Stress and rampant consumerism- how clutter impacts our mental health
Psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter wrote in an article for Psychology Today-
“Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Messy homes and workspaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Yet, rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives,”
Minimalism. Streamlining. Decluttering. It seems like this topic has been everywhere in the past several years. And for good reason.
Clutter stress anxiety, or clutter stress depression. Whatever you call it, the fact is that our stuff is stressing us out. With living spaces in urban areas becoming more expensive, people are opting to downsize to stay in the neighborhoods they love. This means all of our stuff has to squeeze into smaller and smaller spaces.
What I've noticed most about the construction boom in Seattle is the increasing number of storage unit facilities. It's made me ask myself a very serious question, "Do I really need to store stuff?" For me, the answer is no. When I honestly assessed my possessions, I realized that I had been holding on to stuff that I either didn't use, held sentimental value but weren't useful, or that were "aspirational." (Things that represent the person I WANT to be, not who I actually am.) In other words, I had too much stuff. And not only was it stressing me out, it was prematurely aging me.
I loved living in my chic little Seattle neighborhood until the pricing became absolutely outrageous for my family of three. My solution was to get rid of a lot of my "stuff" and move to a smaller space. Then I moved to an even smaller space. Then to a less expensive neighborhood. Then to an even less expensive neighborhood. Now I'm in a smaller city outside of my beloved Seattle home of 20 years, and I have to say it's been cathartic. Reducing my possessions has helped this process immensely.
I've always been pretty good at "editing" my possessions. I've managed to move a grand total of 32 times in my life, and I use these moves to shed things that I've collected that no longer serve me. But what if I didn't collect these things in the first place? Think of the money I'd save! Not to mention the space that would be free of clutter.
Why does clutter cause stress?
It bombards you with excessive mental stimuli, causing your mind to work endlessly as you look and move around in your space.
It draws your attention away from what you're working on.
It causes anxiety because you aren't sure how much effort it will take to get to the bottom of the pile.
It causes embarrassment if friends or family stop by unexpectedly.
It frustrates you when it prevents you from finding things you need quickly (i.e. keys or paperwork).
So what can you do about it?
These are solutions that I've found helpful when starting the minimizing process.
Create a "drop zone" This is usually a designated place near the front door that will "catch" things you want to drop right away. Keys, mail, wallet, purse, etc. I keep a shoe cabinet by my front door that has a drawer in it for my keys and sunglasses, the dog's leash, and my shoes of course.
Designate some "no drop" zones. This can include kitchen counters, dining tables, desks, etc. This means that you aren't allowed to drop things on these surfaces. NO EXCEPTIONS! It will allow your brain to feel a sense of calm when looking through your rooms since the surfaces are clear of clutter.
Keep a "pending" folder in your office or desk area. Keep a folder for paperwork, receipts, bills and mail, etc. It keeps the desk looking nice and clean and you'll always know where necessary items are when you're ready to get down to work.
Get rid of your excess stuff. If you haven't read the bestselling book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo, you absolutely should. It will help you solidify your resolve and get you started on the path to minimalism, or at least clutter-free.
Are you ready to jump right in and start making some of these changes in your environment?Do you thrive when presented with goals or challenges? If so, maybe a Ruthless Declutter Challenge would help get you started!
The challenge goes like this: Every day for 1 month, you'll cull a number of things from your possessions that corresponds with the date. (Day 1 = 1 item, day 2 = 2 items, etc.) By the end of the month you'll have rid your life of about 500 unnecessary items.
No matter how quickly or how slowly you go through the process of decluttering and minimizing, the end result is the same- a calmer, more serene home that feels restorative and relaxing, leading to better focus, better rest, and lower stress levels.