How discovering your decluttering personality type could help you create the perfect tidy home
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Tidying up is no small feat, and everyone has a different way of dealing with it, from the world’s more minimalist Marie Kondos to hoarders who never throw anything away.
But according to multi-award-winning British publishing house Tall Boy, you may be able to make it easier by simply identifying your tidy personality type.
It has come up with five major personality types when it comes to cleaning up the house, and has come up with hacks to make cleaning up easier for each of them.
Among the five types are the sentimentalists; the materialist; the high achiever; the evader and the habit holder.
James M, co-founder of Tall Boy, told FEMAIL tips to make sure each of the five types has an easier time letting go of items.
Evaders often keep postponing cleanup, Tall Boy said, letting unwanted items flood their home — but never take responsibility
For example, people who collect items of emotional value can create a ‘treasure chest’ with their favorite items to let the others go without feeling guilty.
Meanwhile, materialistic people who see their property as a security must ask themselves whether they would pay the same to replace the same item now to make room.
He said, “Our homes are one of the most sentimental things to us, and clutter can pile up everywhere. Whether that’s old photos or items we just don’t want to let go.
“We hope these tips help people who want to freshen up and get some clutter out of their space,” he added.
The Sentimentalist
Tall Boy describes people who have trouble letting go of objects as ‘sentimentalists’.
It adds, “This is the person who can’t let go of anything to do with someone they love.
“They define themselves by their family, relationship or friends. They have all the photos their kids bought from school, tickets to meaningful events, and endless trinkets, gifts and keepsakes.”
Cleaning up with a sentimentalist
It will be difficult for a sentimentalist to part with their possessions, and the only thing that will really make them yield is the realization of the toll the clutter takes on their loved ones.
‘Set achievable goals and a timetable’ [for decluttering] instead of making demands, it’s impossible for them to fulfill them,’ said Tall Boy.
“They believe that dealing with clutter ‘throws away’ the people they love, so getting annoyed with their inability to part with something doesn’t solve the problem.”
If you are a sentimentalist who has a hard time letting go, you may want to enlist the support of someone detached from the family to help you through the cleanup project.
One way to ease the pain of letting go is to create a “treasure chest” for the most precious items that the sentimental can return to.
“Select the best, happiest and most inspiring memories to keep and let go of the rest,” said Tall Boy.
It’s a process that can’t be rushed, but when done right, life becomes smoother and happier for everyone in the house.”
The high achiever
High achievers travel light and think nothing of throwing away things that are no longer useful to them, according to Tall Boy.
“Their home and lifestyle should match their status and image of success,” the publisher said.
So why do high achievers allow clutter to take over?
“They will cling to the evidence of past victories, with framed photos, awards, expensive suits and branded items,” said Tall Boy.
“But these, along with boxes of legal papers if they’re waging some form of battle for justice, can be a daily reminder of failure.”
Cleaning up with the High Achiever
High achievers will have to come out of their malaise to tackle the clutter in their homes.
“When they’re ready, the best method is to set goals with a reward or an attainable goal,” said Tall Boy.
“As they work towards it, the tension subsides and they begin to see themselves differently, allowing new opportunities, people and success to come into their lives,” she added.
the evader
Evaders keep putting off the time to clean up and gradually let unwanted items take over their home.
“Whether it’s the kids, spouse, or circumstances causing the mess, it’s certainly not their fault,” Tall Boy explained.
Cleaning up with an Evader
“The evaders really hate junk, but are so resigned to seeing it that they completely absolve themselves of responsibility and have become part of the problem,” the publisher said.
The best way to help them is to allow the evader to deal with the things they do have control over, while treating others’ possessions with respect.
“By changing their thinking, the evader can reclaim entire rooms and feel better about themselves and everyone else.
“Interestingly, the new space and fresh feeling in the house has a snowball effect and miraculously other members of the household also start cleaning up.”
The habit keeper
Sometimes “best prepared” just means more mess.
‘These are often war babies or boomers. They grew up with rationing and restrictions, learning from their parents to keep everything “just in case,” Tall Boy explained.
“This leads to sheds, garages and attics full of dusty, rusty, musty stuff that is sadly long obsolete,” it added.
Habit-holders will often be surrounded by clutter because they like to keep things “just in case,” according to Tall Boy, who added that habit-holders are often war babies or boomers.
Cleaning up with a habit keeper
“Enlisting a practical and patient family member or friend to relieve the pressure is the best way forward,” the publisher said.
You can also rely on a few questions to help the habit keeper realize that the clutter he’s clinging to has no practical value.
The questions to ask: When was the last time you used it? When do you think you need it? Shall we leave it?
“It can be an emotional process, but ultimately a huge relief,” said Tall Boy.