Three Reasons We Accumulate Clutter (Plus a Few Bonus Reasons)

Clutter can negatively affect you mentally, emotionally, and even physically.

I know what you’re thinking – what this world needs another blog. Okay maybe you weren’t thinking that, but here I am kicking off an organizing blog anyway. There are seemingly infinite resources out there with various organizing tips and tricks, and I fully intend to share some of my own here. However, one thing that I’ve always been fascinated by has been what makes people tick. Why are we the way we are? How much of that can we control and change? And how does this play into the accumulation of clutter and how best to tackle and organize it?

So, that’s what I plan to cover in this blog – the psychology of organization. And along the way, yes, I will share some tips and tricks based on this new understanding of disorganization to help us all be a bit more together and hopefully a lot less stressed.

So let’s get started! Today I want to talk about the primary reasons we accumulate clutter and a few ways to address it.

First, let’s acknowledge that everyone has a different threshold and comfort-level with clutter and chaos. And that’s okay! That said, research shows that, at a certain point, clutter negatively affects everyone. So it’s important that we can all identify the factors that cause clutter so we can learn how to keep the mess in our lives to a level that’s tolerable to each of us (and our households) individually.

Reason One: Anxiety

One of the most important psychological reasons we gather clutter is the need for security and stability. Many people feel anxious or uncertain about the future and hold onto objects as a way of creating a sense of continuity and control. Sometimes even the act of acquiring objects gives us a sense of control (not to mention the fun little serotonin boost we get when we make a purchase).

The problem comes when our habit of acquiring and keeping leads to an overwhelming amount of stuff. Now we feel totally out of control again which just makes us want to feel in control, which leads us to acquire more stuff. See how that works?

The good news is that decluttering can actually give you the same sense of control you were seeking by accumulating all of that stuff to begin with. I know that part can feel overwhelming and uncomfortable. But if you’re willing to get a little uncomfortable at first, I promise there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The first step is just to get started. One box. One countertop. One drawer. Set a timer for 15 minutes and see how far you get. Progress is success.

We often hold onto things because we worry we may need them in the future, or because we feel guilty about getting rid of them.

Reason Two: Fear of Waste

Another common reason for clutter is fear of waste. Many of us have been taught from a young age to value thrift and frugality, and to avoid throwing things away if they could still be useful. These are admirable values and I’m a huge proponent of reuse and minimizing waste. But let me ask you which is more wasteful – something sitting on a shelf in your basement gathering dust, or something that you give new life and use through donation or recycling? You’ve already spent the money. It’s gone and you’re not getting it back. Why not let someone else use that item instead? It may be something they could not otherwise afford or have access to.

Reason Three: Emotional Attachment

A third psychological factor that contributes to clutter is emotional attachment. Oh boy, this one’s a tough one. Everyone has different levels of emotional value they place on objects. It may not surprise you that I have very little sentimentality when it comes to objects. But a lot of my clients do, and I completely understand it. The way I approach this varies from client to client, but ultimately I try to help them balance reaching their goals of a less burdened life with the usefulness (physically and emotionally) of each individual object. Consider picking one of a collection of objects that represent the person or event you associate with those objects. Another great option is to find ways to incorporate sentimental objects into décor such as through custom quilts or turning them into framed wall art.

But Wait! There’s More!

These three examples are just a few of the many factors that can contribute to clutter. Some others include procrastination, indecision, and lack of organizational skill. Some factors are easier to address than others. Some can be incredibly complicated and the way to conquer them must be personalized.

Ultimately our role as professional organizers is to help our clients identify the underlying causes of their disorganization and to develop strategies to overcome them. It can be daunting for both us and our clients, but working together, step-by-step, and with years of experience helping others tackle their obstacles, we can create a space that is organized and methods for maintaining that organization.

Need help getting control of the chaos? We’re here to help. Schedule a 15-minute kickoff call using our online scheduler.