Am I a Clutter-Lover?
Clutterers unlike hoarders, constitute a large percentage of the population. Whilst a clutterer’s fixation with collecting unnecessary things does not compromise their health, a hoarder’s obsession with collecting is often the expression of more serious underlying, psychological issues.
Cluttering can take up many forms; clutter is defined anything a person does not really need and consumes their time, space and peace of mind. Note that, clutter doesn’t always have to be something physical. Whereas, in most cases people get irrationally attached to material objects, a clutterer might as well clutter their life with dead-end relationships, envious friends and century-old bottled up feelings.
A breathing, clutter-free home
Symptoms
Fortunately, cluttering can be self-diagnosed. A common symptom of clutter-lovers is their attachment to broken and imperfect (thus useless) objects, in view of their potential future usefulness.
Additionally, constant procrastination to declutter one’s house, as well as being prone to buying old, worthless, discarded objects, being constantly after bargains, freebies and deals, are other common symptoms of a clutterer.
Clutter-lovers are often shameful of their home’s condition, which is to say the least , a mess and they are terrified with the thought of someone visiting.
Another salient symptom of clutterers is feeling dissatisfaction, insufficiency and vague (emotional) lack. In fact, cluttering is a physical response to this undetermined lacking and inability to control one’ life. Hence, overwhelming one’s space with physical objects, constitutes a reaction to the psychological emptiness and hopelessness one might feel.
Getting rid of stuff
For someone determined to change and with proper support, decluttering can be easy. The most important thing is realizing that a decluttered space equals freedom and not inadequacy. Becoming conscious of how light, simple and full of potential life can be, is motivating enough to get started.
In practical terms, efficient decluttering means:
discarding according to function, not emotional significance,
irreversibility; do not mislead yourself, sorting ad organizing your clutter is not the answer, throw it away.
Lastly, be honest, harsh and spontaneous; giving yourself time, means increasing the possibility of getting cold feet. Remember, choose an organized, minimal life, for the sake of your emotional wellbeing.
Books to consider: