Clutter in your space. Clutter in your mind.
I long ago realized a connection to my mental health and cleanliness of my home. If my kitchen was a mess, dirty dishes in the sink, counters not wiped down, trash needed taken out, I was not okay. Even if the rest of the house was a bit of a mess, I was hanging in there is the kitchen was clean. I think most people have a place or room like this. A place that stays in order and clean and when it is not something is wrong. Anxiety levels are up. Depression. Something that needs addressed.
There are different types of clean and clutter. For me most of my clutter is functional. Clothes and papers. I am not too sentimental about inanimate objects. I have a few items I am attached to but most things if I can take a picture of it I am good. I like to collect experiences instead of things. This lack of appreciation of things is detrimental to my wardrobe as most laundry does not get put away when clean. Piles: clean, dirty, can be worn one more day.
How then does one tackle these issues? One day at a time. Most days I get dishes done before bed, the counters cleaned, and the coffee pot set up. But on days that don’t get all of it done, I do my best not to beat myself up and do it as soon as I can. If I at least get the coffee pot set up I tell myself “Good job. See you can do this.” And I go to bed.
When it comes to laundry I have started hanging as much of my clothes to dry as possible. I can simply to move the dry clothes that are already hanging to my closet and there are less clothes to fold and put away. It also saves on electricity. Dirty clothes go into a hamper instead of “pile B” on the floor.
Now the big one I still struggle with is important papers. I at least have them all in the same general area but getting myself to work on these papers, going through mail or receipts is a challenge. Instead I play phone games or watch Marvel Movies for the millionth time.
I found this quiz: https://clutterbug.me/what-clutterbug-are-you-test
It came out that I am a Busy Bee Clutterbug. Which sounds about right. It had some useful tips I hadn’t thought about and plan on utilizing. Again, one day at a time. Today coffee pot, tomorrow dishes, the next day receipts. Or however it turns out. Progress, no matter how small, is progress and should be celebrated. You got this.