When I say the word “clutter,” most people know what I mean: piles, stacks, overflowing bins, crowded walkways, and all manner of unmanaged stuff cramming up spaces. Clutter makes us wish we could just snap our fingers and make it all go away. Getting rid of clutter is a worthy goal, but not only to make our space look tidy. Solving the clutter issue is important because it impacts us in ways we might not even realize.
If you have clutter, you probably suffer from some typical “side effects,” including:
- Inability to find what you need, when you need it
- Weight of a backlog of postponed projects, decisions, and tasks
- Purchase of things that you think you already own, but cannot locate
- Frequent lateness and rushing around
- Sense of overwhelm
All of these are frustrating and discouraging. It is like a voice perpetually whispering, “you will never be able to catch up” and/or “get it together” in your ear.
In addition, the presence of clutter – whether mental or physical – can impact us in ways that we might never have acknowledged. Here are some struggles I have observed that are associated with accumulated clutter.
#1 Clutter muddles priorities.
When we have a vast quantity of things to sort through or a bottomless list of tasks to complete, we struggle to figure out what to do first. Everything feels urgent and important. The result is that we either just begin working on what is easiest or we put off doing anything at all because we don’t know where to begin.
A metaphor: selecting a paint color for a room.
If you have three different paint chips, you hold them up, maybe ask for some opinions, carry them around the room, and make a decision.
In contrast, if you have an entire book of paint chips, you are likely to struggle. There are too many choices, and the book of chips is heavy and cumbersome, making it hard to carry around the room and make comparisons. How do you compare the blue to the yellow when the book is all locked together? How do you look only at the sky blue without being distracted by the cornflower blue?
When you have too many choices, the next step is to narrow the number of options. Three is a good goal. Extract three things you will do, or three objects you will review. Rank the three and then move forward with your number one.
#2 Clutter creates noise.
Stacks, piles, and lengthy task lists create a fuzzy, unpleasant, ever-present, inextinguishable soundtrack in our minds. We have trouble focusing because the environment around us keeps interjecting itself into our thoughts. You know you are suffering from clutter noise when you start dreaming about your situation; your brain is trying to solve challenges while you are sleeping.
A metaphor: having a conversation in a restaurant.
Picture yourself in a beautiful restaurant, perhaps seated outside by a lake. You can faintly hear relaxing music in the background. You are able to clearly see and hear the person you are with, and as a result, you are able to enjoy some wonderful conversation as you eat.
In contrast, imagine you are in a loud hot spot with a live band, no rugs, no curtains, and tables so close they are barely touching. As much as you try, you can barely hear the person sitting across from you. In fact, you seem to be able to hear the conversation from the neighboring tables better than the voice of the person with whom you are dining. Because of the loud music, everyone is speaking at “top volume” to be heard, and by the time you leave, your voice is strained.
When you have too much noise in your head, you need to find a quiet space. If you get overwhelmed by the volume of items in the attic, bring one box down to review on a clear surface in bright lighting. If you are struggling to focus on a task at home because all you see is everything else you need to do, withdraw to a quieter location (e.g., a library, a coffee shop, an outside bench, etc.) where you can focus without distractions.
#3 Clutter erodes confidence.
For reasons that aren’t always logical, accumulated tasks and belongings make us feel like losers. We wonder why can’t simply get things done like “everyone else.” Of course, others are struggling too, but few people advertise their challenges. Shame tends to be a nasty cycle: it hinders us from taking bold action, and then becomes the justification to avoid trying, which leads us to feeling ashamed.
A metaphor: looking for a new job.
The best time to look for a job is when we already have one. Employment, even if we don’t enjoy the exact situation, is a form of affirmation. Someone hired us, and as a result of working, we know that we are capable of performing various tasks. This innate confidence gives us the courage to explore new and better options, to perform well in job interviews, and to believe in our ability to expand our horizons and do other things well.
In contrast, if we are unemployed, have been fired, or have been laid off, we inherently question our abilities. We may wonder why we were let go and/or why no one will hire us. We can start to think we are inherently flawed or broken. Everywhere we look, we see reminders of how well others are doing in their jobs. Our lack of confidence becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as it keeps us from putting ourselves out there and trying again.
If you are feeling incompetent, unqualified, or otherwise incapable, the next step is to change the narrative. You need to start telling yourself a kinder, gentler story. You aren’t worthless, you may just be busy. You aren’t incapable, you may have ADHD. You aren’t lazy, you may just have too much to do. A professional organizer can help you see your situation more clearly, bring in resources, and get you moving in a positive, confidence-building direction.
#4 Clutter hinders cultivation of good habits.
When we are surrounded by a mess or overwhelmed by a massive to-do list, the last thing we think about is creating new habits. In fact, we are probably just trying to get through the day without any major implosions. We may like to establish some healthy routines, but we lack the time and bandwidth to even think about it. The longer we avoid embracing productive routines and disciplines, the worse our situation gets, and the harder it is to form new patterns.
