Recently I wrote about how virtual clutter support groups operate. In this post I will review the compelling reasons to consider joining one. In this fast-paced world, the struggle against physical clutter is more relevant than ever. While the idea of joining a virtual clutter support group may not immediately appeal to you, it offers a myriad of benefits that extend beyond tidying up your physical spaces.
Three compelling reasons in favor of participating in a virtual clutter support group.
1. Save Money
The first compelling reason is all about money.
Working in-person with a trained professional organizer can be an expensive proposition. When you join a virtual clutter support group facilitated by a trained professional organizer you receive the benefit of their training, guidance, and suggestions at a much lower cost.
A hidden benefit of joining a virtual clutter support group is that you will save money on housekeeping costs. It takes a cleaning service less time to clean a home when they don’t need to move things out of their way. This results in a saving for you, the homeowner.
Finally, you will save money because as you declutter you will create homes for your belongings. When you know where things are, you don’t need to go out and buy replacements because you can’t find the thing you were looking for.
No Embarrassment, Just Empathy:
No Stranger in your home:
People are sometimes reluctant to work in-person with a professional organizer because they feel like they have to clean-up and organize before the organizer arrives. They do not want to be judged by the amount of clutter and disorganization in their home. Even though I can tell you that trained professional organizers abide by a code of ethics and are non-judgmental, it doesn’t remove the anxiety which comes from letting a stranger into your home. When you participate in a virtual clutter support group, the facilitators and other group members only see what you want them to see.
Judgment-Free Zone:
The virtual clutter support group: Clear Space for You is facilitated by two trained professional organizers; me (Diane Quintana) and Jonda Beattie. We are completely objective and bring our non-judgmental behavior to the group. Every participant in both our groups signs an agreement which outlines our non-judgmental policy. The objective is for everyone in the group to feel comfortable and free to express themselves without fear of being judged.
Shared Experiences:
Most virtual clutter support groups including Clear Space for You, are purposefully small. This allows for each person to receive individualized support from the facilitators. It also promotes the sharing of similar challenges. Participants learn from hearing about other people’s challenges and the strategies the facilitators create for them. They can offer each other strategies and empathize when circumstances are difficult. There is also an opportunity during the beginning of each session for participants to share their wins. We celebrate every win, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
Building Confidence:
When someone has lots of clutter to unpack it can feel very overwhelming. Working in a clutter support group setting and learning how to break down large overwhelming projects into small tasks helps build confidence. The more often you are guided through these steps the easier it becomes.
3. Accountability that Drives Results:
The final compelling reason to participate in a virtual clutter support group is the accountability piece. People often set goals for themselves at the beginning of the New Year. Then in June or July they wonder where the time has gone and how they are going to accomplish their stated goal.
Decluttering and becoming more organized is often a stated goal. When you participate in a virtual clutter support group, the facilitator asks you to set small goals.
Setting Goals: Participants in the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group set a goal for the month. We break that goal down into realistic mini-goals, one for each week.
Accountability: As facilitators Jonda and I offer gentle accountability asking if the goal for the previous week was achieved. If it was not, we ask what got in the way. Then we offer strategies to accomplish the goal even when something goes wrong.
There are added benefits:
Progress Tracking: Almost every group has a method of tracking progress. In the Clear Space for You group, Jonda creates a digest of the decisions each participant makes. She sends it to them after each session. At the end of the month, they have everything – all the goals, decisions, and strategies we have discussed during the month. This is a valuable reference tool.
Encouraging Consistency: It is motivating to know that every week the participants check-in during a Zoom call. Each participant shares their wins for the week. They talk about what went right, what needs to be fixed, and what they want to work on next. We sometimes hear “I waited until the last minute to do xxx but I didn’t want to come to group without getting what I said I would do done.” That’s the power of the group.
Conclusion:
Participating in a virtual clutter support group is not just about organizing your physical space. It’s a transformative journey that touches various aspects of your life. From saving money to embracing a judgment-free zone and leveraging gentle accountability, the benefits extend far beyond the physical realm. Join the movement toward a clutter-free, empowered life — the virtual way.
It starts with a conversation. Contact me for a free 30-minute phone conversation to see if the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group is a good fit.
Diane N. Quintana is a Certified Professional Organizer® ,a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization®, and ICD Master Trainer. Diane is the owner of DNQ Solutions, LLC. She is also the co-owner of Release●Repurpose●Reorganize, LLC based in Atlanta, Georgia
