Clutter isn’t just “stuff” that takes up space in your place. It is also a wake-up call that something in your life isn’t working. The piles of paper, overflowing drawers, bulging closets, and things you keep moving easily from space to space are telling you something. {Maybe many somethings!}
Here are four wake-up calls your clutter may be sending you, and why they are worth paying attention to.
1. You spend too much time looking for things.
I read a stat not too long ago that the average person spends 40 hours a year looking for things. 40 hours. That is a whole week of vacation, and it is like spending the time looking for your bathing suit.
It is worth answering this call because spinning your wheels, over and over, causes added stress and frustration. That stress leaves you feeling overwhelmed, out of time, and out of control.
Find a logical home for your things – the place where you naturally would look for them. And you’ll spend less time looking for things and more time living your life.
2. You avoid going into certain rooms.
Whether you rent or own your home, you are likely paying to be there. If there are spaces in your home you can’t walk into or enjoy because they are cluttered, you’re not getting the full benefit of the home you are paying for.
Heed the call. You work too hard and pay too much to ignore what this message is telling you.
3. You buy duplicates.
If you find yourself buying duplicates of things you didn’t realize you already had, you are not only wasting money. You are wasting time trying to remember what you own. And space – literally – creating a home for items haphazardly.
Decluttering is a tool that can force you to be intentional about what you own, and what you buy. When you shop with a specific idea of what you need or already have, you prevent overshopping and clutter from building up. As a bonus, decluttering can lead to a clear understanding that you have enough.
If you want to save more money, keep your mental and physical space manageable, and avoid the frustration from finding three or more of something after you’ve just bought more, pay attention to this call.
4. You are overwhelmed by “maintaining” your home.
You are likely overwhelmed because there is too much in your head or space vying for your attention. And if your systems aren’t working well, it can make it feel even worse. Your home should be a place where you have the freedom to do, think, contemplate, and decide – even in the midst of busyness, changing seasons or priorities, or unexpected responsibilities.
The things in your home that are in excess, in the wrong home, or without a home create friction. They ask more of you and leave you with less room to enjoy your space and your place in it.
This wake-up call is telling you it is time to make a change – somewhere – so you can reduce the stress you’re carrying everywhere else.
