cadence that feels good to you, once a month, once a week, once a quarter, whatever that looks like to you, that feels comfortable for you, at a pace that you can handle. And then lastly, I just say be ready. It's some decision making, it is emotional. You are going to be going through memories of your entire life. We're gonna choose what is the most important to celebrate and go on from there." Answers for Elders listeners get a free consultation and $100 off their first session with Bee Organized. Regarding the initial consultation, Suzanne says, "It could be Zoom, or it might be in person, depending on where you live and everyone's schedule. Honestly, Zoom at the very minimum, because I do want to see your space." Learn more* Bee Organized locations: https://beeorganized.com/about-the-company/* Bee Organized: https://beeorganized.com/* Suzanne Allbee: https://beeorganized.com/our_team/suzanne-allbee/* The Vitality Revolution podcast series: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/* Humana: https://www.humana.com/* Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/ Hear more* Podcasts with Bee Organized at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/bee-organized/* Articles and podcasts about Environmental Wellness: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/environmental-wellness/ Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/ Image: Free Stock photos by VecteezySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.