For the majority of us, clutter is a physical problem, yet, at its core, it is behavioral and psychological. We organize and disorganize not simply as a function of objects but of the spaces and habits that define them. To create an organized and tidy home, we need to know not only how to organize it but also what makes a disorganized home to begin with.
Clutter isn’t the result of a messy person, it is the result of a messy system. When objects lack a system that defines what is “messy” to begin with, they will accumulate wherever there is space. Therefore, the solution to clutter is not more time, it is a system. A clear and defined system results in a clear and defined behavior, which over time will lead to less effort.
We are all suffering from a mild version of decision fatigue. Each time we ask ourselves “where should I put this?” it is a decision that costs us mental energy. When we have to make many decisions about small things, our brains avoid it as best as possible. As a result, we create a temporary system which means that things stay in place where they were just set down (like counters, tables, and floors) instead of being put away. As the decisions compound, so does clutter.
Items that are put in out of sight storage are also put out of mind. If you can’t easily see where to put something when you are done with it, the tendency is to just not do it. Consequently, a complicated system does not last because the things that are not easy to access will eventually not be returned to their place of storage.
Clutter is not rational, it is also emotional. Some items have an emotional attachment to them, meaning it makes us feel guilt when we let them go, fear that we might need them in the future, or nostalgia about the past. If you are going to let go of your belongings, you need to be aware of the emotional aspect and work through it rather than trying to hide from it. Once you are comfortable with letting your stuff go, it becomes a simpler process.
It’s not just about how much you know you should be doing to stay organized but the habits that drive that behavior. Habits trump motivation. Habits are what sustain an organized space in the long term while motivation only lasts for the short term. A simple example of how to make habits work for you is the simple practice of not letting things pile up on surfaces, or setting a timer at the end of the day to clean up. Both of these habits can reduce the time spent cleaning up, which saves time in the long run.
Our environment has a huge impact on what our behavior looks like. This means that an organized home does not require much more time than a disorganized home if it is the former that is better designed for our habits. A good system will be one that works with the natural behavior of the people in the home, rather than expecting a system that only works under the best possible conditions.
It’s important to note that there is a pattern to the clutter that we see around us. It’s not random or just an act of someone not trying hard enough. Once you understand the psychology of it, it is easier to see the organization as more of a design choice than a choice to control our lives. Clutter doesn’t have to be something that fights a losing battle. Instead, it is something that can be prevented before it has a chance to appear in the first place.