What are clutter magnets? They are those spots in your home or work that tend to accumulate clutter, no matter what you do to change them. Maybe they look something like this?
WHAT: These are items that tend to accumulate in ‘Clutter Magnet zones’.
It could be just about anything, but here are some commonly “magnetic” items.
- Keys/keychains
- Wallets
- Backpacks
- Purses
- Umbrellas
- Clothes/accessories
- Sports equipment/toys
- Books
- Lunch bags, water bottles, and other snack/food items
- Projects (paperwork, hobbies, homework, etc.)
WHERE: Possible areas that might be clutter magnets.
- By the front door, on a table or bench, anywhere in the “Drop zone”.
- Kitchen or Dining Room tables: Any vertical surface is in danger of becoming a clutter magnet, and tables, no matter how we try to keep them clean, always attract stuff.
- Kitchen counters, especially if you have an entrance nearby.
- Bags! Sweep it into the bag, never to be seen again!
- Your Car? The kids’ extra toys, clothes, trash, and more…
- Desktops: Ensure that you regularly update these items.
WHY: Take an honest look at why clutter magnet zones happen.
- Laziness: Put things back where they belong! (I’m not judging…I’m just saying!)
- Homeless items, if you don’t know where to put them, then they will end up just about anywhere.
- Bad habits can be changed.
- Too busy-this isn’t an excuse if you have created solutions for your stuff-take the correct action.
HOW: Can we change this behavior?
- Turn these clutter magnets into clutter-free zones!
- Identify what lands in your clutter magnet and decide where everything belongs.
- Create homes for the items that do not have a permanent landing place.
- Use hooks for keys, bags (such as purses, backpacks, etc.)
- Shelves for electronics, wallets, and other “pocket contents”.
- Baskets or boxes for mail… better yet, drop what you don’t need right into recycling and take the rest to your desk “action” file or inbox.
I’m not going to lie, it may not be easy to fully erase clutter magnet zones, but you can change your habit by paying attention to where, what, and why things tend to accumulate. Once you understand your behavior patterns, you can then implement a plan and practice, practice, practice until it becomes a new habit.