Do You Have A Clutter Issue?

There are many degrees of clutter

Statistics say about one-half of us practice this habit.  There are also different degrees of clutter ranging from "I'll get to it soon"; to what is classified as "Compulsive Hoarding” (disposophobia).

Sometimes clutter gangs up on us when we do not have sufficient space to have everything have its place. It can also come about when we subscribe to items but do not read or use them as they arrive, promising ourselves when we get a bit more time we can do it. It can also happen because it is handy to have something readily available without having to "dig" for it, i.e. - the iron and ironing board.

For most of us we usually deal with these items on a weekly or at least monthly basis. Sometimes it is only a matter of figuring out a new spot where the item or items can fit in and no longer be clutter. Or we do the painful chucking it out while waiting for more clutter to come in.

The best way to deal with not having clutter to any extent is to determine why we are getting it in the first place.

Take plastic shopping bags for instance. How many do you need to save because they are handy? Did you check to see if they are leak proof before you saved them? Magazines and newspapers must be either in first or second place for clutter. Maybe it is time to impose some self-discipline in this regard. If you find that you haven't had time to read the last 6 issues as they came in ask yourself what has to change so that you will have the time. If nothing is going to change that you can foresee then perhaps it is time to cancel the subscription or make the decision not to renew it. If it is any comfort many publications have their back issues posted on their websites for review by their members or viewers, they are also generally available in your local Library.

Collections of collectibles also have a habit of getting out of control.

Some people dedicate a room to their collections or hobbies to sidestep the label of clutter.

Many people are loath to throw anything out, claiming that as soon as they do they will need it and sometimes they are right. People who were part of the depression in the thirties were left a lasting anxiety about discarding items. It taught them how to recycle and modify many items to their current needs saving their pennies.

When does having clutter change from a habit due to circumstance to an addiction?

According to the authorities:-

• When it prevents you from using your home in the manner it was meant to be used. Where clutter prevents passage, overwhelms the footage available for items and encroaches on your furnishings to the extent they are no longer useable for their original purpose.
• The inability to discard items that are no longer functioning, out-dated or of no purpose to your circumstances.
• If the items have no intrinsic value to you other then possession.

If you feel you fall into any one of the above three categories, maybe it is time to make some adjustments to ensure clutter does not become an issue in your home.