A metaphor: flossing your teeth.
Flossing teeth is something we all know we are supposed to do.
If we get into the habit of flossing every day, it isn’t terrifically hard. It does require the purchase of floss or flossers, but after that, if we do it each day, it will most likely be relatively painless and contribute to a smooth visit to the dentist. Admittedly, flossing is harder for those who have health issues (e.g., braces, arthritis, etc.), and they may need to purchase specialized picks or invest in a Waterpik™. But in general, flossing is a small, daily effort that pays big rewards.
In contrast, if we put off flossing, the whole oral health issue gets harder. The longer we skip flossing, the more plaque builds up on our teeth. The more plaque we have, the more likely we are to struggle with cavities and gum disease. The more oral health issues we have, the more reluctant we are to floss, thus further exacerbating the situation. We may avoid going to the dentist at all. Ultimately, some drastic action may be necessary to restore health to our mouth.
If you know that are struggling to embrace good habits, the next step is to start small and add accountability. Pick one small habit you are going to invest in, and then do whatever is necessary to make yourself stick with it. (You can see some ideas for doing this here.) Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Start with something like clearing your desk each night or hanging up your keys and coat when you walk in the door. The goal is to prove to yourself that you can do hard things… you can change your pattern of behavior in a way that improves your life.
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The point of this post is to serve as a reminder that clutter isn’t just a harmless accumulation of stuff. While having some stuff lying around is normal, clutter can reach the point where it is truly damaging our quality of life.
The good news is that clutter is a solvable problem. There are things we can do on our own, and resources we can employ, to stop the cycle of confusion, distraction, shame, and stagnation.
How has clutter impacted your life?
Especially an uncertain times we like to have more control of our environment. As clutter builds up, we feel less in control. Each of the reasons you mentioned above makes solving the clutter problem a priority in homes and offices.
That feeling of being out of control is unpleasant, right? There are plenty of things we cannot control in this world, but our space isn’t one of them. Taking control where we can is empowering, and helps alleviate the anxiety about all the other things that are beyond our reach.
I love how you dove into clutter and compared it to other situations as a way forward. The clutter muddling with the too many paint chips analogy resonated with me. I can easily become overwhelmed if there are too many choices (like paint swatches or ice cream flavors). I see this with my clients, too. What a great suggestion you gave to narrow the options down to three. That will help with effective decision-making, reducing clutter, and so much more.
Clutter does create noise. A client once said to me, “I have so much clutter, I can’t even think.” Your restaurant noise analogy made a lot of sense, too. Recently, I was in a restaurant where music was playing in the background. So often, the music is either too loud or too quiet. Both spectrums disturb me. But this particular restaurant picked the “Goldilocks” volume for the tunes. It was just right. When it comes to clutter, the idea is finding that ‘just right’ spot. How much stuff is enough? What is too much? What is overwhelming? What is manageable?
Ice cream flavors is another great example of too many choices. I feel the same with cereal, and back in the day, with panty hose. Too many choices.
That phrase from your client about not being able to think really gets to the heart of this post. The clutter is interfering with the way our brains are supposed to operate. As you say, it’s all about that sweet spot. Having what we use, need, and love, and not too much more. A friend once said she felt she had it right when she knew she would be able to put everything away if she wanted to.
I’m the same when it comes to making decisions! If a restaurant only has five entrees, I might complain at the lack of choice, but if the menu has five pages of entrees, it will take me forever to choose something.
That diner menu is always a bit intimidating, right?
I love how you use metaphors to clarify your points. I especially liked the restaurant metaphor to explain how clutter creates noise. I know that some clients don’t like to even go into their home offices because the clutter is so overwhelming. When working on boxes of paper we often will take one box at a time to another area like the kitchen or living room and sort it there.
Even unseen clutter can cause weight. I remember having gotten years behind clearing my boxes of archival paper in the attic. When I brought them down to the living room and sorted them and pulled all that could now be tossed or shredded, I felt so much lighter.
That unseen clutter is ESPECIALLY heavy. It’s like you know it’s there (in the attic, in the basement, in the boxes), but you aren’t exactly sure what it is, which makes it scarier. One box at a time is the only way through. The “after” feeling is terrific!
I love that your first point centers on how clutter can yield decision fatigue, as that can, in a vicious cycle, then lead to more clutter! As for noise and your example of the restaurant at “top volume,” I wonder if anyone else also started humming the line from Hamilton.
You are SO right about how accumulated undone tasks lead to mental (and physical) clutter and then on to self-esteem issues. It’s amazing how tackling even a small thing (like a problem-solving phone call or folding the laundry) can improve one’s sense of self.
You’ve made such a good multi-point argument for why clutter isn’t just “stuff” but so much more.
That is exactly it, Julie, how tackling a small thing can build our self-esteem, and thus how allowing things to continually worsen erodes it. Unlike many of the stuggles in the world, this one is solvable, and it is worth the effort!