National Organising Week 1-8 Nov: Q&A with Declutter Coach, Juliet Landau-Pope

[LocalEditorBarnet]

Are you overwhelmed by too many toys, books, clothes or paperwork?

Struggling to manage a never-ending to-do list?

Declutter Coach Juliet Landau-Pope is here to help!

From 1-8 November, she will be answering your questions daily via this thread.

Juliet says: ‘I define clutter as whatever’s getting in your way – too much stuff in your space or in your schedule, or limiting stories that are holding you back. I help busy mums in North London to review routines, find practical solutions and shift habits that lead to clutter – in your home and in your head. I work with individuals in their homes and run clutter coaching workshops for groups.

I’m a certified coach and leading member of the Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (Apdo). To mark Apdo’s 10-year anniversary, we’re launching National Organising Week from 1-8 November and the slogan is Do It NOW!

I’ll be sharing practical tips here to help you tackle specific clutter-clearing tasks and also to motivate other family members to get organised, too! So if you have queries or comments about how to manage your time or your space, post them there.

For more info about Juliet and the services she offers, see www.jlpcoach.com
For info about APDO, see: www.apdo-uk.co.uk

Hi, Juliet.
What are your top tips for living with a hoarder? I often feel my marriage is reaching breaking point because I can no longer live in a house which is bursting at the seams. DH is hoarding things from his childhood, his parents' youth, his college years etc plus all sorts of items that might either come in handy one day or become collectors' items one day. I am sick and tired of being surrounded by things. Stuff just keeps moving round the house without a resting place. He cannot let go and I cannot get past this being an issue for me.

Hi Gameonred, the thread finished yesterday but of course you posted on Friday so I'm sure Juliet will be along soon with some advice and support.

Dear Gameonred, sorry for the delayed response to your question. The term 'hoarder' is often used lightly it describes a specific and complex disorder, often associated with mental health issues - and it's no laughing matter. Hoarding, in the true sense of the word, poses physical risks within a home and can also exacerbate tensions among family members. It's not clear how your DH himself feels but it's clearly taking a toll on you and on your marriage. I would encourage you and your DH together to consult your GP about a referral to a local psychologist or psychiatrist who specialises in hoarding. With professional support, your DH might reduce anxiety and build confidence that will enable him to part from surplus belongings. It's likely to be a slow and gradual process, requiring time, patience and creative thinking but expert help can make a difference. You might also find it useful to join Help For Hoarders, an online support group that lists many resources and ideas: www.helpforhoarders.co.uk/
Wishing you all the best, Juliet

Many thanks for coming back to respond, Juliet.

Thank you very much to everyone who posted a question, and of course to Juliet for her helpful information, advice and support.

I will keep this thread in local talk so people can continue to benefit from Juliet's excellent advice.

Watch this space for future Q&A sessions in Local Talk. I will start a new thread asking people for desirable topics.

Thanks again and keep reading and talking! Ed.

I'd like to thank everyone who posted questions on this thread, too. I'd love to hear your feedback and if you'd like to contact me directly, my details are listed on my website: www.jlpcoach.com

Finally, I'd also like to extend a warm invitation to Mumsnet readers to a workshop that I'm running on 2.12.14 in East Finchley. It's called Getting Organised Before the Holidays and aims to help anyone who feels overwhelmed by preparations for Christmas or Channukah. For more details and to book, please see the link below:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-get-organised-before-the-holidays-tickets-14120525873

Wishing you all the best,
Juliet