Today's topic, will be all about clutter. Many of us, have a huge problem when dealing or feeling things are cluttered. I for one am one of those people. When my home is cluttered, my mind is cluttered and my mood automatically changes to feeling stressed and frustrated. It is amazing how piled up items in our homes or office can shift our moods. Here are some pointers on how clutter occurs and what we can do to change it.
How Clutter Occurs
You collect things for a number of reasons–maybe you think you’ll need to use it later, it has sentimental value, or you spent good money on it so you feel you need to keep the item, even if you haven’t touched or used it in weeks, months, or years. You might be holding on to that books you bought a year or two ago that you swear you’ll read or those killer pair of shoes that you’ll bring out for just the right occasion etc...
Whether it be your closet or office space, excess things in your surroundings can have a negative impact on your ability to focus and process information. When researchers looked at people’s task performance in an organized versus disorganized environment. The results of the study showed that physical clutter in your surroundings competes for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress. Also physical clutter overloads your senses, making you feel stressed, and impairs your ability to think creatively.
While clutter has been shown to negatively effect your performance, it is your perception of clutter that matters, not someone else’s.
“When you get up in the morning, if you have clutter right there in your face, it starts your day off on the wrong foot. When you have to start your day by looking for your keys or your phone, it makes you anxious and you haven’t even left the house yet!”
If you think you don’t have time to clear your clutter, think again. With an action plan from experts, you can bust the clutter in your home in 15-minute chunks every day -- and build yourself an oasis of calm that’s also less of a haven for dust, dirt, and allergens.
Before you de-clutter any space, prepare. You need a few items, such as, bags, boxes, bins, etc.. Here is why. You must make different sets of piles.
- Things you will donate to charity
- Things you want to sell at a yard sale,on Craigslist, and or Ebay
- Things that belong in another room
- Things headed for the trash
Now you’re ready to de-clutter any room. If there is something you don’t wear or use, but are on the fence about parting with it, stick it in a bin. Place the bin in your garage or attic, and write a future date on it -- one year or six months from now. (always label your boxes). This way if you really need something you know exactly where to go and get it. Also if you put dates on your boxes or bins, when the date comes around, if you didn't even bother to to open the box in the time frame, then just donate the entire pin, which means you don't need anything in there.
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