It’s the season of the clear-out, the spring clean and the garden tidy as we throw open the windows, dispel the dirt and let the fresh air in.
It seems like a good idea when you approach the overflowing cupboards and drawers in a frenzy of good intent, planning on ’getting rid’ of the junk and making more space.
But once there’s a huge pile of ‘stuff’ in the middle of the room, freeze and overwhelm might set in at a job that’s just a bit too much.
That’s when you need to call Cher Casey. She’s The Mindful Organiser, based in York. Her business is ‘tidying meets therapy’. Who wouldn’t benefit from a bit of both?
Cher says, ‘my house is far from perfect and it definitely doesn’t qualify as minimalist’. Cher Casey Originally from California, she came to York in 2012 to study Medieval History of Art at University of York. She met ‘an amazing man’, enrolled in a doctorate program, and fast forward 13 years is happily raising a family in York.
She founded the business after maternity leave, juggling motherhood and a doctorate thesis.
‘Overwhelm doesn’t begin to describe me toggling between messy toddler crafts and composing a decade of research while battling chronic sleep deprivation, moving into a new house, all in the middle of the COVID pandemic,’ she recalls.
‘I repeatedly told myself that ‘I’ll get to them when I finish’, when confronted by our clutter and house projects. Instead of kicking back pool-side after submission, I decluttered and organised my entire home – bottom to top – with the help of The Declutter Hub, an online membership. With each drawer, cupboard, and room, I became more grounded and in control of my surroundings.
So instead of pursuing an academic path, Cher founded The Mindful Organiser.
She realised, ‘so many people are unhappy in their homes. They are burdened by clutter, and they can’t see a way out. Clients come to me with a host of struggles, a variety of clutter categories, and different goals for their homes.
‘For example, the organisational needs of a mum with young children differ from those of a retired couple – and a recently divorced client will differ from one who is physically impaired. With every home comes the opportunity for change and my support and guidance is tailored to reflect the variety of my clients’, she says.
For many, decluttering is a cathartic experience, a journey of self reflection and personal growth.
‘Many belongings are relics from our past’, says Cher.
Anyone who has watched Stacey Solomon’s series, Sort Your Life will recognise the highs and lows of decluttering.
Cher says, ‘Decluttering can evoke intense emotions, especially when working with sentimental categories or tackling a daunting project. But the end results are worth the effort. Imagine this: you open the door and you feel instantly calm, each room is functional, you are filled with joy seeing your most precious possessions. You’ve curated a home that reflects who you are now and how you live your life.’
Clutter – excess or out-of-place items – creates ‘visual noise’ or ‘chatter’ that signals to our brains that there is unfinished work. The presence of clutter raises our cortisol levels and causes people to feel anxious, stressed out, and overwhelmed.
In disorganised and cluttered homes people will likely frantically search for keys before leaving the house, waste money buying duplicates when original items go missing; feel drained and makes us feel out of control and unhappy in our homes.
The good news: tackling clutter and actioning long-standing projects have correspondingly opposite benefits. You save time, money, and energy. You stay focused, think more clearly, sleep better, eat more healthily. An uncluttered home also creates a more harmonious household, and it becomes a welcoming place to host guests.
