http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-clutter-happens.html
Why Clutter Happens
Like it or not, clutter happens. If you want to get rid of clutter, it helps to understand how and why clutter happens and, more importantly, why it happens to nice people like you. In my go-to uncluttering guide, Unclutter Your Home (Storey, 1999), author Donna Smallin discusses the phenomenon of clutter:
The root of clutter can be traced to a number of sources. One reason we have so much of it is because our lives have become increasingly complex over the past 20 or 30 years. More moms work outside their homes and growing numbers of men and women are working two jobs.
Remember when Sunday used to be a day of rest? You spent the whole day at home with your family or you all hopped into the station wagon and headed off to Grandma and Grandpa.
Now we’re all rushing off in different directions every day of the week. We can’t keep up with each other, let alone the clutter. And when we stop, we’re too darned tired to deal with it. Tomorrow, we say. Or the next day. Or someday, for sure.
Add to the lack of time the fact that we’ve acquired a hefty volume of possessions which has prompted us to move to a larger house. The size of the American home has nearly doubled over the last 50 years and the amount of possessions has increased along with it.
Many of us go shopping with nothing particular in mind. But we always come home with something. The more we earn, the more we spend–and the more we own. We just keep bringing stuff into our already cluttered homes, and creating more stress by digging ourselves deeper in debt.
So now we’ve got all this stuff, and some of it has been with us for so long we’ve become quite attached to it. Oh, once in a while we throw something out or give it away, but mostly we hold on to our stuff because we can’t bear to let it go–even things we may not need or use anymore.
Our emotional attachment to out stuff accounts for a great deal of clutter. How could you possibly part with the dress you were wearing when your husband proposed to you? Or your child’s kindergarten artwork? Or some other belonging that invokes happy memories of years past?
Other times you keep belongings because you think you might need them. While sometimes you hang on to your stuff because of the past and the future. Women, in particular, tend to keep clothing that doesn’t fit anymore (past). If you give it away, it’s like throwing away your hope (future) that someday you’ll fit into it again!
In many cases, clutter develops from an instinct for self-preservation and feeling of insecurity. We surround ourselves with the familiarity of our stuff, blocking ourselves off from the people and possibilities that have the potential to create true happiness and security in our lives.
Another reason clutter collects is indecisiveness or deferred decision making. This is especially true of perfectionists. Think about it: If you’re a perfectionist, you want to do everything just right–or not at all. So if you haven’t got the time to organize your filing cabinet, you put it off and keep putting it off. Judith Kolberg, Director of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, says, “Often, our best intentions are left in stacks.”
More from Melissa Breyer (489 articles available)
Go to the Source
related stories
-
(14 comments)
-
(33 comments)
-
(4 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
82 comments
add your comment »A great site for removing clutter in every aspect of your life: www.ZenHabits.net
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Boy is that true. I am so a perfectionist, worried about throwing away something I might need and hating to buy more when I need it.
Thank you for all of these Clutter articles, they have been very helpful in motivating me to declutter and showing me why it is so important to do so.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I learned several things in reading this article. I am a perfectionist, my clutter didn't happen overnight, there is more than one reason/cause for the clutter, and I can get my house and life back ontrack and clutter free! I definitely have to have this book!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I am a member of http://www.takemeimfree.com and I think it is a great site with a lot of potential to help the recycling movement.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
There's a new site called "TakeMeImFree.com" that you can read about here in the news section. Members can post items they no longer need, while checking out everything else that's available for free. So if you need to get rid of clutter, and don't want to sell it, you can post it here, then correspond with other members through the site's mailbox system. Looks like the "taker" can either pick it up at the doorstep of the "giver", or even arrange for pickups with UPS/FedEx, if it's an out-of-state item. Pretty cool.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Another option to Goodwill or Craigslist is freecycle.com (or is it .org, or .net?) It's great because you just sign up to your area and start getting emails of things people have to offer or want. I just look at the titles, and if interested or have to give, then click on it. Otherwise I just delete. It's not extra time, really, at all. The only thing is, though, that you can't sell anything on it, it's all give away. And you don't need to haul it off, the person comes to you, or you can meet them if you prefer. And if you just want to get rid of stuff, it's just as easy, you gather it all up and pop it in an email, send it and wait. Just try not to get caught up in getting a bunch of new "clutter" that's being given away. I've been good, shockingly! I'm the biggest pack-rat there is. But in my defense, and I think this is another topic to be debated when it comes to clutter, I'm an artist and use tons of "clutter" to make things that would otherwise be tossed. So there's a fine line I have to follow, but an issue I don't see taken into consideration when talks of taming clutter, by the specialists I probably need, taken into consideration and with compassion towards the likes of me.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I agree some people do over clutter. I am a packrat. Old clothes I can wear again due to digging several gardens last Spring. Other clothes I've taken apart and use as patterns as some years the "in style" just not made for my age group. Most items I save is due to a project I have in mind. Some clutters good, other are not.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Iits amazing how you can get rid of things you've held onto for so long, when you move. I have only moved twice in the past 20 yrs. The most recent one was from a small home to a smaller condo with my new man - it was sooo hard to be ruthless with myself, but I managed to get rid of loads of stuff. of course there was still a lot more that could have been donated, sold or dumped, but you realize that only after you have to find a new storage spot in your new home for it. I am a work in progress...sigh. Then again, the new man in my life has moved so many times, never had children and is a minimalist - and hates clutter! so that means I have to think twice before I bring home anything new. His philosophy for decluttering is - fondle it, love it, reminisce with it, take a picture of it, then sell it on Craig's List. I have trouble warming up to that, but I have to admit it does work for some things.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
FOR: Rose T.
I agree w/you on donating. We give items to local Veteran's Hospitals, shelters, schools, libraries, etc.
It is appreciated & stays in our community.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Clutter is a "state-of-mind"; a sign of genius/creativity. [filth & dirt are not]
Suggest: put all STUFF in 1 or 2 rooms. Close door. Organize it whenever.
Never know when we may need the junk. We don't throw ANYTHING away. Blessed w/big old house [attic & cellar].
I design, cater, consult & counsel. Do alot w/charities.
Life is too short to worry about what other people think. They shouldn't go past closed doors to snoop.
Real friends pitch in & assist [not criticize].
We often do each other's homes. Works well & is more fun.
Remember: the "stuff" will be here tomorrow; we may not be!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: