When you hear the word clutter, what comes to mind? A scene from an episode of the TV show “Hoarders”? A pile of laundry in the corner? A jam-packed garage? For me, it elicits a visceral reaction. I actually cringe over clutter.

I do not handle clutter well. I cannot work in a space that is cluttered and disorganized. I am very much a person who wants order and orderly surroundings. If I had a nickel for every time someone told me I was OCD I’d have $354 dollars and $.65 cents.

Clutter is defined as: to run in disorder, to fill or litter with things in a disorderly manner, a state or condition of confusion. Clutter, chaos, and confusion are all connected. My aversion to clutter is one of the reasons I so readily embraced minimalism.

One of my favorite thoughts on clutter not sure who originated this statement, but I’ve read various versions of it: “Clutter is caused by delayed action or decisions. Clutter is caused by procrastination.” The more I think about that statement the truer I believe it is. Change comes through action, action through decisions, any change is as a result of the decisions we make. If you want to eliminate clutter and achieve clarity you must deal with procrastination. Researchers say when you mentally push back a primary task and pick up a new one you increase time needed to finish the primary task by 25% on average.

Clutter is draining and distracting. It destroys productivity and can be paralyzing and eats away at our time. Clutter is costly. It can cause increased stress levels, difficulty focusing, strained relationships, trouble controlling impulses, and lower quality of life. If you want greater life balance, I encourage you to clear the clutter.

Clutter is not just about having order and organizing our physical environment. There is emotional, mental, and spiritual clutter that can build up in our lives that needs to be addressed also.

Preoccupation with the things of this world can cause spiritual clutter. Instead of abiding in Christ and dwelling on the truth of God’s Word, we allow unbiblical and secular thinking through the news, social media, and other sources to creep into our lives. Immerse yourself in the God’s Word by reading and meditating on it daily. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

To eliminate mental and emotional clutter guard your relationships. Don’t allow toxic and emotionally draining people to live rent free in your head, send them an eviction notice. One of the more devasting areas that robs us of peace, mental and emotional wellbeing is worry. Worry is so debilitating. Don’t allow worry to get a grip on you and clutter your life mentally or emotionally.

Declutter your physical environment. If you live and work with family members or co-workers who don’t share your commitment for “no clutter” it can be challenging to find a balance and keep the peace. There will need to be some give and take. For me I take care of my personal space and influence what I can elsewhere. Consider decluttering your calendar to free up time and balance your schedule.

Ok now that I got that off my chest, I need to make sure the screws on all the light switches in our house are facing the same direction. Just kidding…not really. 🙂

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