No one who acquires stuff on a regular basis can honestly say he or she has no clutter at home. We all have a little mess where we live. Some of us may even have more than just a little clutter. We’ve heard of people who have so much junk lying around the house entire reality TV shows have been built around them.
Of course, no one wants to be the butt of jokes or be at the receiving end of disdainful looks from people, but that much clutter is an open invitation. You have to de clutter your home not just to avoid reality TV crews, but for the following reasons as well:
1. Your home is becoming one, big petri dish
All that clutter means you’re not cleaning up, mainly because you can’t access the surfaces that need to be wiped or brushed. And when you’re not keeping your surroundings clean, you are, in effect, fostering a breeding ground for germs, bacteria and household pests like cockroaches, mice, and (shudder) RATS.
2. Clutter poses a risk to life and limb
If you go by the law of averages and think of all the times you nearly fell on your face after stumbling over your boots or slipping on a rogue sock, you are likely to finally hurt yourself the next time it happens. Losing teeth or breaking an ankle over junk you don’t use or need is so not worth it.
3. You may be losing money without knowing it
Some people have this mindset that hoarding all that junk is going to save them money, or even help them make some of it. The problem is, finding the things you need amidst the mess is next to impossible. So even if you know you already own that thing you need, you’ll have no choice but to buy a new one that you will eventually add to the clutter. Also, bills could get lost and completely forgotten underneath that sky-high stack of mail on the floor. That means late fees, which we all know can be completely brutal.
4. It fosters tardiness
How long does it take you to find your other shoe? Or your car keys, for that matter? Hunting for essential stuff underneath all that junk takes forever, and that means being late for most appointments is already a regular occurrence.
5. The mess is stressing you out
Whether you admit it or not, clutter is a significant source of stress in our lives. Unless you’re a natural-born slob who thrives in the chaos of it all, just looking at the mess can trigger anxiety and even feelings of guilt. Clutter also screams into our faces that our work will never be done, and that can definitely stress anybody out.
6. You can’t even have guests
Assuming that you actually give a damn about the mess but just don’t have the time to de clutter, it must be really frustrating not being able to bring friends or lovers around. It is, after all, embarrassing to have someone visit only to have him or her sit on your missing stapler on the couch or worse, on that fresh mustard stain from that hot dog sandwich you had for dinner the night before.
7. You’re running out of space
Clutter takes up a lot of room. With each passing day, you will get more things that will only add to the pile. At this rate, that pile of clothes on your bedroom floor would look fluffier and more appealing to sleep on than your (also cluttered) bed. Not only does clutter waste time and energy, but it can also block access to essential areas, making it harder to reach items like your garage door opener when needed.
You have to stop wasting time, energy and space with all that clutter. De clutter and organize your home, and you’ll be doing yourself a gigantic favor. If you need ideas on how best to de clutter your home, just check out this infographic.
