Vancouver Fall Home Show: How to lighten up with less

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If you thought that an organized home was just a matter of willpower and overcoming laziness, you are wrong. There are several reasons people can’t get their living spaces in order, says Calgary-based professional organizer Megan Golightly, who will be speaking at the Vancouver Fall Home Show.

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“There’s trauma or people feel like the memory is in there,” says Golightly. “You just don’t dare. So it boils down to confidence, fear, shame, guilt, all those things that are all psychological issues, why don’t we let go.”

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After coping with ADHD, Golightly has insight and empathy when people are overwhelmed by clutter and just can’t handle it. She says some might assume they should be naturally organized, but that’s not the case.

“We have to learn and observe and kind of forge these neural pathways to be able to do this,” she explains.

Her top tip is to start small. She suggests starting in the bathroom because it’s an easy space to organize and isn’t filled with a lot of sentimental items that can trip you up.

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And like anything else that involves developing skills, organizing takes practice. “The more you practice, the more you can do it because I think you teach yourself,” says Golightly.

It starts with asking the right questions; That’s because avoiding clutter is often the result of “unmade” choices that people avoid because they don’t want to deal with them — or don’t know how.

“So I’m pointing out different questions for people to ask themselves to better be able to keep themselves out of this loop,” says Golightly. “Do I need this? do i love it Would I buy it again today?”

Paperwork can be daunting, but Golightly says once you’ve got a system in place, you probably won’t be overwhelmed anymore.

“If you’re not prone to opening your mail, have the right home setup,” she says. “You have a specific place to put it, and you go through it every week.”

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The key to future success is completing that first project, be it a closet, a bathroom, or the paperwork.

“Once you make it and you succeed, you get the dopamine hit and you want to keep going. You know how to do it because your brain is on board.”

For those who don’t live in Calgary, Golightly uses Instagram (@gosimplified) and detailed instructions available for purchase at go-simplified.com.

Megan Golightly performs on the Sleep Country main stage on Saturday, October 22nd at 2pm and Sunday, October 23rd at 12pm.