What is Clutter?

What is clutter? 

Simply stated, clutter is anything that you do not use or love. Clutter is anything that does not make you happy. Clutter drags us down and makes us feel trapped in our own homes. It muddles our thoughts, stifles our dreams, and eats our car keys. The worst part is that clutter breeds more clutter. Think about a science video of cells dividing over and over--reproducing exponentially--that's what clutter does.

How do you know you have clutter?

Let me ask you something. Have you ever said, "I need more storage space," or "I just don't have enough room for everything," or better yet, "I really need a bigger house. Then I could keep it clean." 

If you have ever uttered something similar to these phrases, you, my friend, have clutter!

I want you to walk into your living room or family room, or another room of your choosing. Stand in the middle of the room and pretend you are seeing it for the first time. Imagine you have to move next month and must begin the process of packing all of your belongings.

Now, you are going to do a 360 degree pan of the room. Pick a starting point. Go slowly. Don't just glance past the items that have been there so long that they might as well be part of the house. Really look at each and every object in the room. Ask yourself some questions.

1. Does it belong in this room?
2. Do I use it on a regular basis?
3. Do I really need that many ______?
4. Do I love it? (Or am I only hanging onto it because I feel guilty?)
5. Does it make me happy?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, then you have clutter..

We hang onto clutter for many reasons. Usually it is out of fear or guilt. Many people have experienced great loss. Perhaps they lost a home to a fire or flood. Maybe they lost a loved one and inherited some of that person's possessions. Many of us know what it is to do without, and we live in a Depression Era type mentality in which we cannot let anything go if there is a remote chance that we may use it some day.

But if we hang on to the clutter, it drags us down. If it is clutter, then we don't really use it, and it saps our energy and our joy. Perhaps we have something that we don't need, but someone else is going without at the moment and could be blessed by it.

Take some time and really look at the things in your home. Ask yourself those 5 questions about each object you see. You don't have to get rid of anything yet. Just try to notice the clutter and define it as such. Once you recognize clutter for what it is, then making a plan to get rid of it will be easier.