There is a more profound sense in clutter than meets the eye. Many people find it hard to clean up and throw away things they don’t use anymore. Suppose you are the type of person who keeps so much clutter in your own space. In that case, this is not a suitable space to know whether you have a hoarding disorder or you have no energy to deal with them. But this is the right place to learn how clutter affects your life.
Negative Effects of Clutter
According to Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, clutter affects your concentration and processing of information. Because the eye sees so many things, the brain gets overstimulated. As a result, you find it hard to focus on the task at hand. When there is so much clutter around you, your brain gets into multi-tasking mode. It’s trying to process so many things at once, and then it’s too late when you realize that you have been staring at the screen of your computer for so long.
That is just one reason, and there are so many more. But that should be enough to fuel you to start cleaning up. If you still find it hard to declutter your space, maybe it’s time for you to understand why you are that way.
Why It’s So Hard to Declutter
You might not admit it yourself, but sometimes, it can be challenging to let go of your clutter. But what’s the reasoning behind that? Here are some common excuses why people find it so hard to declutter:
- You Can’t Find Time
Time is gold, as everybody knows. And the pressure around you makes you want to focus on the big things in life rather than spending a few hours trying to sort your items. But you know, you will make time for the things that matter to you. Think about it this way: you won’t achieve these big things if you can’t focus. You won’t be able to concentrate if there is so much clutter. There is your cue.
Solution: Divide Your Space into Sections
An ideal way to go about this is by dividing your house or room into sections. For day one, you can spend ten minutes decluttering your closet. For day two, spend some time going through the boxes under your bed. For day three, check all the drawers in the kitchen and start throwing away cake toppers from ten years ago. If you can’t recycle or reuse it, let it go.
- You Are Emotionally Attached to your Stuff
Clutter doesn’t only pertain to the mess on your table. All the stuff you are keeping in storage that you haven’t used in a long time is also considered clutter. There are probably items in a box under your bed that someone gave to you years ago that you never got to use. And now, you are feeling guilty that you have to let them go.
Or you probably have a box of handwritten letters or a stack of your high school notebooks. Did you know that damp areas and papers are a recipe for a termite infestation? If you don’t get rid of them, it’s just a matter of time before they cause some disaster. If you don’t act immediately, you’ll need to hire termite control professionals to remove the colony living under your sheets.
But then, you can’t even use it so why are you keeping it? It’s hard, but once you get used to the feeling of letting go of things that don’t serve a purpose in your life anymore, it will get easier.
Solution: Give Them to Someone Else
What is the use of something just sitting in a box for years? If you feel guilty about throwing it away, give it to someone else who can put it to good use. Put yourself in the shoes of the person who gave the thing to you. Would you be mad if it is in better hands?
- You Think There Is a Need for It Someday
This usually applies to clothing. You keep thinking, “This is a good shirt. I’ll probably use this one day.” But do you remember saying the same thing five years ago, and until now, it’s just there in your cabinet taking up space? Do you think you will use it sometime soon? Because if not, it’s time to say goodbye.
Solution: Again, Give It to Someone Else
What is the worst thing that could happen if you give it away? Is it a one-of-a-kind shirt that you cannot find elsewhere in the whole world that you are very much unwilling to let it to? If not, then you know what is next. Donate it to charity. Other people can benefit from the things that you leave in the dark corner of your room.
Hopefully, these tips can slowly change your mind about keeping things that no longer serve a purpose in your life. Take one step at a time, and you will get to a point where giving away things will be much easier.