Stress and Clutter

Clutter is an overabundance of possessions that collectively create chaotic and disorderly living spaces,” said Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago.

Decluttering your home, office or business maybe one of your wish list activities or just something you have planned to do for a while but it just has not happened!

Clutter makes it hard to find things while also creating the feeling of limited space. Its believed decluttering your apartment, house and work space improves your living space, your homes appearance and your own mental health.

A study, published in Current Psychology found a substantial link between procrastination and clutter challenges in the age groups; college students, young adults in their 20s and 30s and older adults, mainly in their 50s; so lots of people face clutter challenges and frustration with clutter tended to increase with age. (Source: New York Times, Jan 2019)

Research by Dreamtown in the UK found that the average 10-year-old owns 238 toys but plays with just 12 daily (The Telegraph). The build-up of home clutter including toys, clothes, shoes and even gadgets creates a constant need to tidy up which in turn can create a feeling of stress. Do you recognize the feeling?

The Buildup

Over the course of our lifetime, we will spend a total of 3,680 hours or 153 days searching for misplaced items, something we just stuck in a drawer! The research found we lose up to nine items every day—or 198,743 in a lifetime. Phones, keys, sunglasses, and paperwork top the list (The Daily Mail).

One of the biggest clutter offenders is mobile phones. Official data from ComReg Ireland published at the end of Q4 2022 shows there were 8.8 million mobile subscriptions in Ireland It’s a fact, that we’re all buying more gadgets with the older or unused items building up in boxes, draws, cabinets, and storerooms.

In Ireland a 2015 study found that on average two in five Irish adults (38%) consider themselves to be hoarders, meaning homes are filling up (Empathy Research)  Further research commissioned by NESTA outlined that 58% of respondents found it hard to get rid of their possessions, meaning they keep them!

The National Association of Professional Organizations shows there is a direct correlation between productivity and clutter. Productivity declines when clutter and chaos rise. Piles of paper, unorganized kitchen space or playrooms, old receipts, bills, and paperwork stuffed in boxes or drawers will take over your home over a period of time.

Chris Stiff, a lecturer in psychology at Keele University says “one of the obvious advantages to a tidy house is that being able to easily locate things will cause you less stress,” There is evidence that tidy environments help us think more clearly.

How to?

Clutter can include unread books, old electronic equipment, files which have not been filed, letters and cards, clothes thrown on the floor, and stuff that you no longer need, want or use but still possess. Remember, clutter is not usually confined to one area that can be spread across your home.

Before anything else, make a simple plan with specific and simple goals that will reduce your frustration and stress.

Here are 12 tips to keep in mind as you start de-cluttering your home:

1. Make a written note of all the areas you need to de-clutter.
2. Prioritize the areas/zones for decluttering and assign your time.
3. Do one area at a time.
4. Set start and finish dates for each area.
5. Be sure to pick dates that are real so you get the job completed.
6. Make time and get help to work on specific areas which may take longer like a garden shed or attic.
7. Use a system to save on time and energy.
8. Plan how you might lift on move heavy items.
9. Research and decide how you will have the clutter removed for recycling once assemble.
10. Check if items still work!
11. Use the 80/20 rule – we generally use 20%  of the things we own 80% of the time so do we really use or need the rest?
12. Get over the money you spent on the items you never use. Once you do that it’s easier to offer for reuse or to recycle.

Once the items are ready you can decide what you want to do about removal. We have a list of some solutions which might work for you.

Outlets for your clutter

• Don’t hold onto items once they have made the box.
• Sell some items online, e.g. eBay, Done Deal or Adverts.
• Repurpose old stuff with some DIY and help from friends.
• Donate to charity shops.
• Share items with family, friends, or colleagues e.g. kids’ clothes or toys.
• Gift your items to friends or colleagues with an interest in them.
• Share items free for reuse. Go online or find an exchange network.
• Recycle all old electrical, electronic, and battery-operated items.
• Moving forward, recycle stuff immediately when used or end of life.
• Consider gifting items based on condition.
• After the clear-out consider what you buy and recycle one day at a time.
• Switch to e-bills.
• Scan old photos and paperwork.
• Preventing a build-up is a key step in fighting clutter.

Making the decision to get rid of your old items can be the hardest part of de-cluttering. Like many people, you may have trouble getting rid of items you once used or loved. You have also spent your hard-earned money on the items so they do hold value for you. These are real and valid feelings but no matter how challenging the decision, de-cluttering is necessary and helps reduce stress levels and it will create space!

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is an award-winning social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop-off and collection. Recycling services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council.

Recycle IT is supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across the east midlands waste region.

Our goal is to create training and employment opportunities through the provision of waste management services. Surplus earned income is reinvested in operational, and employment-related costs.

For more information on Recycle IT please call 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie