Challenging Disorganization and Hoarding Expert Ellen Hankes

The Secret Lives of Objects

Why do we keep the things we hold onto? Rubber bands, high school graduation programs, rusty pliers, an odd plate? It is fascinating to explore why we keep certain things but don't care too much about other things. 

Keepsakes have special lives, and often sacred, secret lives. Sometimes these keepsakes are kept in boxes or in dark cupboards where they rarely, if ever, see the light of day. While at times the keepsakes may have monetary value, often the items are kept for sentimental reasons.

Artist Corrine Botz is teaming up with the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization to create an art project titled "The Secret Lives of Objects."I am excited to be working with an individual who contributed some items she had kept for a long time. The brief story of the significance of the item in her life is touching, like good stories can be. You can read my client's story and a number of others at the Secret Lives of Objects website. New life is already springing from these once-cherished items.

We look forward to seeing the variety of objects as this project advances. It may be concert tickets, a pair of gloves, a plate, or something else that comes with a story. 

Have you, or someone else, looked at your belongings as art? I would like to hear from you.

Churning the Clutter

  While going through a pile of clutter, Gwen picked up a magazine. Remembering that there was an article in the magazine she wanted to finish reading, Gwen laid the magazine aside. The next item was a month--old grocery list with a phone number jotted next to the word bananas. Since Gwen thought it might be an important phone number, she laid the grocery list on the table. As Gwen considered item after item she found herself just rearranging the clutter.

Churning is the term for the act of moving one item to another without discarding any item. At the same time, no system of organizing these things is established. This behavior is observed in those who are compulsive hoarders.

There may not be space to put things when many spaces are occupied with more clutter. The individual may have difficulty categorizing like things or making decisions about items. The process of removing a large amount of clutter can be overwhelming. When churning occurs, there is little noticeable improvement which can be very discouraging both to the individual with hoarding behavior and those that are attempting to help.

Have you observed churning in yourself or someone else? I would like to hear about your experience.