How Household Clutter Affects You and Your Family

                   


By: Terri Collins

As organized as I am, I often end up with a "junk room," a "catch all counter," and a cluttered garage. That is not uncommon. However, all of us need to assess our clutter and disorganization and realize how it affects us and our family.

In today's time, most everyone is extremely busy. Between soccer practice, band practice, business meetings, luncheons, church functions, and everything else we have going on in life, we struggle to find time to rest. Who has time to organize and declutter their home? Our things will land where they may. And, for those who have a hard time letting go of things, storage space is limited.

Whether we are aware of it or not, our cluttered and disorganized homes can add to the stress and fatigue of every day life. In many ways, it just makes things worse.

How does a cluttered and disorganized home affect you and your family?
  • It doesn't go away on its own, it just gets worse with time~ a lot of us would like to be a true Ostrich. We would love to be able to just put our heads in the sand until it goes away. As we know, that doesn't work. Until you decide to take action, it will always be there and in fact, it will grow and grow. 
  • It wears you down~ coming home to a cluttered mess wears you down.It drains you of your positive energy. Each day, you look around and see what needs to be done, but, you are overwhelmed and you store the frustration in the back of your mind. Mind clutter can wear you out. You will continuously feel fatigued as long as the mess is still there glaring at you. I have always believed in the old quote, "if you don't like the way you feel, change the way you act." Think about it in the same sense of, if you don't like the way you feel, change your surroundings. No, don't just move out and leave it all behind. Start now to work through the clutter and you will feel accomplished, relieved, and refreshed. Then, have a maintenance system to keep it that way. 
  • It limits socializing and entertaining at your home~unless you have an empty room or large closet to toss everything into, you probably don't invite people to your home. Not only are you embarrassed for your friends to see your home in such disarray, but your children probably are as well. Take a look around and ask yourself, how long has it been since you've entertained guest in your home? What about your children? Do they have regular sleep overs? Do you make excuses of why you can't have the next Sunday school luncheon at your house? Maybe, it is time to make some changes. 
  • It makes your life feel out of control~you become ruled by the clutter and mess. It dictates how you feel at home and how your home life operates. A lot of people who get to this point, often just give up. Don't give up! Clean out those closets, drawers, and other living spaces. Throw things away or donate things that are in good shape. You will begin to regain control over your life and will feel better knowing that your treasured trash will benefit someone less fortunate. 
  • It causes you to suffer professionally~when your home is disorganized, it can cause tardiness and absence from work. It can cause you to not look and feel your best, therefore, you will not perform at your best. 
  • It can cost you extra money~what happens when your kids can't find their socks, or you can't find those shoes you need for a business meeting? You go out and buy more. What happens when you can't find your bills? That get paid late and accrue late charges. What happens when you frequently have food that spoils before it is eaten? You throw away money. What happens when you miss out on employment or promotional opportunities because you just can't get it together? You become stagnated and don't grow professionally or personally for that matter. 
  • It increases stress and affects your overall health~sometimes you will feel highly stressed, but not really be sure of what is causing it. Your clutter and disorganization is causing it, even if you have become complacent to it all. When you get it organized, your stress levels will decrease and you will physically feel better. Our mind is a powerful thing, and it has power over our bodies. 
  • It can cause you to feel hopeless~sometimes the clutter can get so out of control that we become hopeless and just settle for, "it is what it is."  No matter how big the mess and clutter has grown, it is never hopeless. One day at a time, one room at a time, you can regain control over your living spaces. If you just do not have time to do it yourself, consider hiring a professional organizer who can go in and get it done for you. The organizer can also develop a family plan to maintain the new order. When shopping for a professional organizer, don't be surprised at what their fees are. It is hard work that requires a special skill in getting it organized-no matter what it is that needs organizing and no matter how bad it is. Always remember, you will get what you pay for. If you want the organizer to transform your living spaces and take away that feeling of hopelessness, it is important to choose wisely and to remember that in the long run, the cost will be so worth restoring your sanity, peace, and hope.  

    

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