Have you ever been inside someone’s house or office and wonder how they function? The area is just cluttered, I mean really cluttered. I realize if there is too much clutter around me I can’t function properly. It might be at home or at work. I started wondering if a cluttered environment also meant a cluttered mind 🤔. Or is it that some persons just know where everything is and so it doesn’t matter. That’s not for me as it slows me down especially if it’s an area that I use constantly. For me everything must have a place and should remain in its place. No it’s not OCD, I just want order around me and I married someone similar. There is no confusion where things should be because they are where they should be. This is the same for the house and even the cars. I must be able to dance through my house with ease. 😁.
I have an uncle who is a pack rat and you had better be careful that you don’t hit yourself on something when going through the house. It makes no sense explaining to him that the things need to be thrown away as he says he might need them soon. Now really? Why you need papers for a conference that you went to 30 years ago? The conversations were like pulling teeth so I stopped. He keeps his clutter and I try to ignore it when I go see him. Sigh. What else can I do?
I realize that it’s not only pack rats that behave like that but some persons fill their surroundings with things to show and maybe to feel that they are doing well financially. What’s interesting is that the persons that are doing well financially are the ones that believe in minimalism. Interesting, yes indeed. It’s not only with furniture but how they arrange the areas that they have to use including clothes etc.
As I had mentioned before I wonder if the clutter also causes clutter in the mind or it doesn’t matter? I don’t know that’s why I ask. My uncle is not really the best example as he old and I just put this down to being old. His mind still seems clear sometimes and he knows where to find the things he wants. Everything is put in a specific pile and he knows where they are. Heaven help him if anything is moved. He can’t seem to help himself. I wonder if I will be like that at his age? I hope not. That would be a disaster as there would be too many things around. It doesn’t matter if you put them in storage containers as there would just be too many items and I would know that they are there.
I tell you how bad it is for my husband he insists that I don’t try to replicate my friend’s garden as hers is too cluttered 😂. She has a tropical garden, so there are plants everywhere and they are close together. I don’t have anything remotely like that even though it’s really pretty. I have structure and function. Everything in the right place. He says it’s easier to maintain and I guess he’s right.
I have always been attracted to houses that look modern and have straight lines. There should be large windows to bring in light especially in public areas. Now for the life of me I can’t understand why you would build a house that is like a box. I went into a house recently as I had to collect something from someone and it was like instant claustrophobia. There were walls everywhere and the windows were so small. I was thinking maybe the person did it for security reasons but then I realized that’s how they live everywhere they go. They also had tons of furniture so you had to turn sideways to get into some places. This person I realized used this to show wealth. All I could think was “ok then.” Time to move on. I know I keep my mind free as I meditate when I can, need to do it more and I write. Some things I don’t post and it help as I said before it helps to free my mind.
Tell me how you keep the areas around you and how you keep your mind. Are they cluttered or decluttered? Let me know as I really want to know what you are thinking, and I know others do too. Try commenting 👍🏽, but if you are not comfortable, reach out to me via any medium. Your comments let me know how you feel and very often give me a total different perspective on the topic. 😉. And you can never tell your comment might help others.
Always remember life is for living and you must always live your best life. #lifeisforliving #liveyourbestlife #gratefulforlife #faithgreaterthanfear
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Great article!
There is organized clutter. In HR there is a lot going on and I have files on my desk in groups. Persons are amazed that I can send them in office to which pile to find something. Dont mix my files and piles, and please return my file to its position in its pile – different stack for different purpose.
At home everything have its place but I do have a lot of books and clothes and fandandgles that as I get more sensible I am slowly parting with – especially since the pandemic – less more. I do love decorating my home and have colour schemes of household wall decor, linens, from comforters to curtians and cushion covers in throws in between. I care my things and store many of these in thier original packaging. I was blessed to get some solid heirlooms and gifts that have been used once since my wedding now 25 years and counting. What do I do with these stuff? So I have decided not to buy anything else and have done very well in sticking to that plan. I am however, challenged to give gifts away. I buy quality stuff so It would be thousands of dollars to give away some of my drapes and curtains. Yet I only manage to change up my look once or twice per year. We dont need all the things we acquire. I have parted with furniture to get something with cleaner lines, more functionality and storage where possible. I do not like a lot of furniture as I will walk straight into them – I need to also see around me. I readily give away clothes as thats a big part of keeping organized. For that I have a rule – if I get something new I part with something old. If I dont use it in a year I dont need it.
I HOWEVER NEED HELP WITH HOUSEHOLD STUFF! They are either gifts or things I paid a pretty penny for. I can easily dress 5 other houses without stripping my home and still have stuff…that is my story. Let me know if you think I am a pack rat in the making.
Not a pack rat yet. They get rid of nothing, not even old newspapers.
Well you have a system to rotate things out. Just don’t keep everything 😉
I DO NOT LIKE CLUTTER… I like things to be in a specific place… I even colour code my closet and turn labels out in my pantry… I admit I’m a little bit like the TV character Monk in that way 😱.
OCD aside, as I get older I realise that a good way of decluttering is donating/giving away stuff to others… Why keep things if you’re not using them when others can enjoy them? I do this once or twice a year.
For things in storage bins I put a stock sheet on it so I know what’s in it. That way I don’t have to search through unnecessarily.
For books I sell to secondhand bookstore or give away… except my self-help or inspirational books.
Different strokes for different folks, I get confused and stressed in clutter, while others are the opposite.
I understand fully. I like space around me an being able to fine things without searching.
So let’s keep clutter away.
Like you Andrea, I cannot function effectively if there is clutter- I do not like clutter! As kids, our mother would also say that there is a place for everything! I have prescribed to that way of life and thankfully so do my sons, my daughter-in-law & my grandchildren. I use storage bags/bins/boxes:)) every few months, we donate items that are rarely being used/worn to the Vietnam Veterans as they do not resell the items…we also replace any worn appliances etc….same principle when I was working at the university…in my private practice, my office is small but neat & comfortable- inviting for clients…A cluttered home does not necessarily mean a cluttered mind- I do realize that some people, like your first response here, can function in an organized clutter:) while others border on hoarding which is unhealthy.
Glad it’s not me alone that need everything in its place.
Great that what you no longer want/need go to those who do. 👍🏽