So Why Do People Keep Clutter?

Considering how beneficial it is to every aspect of your life to be organised, neat, and free of clutter, it may seem odd that people would keep clutter at all. After all, it takes so little time and effort to deal with clutter, it would seem only logical to make it a priority.

One reason people keep clutter is because they cannot bear to part with anything. While nearly everyone likes to keep some amount of personal possessions, souvenirs, and other nice things, some go quite overboard with the practice. Instead of nicely displaying favourite items, or putting them away in a cupboard, large and small items alike accumulate around the home and turn into unnecessary clutter. Some people have developed this habit simply because it feels comforting.

Clutter can also accumulate when one does not assign priority to what should be kept and what should not. This can include stacks of paperwork in the office, tools or hobby items, and large amounts of clothing which one never wears. In these instances, clutter can accumulate when one does not dispose of items which are no longer practical or useful.

For many people, clutter accumulates due to too many things or not being organised. Rather than putting items in their proper place, there may be work or school items, toys, clothing, and numerous other objects which are not in use set aside until there is more and more clutter.

Most people who acquire and keep clutter are not lazy, or even unmotivated. For many, it has become a comfortable habit. It can be easier to leave everything where it is, to keep everything which one no longer needs, and allow all of it to build up in the home and in the office. While some people truly hate the thought of disposing of anything, or putting everything away neatly, most who keep a cluttered environment do so because it has become familiar to them. At some point in time, they have probably stopped thinking about the negative effects which can be caused by living or working in a cluttered environment on an everyday basis.

It is a good idea to begin to recognise how much healthier and more productive you will be when you decide to deal with the clutter. No matter which reason for keeping clutter describes you the best, you will surely be glad to see the benefits of not having it in your everyday life.

© Copyright 2009 Karen Perkins All rights reserved

Karen Perkins of Clear and Clutterfree is a small business owner based in Sydney, Australia. With qualifications in Counselling, Business Management and Training, Karen provides professional decluttering and organising services and is a member of Australasian Association of Professional Organisers AAPO.