Deadlines, financial difficulties, and competing responsibilities are some well-known causes of stress in our lives. Research shows that clutter can also be a hidden cause of stress at home and work. Experiencing less stress in your life may be as simple as getting rid of your excess stuff! You may have a relaxed attitude to clutter; maybe you feel that stuff will do where it is until you get the time and energy and to deal with it. However, this is thinking the wrong way around. If you are failing to deal with clutter in your life, you may not be consciously thinking about it but it is still on your mind. Your memory is trying to keep hold of it until you do tackle it. This requires valuable mental energy and resources which could be better used elsewhere. Think about all of those times where you suddenly remember that there is something you really should do. That is a case of your mind trying to prompt you to take action.
A 2011 study at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute examined the effect of clutter on the brain. According to the study, “Interactions of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms in Human Visual Cortex,” clutter does more than take up space in our homes and offices:
Clutter limits the brain’s ability to focus and process information.
The options for dealing with clutter
There are two options for dealing with clutter. Option 1 is to make a conscious decision that you are not going to do anything about it and things are perfectly acceptable. Once you have made that decision, your mind accepts that a final decision has been made and the issue is dealt with. The problem with this approach is that the situation usually escalates until eventually you have to deal with it. Of course, by that stage, it is far more difficult to deal with the clutter. For example, you may decide that clutter on your desk is not a problem. You will have peace of mind for a while but the clutter is likely to grow further. Soon, you will find that you cannot find the documents you need and you cannot work effectively at your desk. Eventually, you will have to bite the bullet and tackle the mountain of paperwork. The smarter option is to deal with the clutter, early and often.
Individuals that limit clutter in their home and work environment are less irritable, less distracted, and more productive.
Before we examine some strategies for eliminating clutter, I would just like to provide you with a simple definition of what clutter is:
Clutter is anything which you have gathered or collected but have not yet processed or dealt. This stuff is not where it needs to be for the rest of time. Examples include files which have not been filed properly; clothes thrown on the floor, stuff that you no longer need, want or use but you still possess.
Simple steps to remove clutter
Removing clutter is not a once off action and it should not be treated as such. When you have regular processes for dealing with the stuff that comes into your life, you will automatically remove a great deal of clutter and free up a lot of mental energy and physical space. Core organisational processes will help you to do this but in addition, the following steps will help you tackle anything that these processes may miss.
1. Start small
If you’ve been living with too much stuff for a long time, you probably feel overwhelmed at the thought of going through your things. This leads to a lack of certainty as to how you should begin. The best way to begin is just to begin. Take one step at a time and get going. Get started by setting small goals for yourself. The following tips are simple ideas for how you can start small and still be effective at removing clutter:
- Avoid setting an unrealistic goal e.g. cleaning your whole house in one day or a weekend. Set small goals, like orgnanising one drawer in your desk or, removing unwanted clothing from one wardrobe. As you experience success on a small scale, you’ll receive the boost in confidence that you need to continue your efforts.
- Build upon the small successes. All of the clutter did not arrive on one day. With each day that you remove a little clutter, you begin to free space and energy and, you will be more motivated to keep going. You will feel like taking bigger actions e.g. after your drawers and closets, you could focus on cleaning an entire room. Clean one room at a time until your entire home is filled only with necessary items that you use on a regular basis.
- Keep your closets and drawers in order by adopting a “one in, one out” rule. Get rid of one old item each time you buy something new. You can even donate the item that you remove to charity which will give you greater motivation and a great sense of pride.
- Make it easy on yourself by placing small bins or waste paper baskets in suitable locations e.g. beside your desk or in the bathroom. That way, once an item is no longer of use, you can quickly place it in the bin. Then, the day before your bins are collected you simply have to empty each of these small bins into the bin which is to be collected.
2. Be ruthless
If you have not used, needed or loved an item in a year or more, do you really still need it? It is highly unlikely that you do need it. Stuff was never meant to be hidden in a cupboard, closet or garage. If it is not of use to you, get rid of it. Also, get rid of duplicate items, as well as worn out and broken items that you haven’t fixed.
If you feel guilty at the thought of throwing an item away, consider donating it if it’s still in good condition. This boosts your energy and self-esteem, in addition to getting rid of your clutter.
3. Establish processes
Establish processes and routines which allow you to begin and end each day in a manner which helps to keep you organised and on top of everything. Set the tone for your day by spending 15 minutes straightening the central areas of your home each morning.
- Make your bed, wash any dirty dishes, and eliminate clutter from the living room, counters, and kitchen table.
- Reverse this strategy at work, and clear your desk before you leave at the end of the day.
- By removing the clutter from these key areas, you’ll feel more calm and relaxed when you return.
Having too much stuff is visually distracting and it adds to your daily stress level. Following these simple steps will contribute to greater feelings of serenity in your life as you say “goodbye” to clutter.
4. Make it fun
You can turn clutter clearing into a fun game, if you have kids. You can include them in the process and set a challenge e.g. see who can remove the most clutter from their room in 10 minutes. You can even add a little reward for the person who does the best job. Set a timer and get everyone to tackle their own room. This saves you time by giving you help and it teaches your kids good habits around the need to be organised.
For more great stress management tips check out Stress Free Living.
Clutter is a problem which although it may be hidden for much of the time; it robs you of your mental and physical energy while occupying space in your home or office. Removing clutter is one of the quickest ways that you can boost your energy. Your brain is continuously trying to remember everything that you need to deal with, including clutter. Every time that you pass some clutter, you are reminded of another important item that you have failed to deal with which is not good for your self-esteem and confidence. When you clear the clutter, you get the energy back and you also free your mind to think about more important things. I have asked many of my clients to tackle the clutter in their lives and I have yet to meet one who has failed to experience more intelligent and creative thinking as they clear up the space in their life. Try it today and see the benefits for yourself.