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Do I have too much clutter?

Do I have too much clutter, a couple grapples with boxes

It’s easy to come away from a stay at an Airbnb feeling inferior about your overstuffed cupboards. It’s easy to covet your friend’s kitchen setup, complete with every kind of wine glass and lush house plant.

Everybody’s clutter tolerance is different. Some of us function well with a messy desk and others need clear calm surfaces to even start a task. I am definitely in the latter group. I can’t concentrate until everything is in the right place. I can’t go to bed until the dishes are drying. And I can’t start a task until my desk is clear.

So what’s even normal? DO I have too much clutter?

Do I have too much clutter?

Here are some signs you have too much stuff:

  1. You don’t really know what you own.
  2. You buy duplicates of things you already have.
  3. You find the state of your house embarrassing.
  4. Cupboards and drawers don’t close properly.
  5. You feel overwhelmed by your stuff.
  6. You find it easier to buy new than look in your cupboards.
  7. You have more than one junk drawer.
  8. You have a junk room, which is mostly storage.
  9. Your flat surfaces are covered in items.
  10. You can’t put things away because storage areas and drawers are already full.
  11. You sometimes wish fire or flood would take away your stuff.
  12. You have to move things out of the way to work on your table or bench-tops.
  13. You don’t need to unpack after holidays, because you have many alternatives to what’s in your suitcase.
  14. You hire an external storage unit.
  15. Despite the above, you want more storage space.

If you answered Yes to any of the above, there is room for improvement.

The benefits of decluttering include:

  • Having a great-looking home,
  • Feeling calmer
  • Saving time and money
  • Creating opportunities for your self and home
  • Improving mental health, sleep, relationships and clarity of thought.

Check out this post about micro frustrations in the home.

If you are asking “Do I have too much clutter?“, the answer is probably yes.

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