The Clutter Connection Book Summary - The Clutter Connection Book explained in key points

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The Clutter Connection summary

Name: The Clutter Connection
Rating: 4.4 (20 reviews)
Author: Cassandra Aarssen

Cassandra Aarssen

How Your Personality Type Determines Why You Organize the Way You Do

4.4 (20 ratings)

17 mins

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The Clutter Connection
summarized in 6 key ideas

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What’s in it for me? Discover your Clutterbug organizing style and put your space and life in order.

If you had a penny for every time you called yourself messy and lazy, you’d probably own a private jet by now.

That’s likely why you’re here: you want to become a pro at organizing. But don’t run out and buy the trendiest storage box and filing cabinets just yet. Your journey should first begin with understanding your unique type of organization style, a.k.a. your Clutterbug personality.

In this Blink, you’ll learn the four different Clutterbug types as well as each type's unique approach to organizing. From there, we’ll outline some handy tips and tricks you can use to organize your own space according to your type.

So, ready to transform your space once and for all? Then let’s get started!

The Clutterbug Classification System

When you think of an organized home, what are the first things that come to mind? Maybe dozens of color-coordinated boxes tucked inside cabinets, or meticulously arranged file drawers. Maybe a minimalist visual with not one thing out of place.

Growing up, that’s exactly how an organized space was described to you. Everything needs to follow a cookie-cutter standard of cleanliness. If you stray from that norm, you’ll be labeled as unorganized – or, even worse, messy.

But here’s a shocking eye-opener: that isn’t the only method for organizing a space. There are many ways, and they all depend on the type of organizing personality style that comes naturally to you. According to Cassandra Aarssen’s Clutterbug Classification System, there are actually four different organizing styles: Butterfly, Bee, Ladybug, and Cricket. Each one has a distinct approach to placing and sorting things.

To figure out your Clutterbug type, the easiest test is to take note of your current surroundings and the way you naturally organize things. Look at your room, drawer, or even your computer.

If you want your things out in the open and without using a detailed system, you’re a Butterfly.

If you want your things out in the open but follow a detailed system, you’re a Bee.

If you want your things hidden away but without using a detailed system, you’re a Ladybug.

If you want your things hidden away and follow a detailed system, you’re a Cricket.

It’s important to know exactly what kind of Clutterbug you are to help you identify the kind of organizing style to employ in your home. When your space isn’t in constant chaos, you’ll feel more in control of your life, and this, in turn, can lead to a happier, more productive you.

The Butterfly

For all his life, forty-three-year-old Bob had been convinced that he was nothing but a slob, and his messy home was proof of it. His coats dangled on the stair railing instead of being stowed away in the hall closet. Mountains of papers were piled on his kitchen counter instead of in his upstairs office. Dirty clothes sat on his bedroom floor instead of in a closed laundry basket.

One look and it was immediately obvious that Bob was a classic Butterfly. More often than not, Butterflies struggle with traditional organizing methods. That’s because they thrive on visual abundance and organizational simplicity instead.

The Bee

There is probably not one craft or hobby that Jess hasn’t tried. She cooks, bakes, sews, paints, knits, makes bows – and that’s not the end of it. Naturally, the more hobbies she has, the more gadgets and gizmos she also acquires. Her craft room is filled with all sorts of supplies carefully arranged in neat piles, but also strewn out on top of desks or displayed on floor-to-ceiling shelving.

Jess is what you call a Bee. Bees are typically known to be creative, hardworking, and perfectionist people. Just like Butterflies, they prefer visual abundance, with all their stuff placed right where they can easily see it.

The Ladybug

Linda has always had a flair for home decor, and this passion shows in every inch of her home. She has magnolia wreaths and gorgeously coffered ceilings, and to top it off, her kitchen and living room are always spick and span. However, the insides of her cabinets and drawers tell a different story. Behind closed doors lie her stacks of disorganized belongings.

That’s what a Ladybug is. Ladybugs are so serious about cleaning that even when they’re not expecting guests, they’re out and about stashing away all the surface clutter in the nearest closet they can find. They always aim for that aesthetically pleasing vibe – no visible mess allowed! It’s largely because, unlike Butterflies and Bees, Ladybugs favor visual simplicity. They can't stand the sight of their things just lying around, even if they use them daily.

The Cricket

When retired teacher Cristina organizes her collection of classroom supplies, she doesn’t just pile them according to grade level or subject. That’s too broad for her. She’s more comfortable sorting them into subcategories, and once that’s done, she can then put away her neatly grouped things behind closets and drawers.

Cristina perfectly fits the description of a Cricket. They’re the Clutterbugs who have no trouble sticking to the traditional system that requires hiding and micro-organizing stuff. They need visual simplicity, with all their things out of sight. And they thrive on organizational abundance with tabulated binders and subdivided storage boxes. Simply put, organizing is ingrained into Crickets’ DNA, and it’s their natural talent.

Final Summary

Having a messy home has nothing to do with how lazy you think you are. The real culprit behind your clutter is the organizing methods you’re using. By first knowing your Clutterbug type, you can employ the right organizing hacks to help your space look and stay clean. Once you've got things in order, the rest of your life will follow suit. You’ll be more than ready to tackle anything, and create the life you've always imagined for yourself.

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What is The Clutter Connection about?

The Clutter Connection (2019) explains the root cause behind your cluttered space. It delves into the four different organizing personality styles and offers easy-to-follow, tailored suggestions for organizing your home based on your distinct style.

Who should read The Clutter Connection?

Messy people wanting to organize their spaces
Moms looking to declutter their homes
Anyone drowning in clutter

About the Author

Cassandra Aarssen is a professional organizer. She’s the founder of the home-organizing business Clutterbug and helps individuals get organized with her YouTube and Podcast channels. Cassandra is also the author of The Declutter Challenge, Cluttered Mess to Organized Success Workbook, and Real Life Organizing.

Categories with The Clutter Connection

Psychology Productivity Personal Development

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