Why Does Clutter Make Us So Unhappy?
Most of us have opened a drawer or cupboard and felt utterly exasperated by the jumbled mess inside. Or, maybe you’ve walked in the front door and thought about turning around and leaving at the site of the clutter strewn about.
The harsh reality is that once you’ve gone down the path of home disorganization, it feels overwhelming to get out from under. Why? Because clutter attracts more clutter.
We may have been drowning in clutter before, and likely did our best to ignore it, but as we hunker down at home in the face of a global pandemic, we can no longer hide our heads in the sand. With Netflix shows like Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and Get Organized with The Home Edit, the topic of clutter is now a cultural obsession.
We know clutter is a national problem. It’s linked to overall life dissatisfaction and often means a less than ideal living environment. We’re learning that taking time to create a peaceful and enjoyable living space, improves more than just our aesthetic – it could also improve your overall sense of well-being. Best of all, you no longer have to go it alone.
According to:
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS OF CANADA
83 percent of Canadians indicate they are extremely disorganized and 91 percent feel clutter negatively affects their lives.
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
Clutter causes stress in part because of its excessive visual stimuli. It also signals to our brains that our work is never done and creates guilt, anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed.
PLANET STORAGE
The average Canadian spends 12 weeks a year looking for stuff they can’t find.
We wear 20% of clothes we own 80% of the time.
Eliminating clutter cuts housework by 40% in an average home.
25% of people with two-car garages don’t park any cars in them.
A typical home contains $1,600 worth of unused clutter.
One of the most common stress triggers is worrying the house isn’t clean enough or organized enough to have people over.
So, what exactly are the causes of clutter?
Lack of time.
Lack of systems in place to keep things organized.
Buying or bringing home too much stuff and not having a space to store them.
Not prioritizing decluttering and keeping items “just in case”.
A big life event such as marriage, divorce, new baby or babies, and not adjusting your home for your new life.
Working or travelling too much.
Storing items for someone else.
The good news?
There are resources at your disposal including professional home organizers for hire, that’s me– the expert in decluttering quickly and efficiently.
Until recently, most people didn’t even know home organizers existed, let alone that it’s an actual profession. So, what exactly is a professional home organizer? A person who has the training to help you organize any space and understands the psychology behind clutter. They offer support in defining your vision, decision-making as you review your items, can facilitate the removal of unwanted belongings, and set up new systems including shelving, containers, and labels. They go through this process with you, not for you (despite what you might see on TV), and they should be respectful and nonjudgmental. A sense of humour is a nice touch too.
As the Founder of Order Within Reach, I am a Trained Professional Organizer through Professional Organizers in Canada (I completed 12 courses and passed the exam) and a “KonMari Consultant in Training” having taken the official Marie Kondo KonMari Consultant Certification Course in Los Angeles, California. I’ve been tidy since childhood and truly love helping people love their homes.
Deciding to make this life change, letting go of the clutter in your life, and finally reaching your house goals, can be cathartic, empowering, and liberating.
Choosing the right professional organizer is a highly personal choice so, before you bring in the expert, make sure you are selecting the one that is right for your personality, and house goals.