Personal organisation, as a business, has boomed over the past decade, arguably amplified by the rise of Japanese professional organiser Marie Kondo.
Her minimalist, and sometimes emotional, approach to home organisation resonated among a global audience when her method was released to the world in 2010.
But from 2013, the UAE has had its own professional "declutterer", and she's been helping people — from busy corporates to royal families — create efficient systems for tidying up and organising their belongings ever since.
Shelina Jokhiya is the founder of Decluttr Me. Last month, her book, Can You Find It In Five Seconds? was released in paperback. She also produces a podcast on personal and home organisation.
"I have always been into organising since I was a kid," Jokhiya tells The National.
"I was researching decluttering and organising and found that it's quite a big industry in the US and the UK, but no one seems to be doing it in the Middle East."
Clutter and mental health
Much like Kondo, Jokhiya believes that decluttering has a lot to do with mental and emotional well-being. In the region, she says people tend to be overwhelmed with their lives, whether it's with family or work.
"I can see it with my clients. Before I start working with them, I would observe their body language — their shoulders are down, you can see their body is low, but when they finally see the outcome of our work, these change. You can see them smiling, and they just feel lighter," she explains.
For Jokhiya, who was a lawyer before becoming a full-time professional organiser, the most satisfying aspect of her work is seeing how decluttering affects the lives of the people she works with.
"Things change for them. They become happier, they start to go out, see a therapist," she says.
The benefits of decluttering are well documented. In 2009, research published in Sage Journals about the link between clutter and mood showed that levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in mothers who lived in a cluttered home environment. In 2011, neuroscience researchers also concluded that a clutter-free home and work environment led to a better ability to focus and process information.
Jokhiya's company offers several packages — from bronze, which includes four hours of "judgment-free" decluttering of a specific areas of a house, to platinum, which racks up a total of 16 hours and is recommended for people who are moving from one house to another.
All packages come with a 20-minute consultation to discuss goals, which Jokhiya says is important in an industry where trust is a major currency. "People let me into their homes, which is a big deal, so I make sure I build a good relationship with the people I work with," she says.
"When you wake up in the morning, how long does it take for you to find your glasses, or your medicine, or whatever you need from the bedside cabinet? And then you go in the bathroom, how long does it take for you to find your toothpaste or your shower gel? For some people, it takes ages, and it's a waste of your time and energy," says Jokhiya, explaining the premise of her self-help, manual-like book.
Highlights from the book
It begins with Jokhiya identifying seven different types of clutter — a useful tip for those who have a hard time deciding whether to keep or throw something out. They include sentimental clutter (first photo of your baby) to rubbish (old newspapers or expired food in your cupboards).
Categorising the type of clutter in the house will give an idea of how to approach the whole organisation process.
Decluttering can take time and energy, and it can easily be overwhelming. Jokhiya recommends taking things slow by dedicating only 15 to 20 minutes per day to it.
"I often hear people taking all of their clothes, accessories and shoes out of their wardrobe, all at one time and putting them on their bed," she writes in the book. "The result is a mountain of overwhelming trauma."
Jokhiya says mini-decluttering removes that feeling of being overwhelmed.
Buying items is inevitable, but Jokhiya recommends following a mantra that could help in avoiding more clutter, and advises following the "buy one, get rid of two" method.
They don't have to be in the same category, she says. For example, it can be one piece of clothing for two non-clothing items in your kitchen or living area. The idea is to ensure you are consciously making space for new items.
"You can use this rule for anything and everything. Shoes, electronic devices, magazines, food, pens … anything in your home."
Jokhiya's book doesn't only cover physical belongings, but also discusses digital clutter, from email inboxes to your WhatsApp messages.
For emails, she recommends following a simple rule: the File, Act, Toss system.
"When an email comes in, think immediately: can you file it into another folder, do you need to act on it (and can do so in a few seconds) or can you toss it into the deleted bin?"
This simple habit, Jokhiya says, can help keep incoming emails at bay, and allow for a more clutter-free digital environment.
More information is available at decluttrme.com
Scroll through the gallery below for 2023 interior trends
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Andor
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Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Company%20profile
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
RESULTS
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Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5