4 Hidden Costs of Clutter
Everyone has a different amount of “stuff” that they need in their home and that they feel comfortable with. In this blog, the word “Clutter” is being used to describe an excess of stuff that you feel is overwhelming.
Your Time
Your time is probably the least hidden of the hidden costs. If your home is cluttered, and you cannot find the things that you need, then you waste that most precious commodity of all. Who wants to be spending time looking for their keys when they could be doing something more fun? More visual noise in your environment can also lead to a decrease in the level of attention that you can give things, meaning that they take longer. Personally, I’d rather get my jobs done and go out and ride my pony!
Your Money
When your home is cluttered and you cannot find things that you own, you often end up buying a replacement, which is a waste not only of money, but also of the part of our lives that we have had to put to one side to earn that money.
Your Health
There is a relationship between clutter and stress, and that is down to feeling out of control. Excess clutter in your home increases your stress levels. A long-term increase in your stress levels can leave you run down and susceptible to mental and physical disorders. In addition, if your home is very cluttered, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy environment. Now with four kids and five dogs, I can promise you that my home is not an immaculate show home, but it is easy to clean every part of it. Spills are easy to clear up, and food is not left to go off.
Your Relationships
If you and your partner have differing levels of clutter comfort, what one partner terms an excess amount can lead to arguments and relationship stress. In addition, if you are not comfortable inviting people into your home that can cause stress in friendships, particularly for children.
Never fear though, you can start today to bring your environment under control. Begin by emptying out your sock drawer, pairing them up, throwing out the unpaired and damaged ones, and folding them back neatly in to your drawer. Small habits build up to big changes.