Many people can justify a small amount of clutter in the house. A small pile of mail left on the kitchen table seems innocent enough. But what if this deceivingly innocent act starts a chain reaction leading to a cluttered home?
Anytime we have piles of stuff scattered around the house, we have items without a home. Homeless things get easily lost and damaged. This is important to remember. Create a permanent home for all of your belongings.
But why does this happen? How does a single pile of mail change into a full-blown clutter crisis? The answer lies in human behaviour and the way we think.
When we see a few similar items in a specific location, we become prepared to expect similar items to belong there, too. The initial pile of mail trains us to identify the kitchen table as an appropriate spot for miscellaneous items. Once the obstruction is broken, it becomes easier to justify adding more objects to the mix.
Psychologists have long claimed that our environment impacts our behaviour and mental state. A cluttered space can bring feelings of stress, anxiety and anger. When the kitchen table is already crammed with stuff, we assume adding one more item will not make a difference.
Also, there is a matter of convenience. The kitchen table is a central location in many homes. It’s the perfect setup for meals, conversation and daily activities. It's convenient and inviting to use as a catch-all for anything we don't want to deal with immediately.
But convenience is costly. What starts as a temporary solution can quickly spiral out of control.
So, what's the solution? Breaking the cycle of clutter begins with awareness and planning for how we want to live. Instead of carelessly dumping items on the kitchen table, try to store them where they belong.
We all know that having a cluttered home is the outcome of avoiding or postponing the daily chores you have to do. It takes only five minutes to sort the mail, throw out the garbage or clear the kitchen table. Then why do we exaggerate the time it takes to do this?
It could be that we don’t like these particular jobs, or you are waiting for somebody else to pitch in.
Develop habits that inspire organization and cleanliness. Set aside a few minutes every day to sort your mail, clear your counters and make your table attractive and ready for a meal. By consistently maintaining order, you will prevent clutter from taking hold and reclaim control of your living space.
The pile of mail on the kitchen table may seem insignificant, but the consequences are far-reaching. What begins as a single stack of papers can quickly snowball into a clutter crisis, impacting your physical environment and mental well-being.
By understanding the psychological factors and implementing persistent methods, you can prevent clutter from gaining a position and create a more harmonious living space for yourself and your family.
Without persistence, there is no progress.
Transformational life coach Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing company in the qathet region and has written several books on reducing clutter. For more information, email [email protected] or call 604.578.8954.
