We sat down with Shelina Jokhiya, an expert in decluttering and a skilled professional organiser, to talk through how mothers can tackle clutter.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I was born and raised in Kent, England. I trained as a lawyer, or a Solicitor as they call it in England, working for big global businesses based in London and Dubai. My first job in Dubai was working at Emirates in the Legal Department and then I moved onto a few other companies, working my way up to Head of Legal for a global company.
However, in 2013 it got too much. I was overworked, tired, stressed, anxious and miserable. I didn’t get to see the daytime. One day, I simply had enough. I shut my office door and started researching how to be an organiser.
I had thought about being an organiser for a few years, especially in the early 2000s when I was working in London. But I didn’t think anyone would pay for a service like this. It turned out I was wrong – by 2013 it was a huge industry in the USA and UK. However, there was no one doing it in the Middle East. I decided that day to take the plunge and start my own business. Decluttr Me was created in early 2013. I managed to quit my job by that September and have been helping people get organised ever since with my business Decluttr Me.
How did you develop your passion for decluttering and organising?
I have always been organised, ever since I was a child. I used to organise my Madonna collection, music, DVDs, anything and everything. I also organised the filing systems in whichever company I worked for over the years. It’s truly in my nature!
What do you do?
I am a professional organiser and declutterer. This means I go into people’s homes and offices to help them get rid of things they don’t want or need, put systems in place so they can stay organised, and ensure that they can find anything in less than five seconds moving forward.
What approach do you advise when decluttering?
Trying to tackle your whole house or a big room can be overwhelming. Instead, do a mini-declutter. Spend 15-20 minutes decluttering a shelf, a cupboard, or your counter space. Once you have decluttered this one area, you can then set about organising the remaining items into proper systems.
What rooms or items can be most difficult?
The home office and store room or garage.
Do you have a system for women to tackle their wardrobes?
Declutter in sections! Never take everything out of your wardrobes all at once, otherwise you will get overwhelmed. Whilst doing each section, put the items into a donate, a throw away or recycle and a keep pile. Then categorise the items you want to keep and organise them within your wardrobe.
What are the emotional and mental downsides of clutter?
Seeing clutter from the moment you wake up can be draining and create a clutter cloud over your head. You spend more time looking for things and dealing with the clutter than actually doing the tasks you should be focusing on. Being overwhelmed and frustrated with clutter can lead to depression if not dealt with. A measured environment that is easy to exist within sets us up for a measured mental environment and calmer, clearer thoughts.
What are the challenges of decluttering, specifically for mothers?
Time is normally the biggest challenge. Mothers have to look after their children, the home, maintain their relationship with their husband and if they have a job, work at that as well on top of it all. It can be too much to then have to deal with decluttering, which is why it sometimes gets left, building up into a task that can feel overwhelming.
What are your top tips for organising a family home?
Always begin with a mini-declutter as explained above. This is especially useful if you are short on time! If you cannot find time to do a mini-declutter, get a professional organiser to come in and work with you for a few hours on areas causing you the most pain. Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
In your experience, what do people gain by decluttering and organising?
Time is certainly something precious that you can gain, as you spend less time trying to find every item. That time can then be spent doing something you really want to do. Also money is a factor that many people overlook. When people see how much money has been wasted on stuff that just ended up building up into a mess and has now been decluttered, they realise the importance of only buying what they love and avoiding unnecessary purchasing moving forward.
Why should mums consider hiring a professional home organiser?
Professional organisers, such as Decluttr Me, can help you tackle the room causing you most distress quickly and easily. Whenever you are overwhelmed, they will be by your side, gently nudging you along to review which items you want to keep or declutter. Also, I can generally see immediately how the space could be utilised properly to make sure that you can find your possessions in less than 5 seconds going forward. Sometimes, if mums have no time to deal with the decluttering and organising, I will ask them to leave it with me and will get on with organising the space for them. If I see out of date food, or clothes that shouldn’t be on the hanger any longer, I will put them to one side for the client to review later. The remainder is then arranged and systemised, so they can live a calmer, more organised life from now on.
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