My husband and I recently had a conversation (perhaps our 1000th in 32 years of marriage!) about our different thresholds for clutter. While he can definitely live with more than is comfortable for me, it is also true that he often finds himself unhappy with the state of his desk at the office and his basement workroom at home.
Working with folks from all walks of life ~ men and women, ages 19-90 ~ I’ve heard many reasons people find themselves in a home that is disorganized and that makes them unhappy. But frequently lurking underneath it all is a terrible little companion called ANXIETY. My husband validated my experience with his own self-examination about clutter in his life.
Decision Overwhelm
Clutter is the result of putting off decision-making. Decluttering and organizing our spaces involves making a lot of decisions, which can feel very overwhelming and induce feelings of uncertainty:
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What do I do with it?
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Do I need to keep it?
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Where should I store it?
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What if I get rid of it and need it later?
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What if I put it away someplace and then can’t find it when I need it?
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There’s so much stuff to sort and organize how am I ever going to get through it all?
Anxiety Paralysis
The uncertainty around these questions can lead to crippling anxiety. Anxiety is real and it is HARD. Anxiety is FRUSTRATING. Living with the clutter makes us anxious, but anxiety around decision-making keeps us stuck in it. I’m here to tell you it CAN be overcome!
- You can teach your mind to stop tricking you into believing the anxiety is in charge.
- Take lots of deep breaths, practice mindfulness (learn more here), and take baby steps facing your clutter.
- Put a family member or friend (or me!) in your corner to cheer for you, encourage you, and maybe even guide you on the journey.
- Don’t be afraid to seek professional help to overcome your anxiety ~ I know lots of therapists I can refer you to if you’re interested.
One piece of advice directly from my husband is this: “Doing nothing, continuing to live with your space cluttered and disorganized, only makes the anxiety worse. So, take one small step. Do one thing today to begin clearing out your clutter.” He and I can definitely agree on that!