Battling Clutter: 9 Places it Comes From and How to Combat it

Have you stopped to think about where your clutter comes from and why it can pile up without you noticing? Sometimes it's coming from a single place but more often than not there are a combination of different sources or reasons why clutter is starting to show up and stick around in your life. 

I’ve identified 9 places to be more aware of when you're trying to figure out where clutter is coming from in your home. When we become aware of our surroundings, we can start to prevent clutter. 

1. You’re Overcommitted

Your time is limited so you find it hard to stay on top of the weekly, quarterly, and yearly reset tasks. This is when the clutter starts to build up. 

We all go through different seasons and sometimes there is no way of avoiding clutter entirely. But it's possible that you're filling your time with things that are preventing you from finding the time to stay on top of the clutter. 

2. Consumerism

If I had to guess one major place that your clutter is coming from, it’s consumerism.

Between our phones, TV, radio, and even going into a store, you cannot go through your day without being tempted by new products. We are bombarded with advertisements telling us that this contraption is going to fix this problem, that you are gonna look so good in this new outfit, that you better buy now while there's a sale or a discount.

It's not long before we realize we don't really like or need those purchases and they just become part of the clutter in our home.

3. Sentimental Items 

We all have objects that we have a really strong emotional connection with. And the thought of getting rid of these items is challenged by that emotional connection.

Maybe these are new items creating a new sense of emotional attachment. Or maybe we've had them for so long that it's hard to imagine letting them go.

But having sentimental items in our home is another way that clutter shows up and builds up.

4. Transitions

This is another big one. The transition might be a new home, a new job, a new relationship, or a new baby. In these moments, there's so much change we're working through that the clutter that comes with it is the last thing we want to think about. 

If we recognize what that transition is and start there, we can start to see the clutter that goes along with this new transition. For example, if you're moving to a new house, have you decluttered before your move? Are you adding items because it's a bigger space? Are you buying products that will help you make the most of a smaller space? 

Maybe it's babies or children. We all know how they come with a lot of things! Or maybe it's a newly joined family and now you have two of everything. 

By identifying the transition you're in, you can you get a handle on the clutter that keeps building up as a result of this new change.

5. Delayed decisions

One of my favorite quotes about clutter that I say time and again is: “Clutter is nothing more than delayed decisions.” Any time you opt to deal with something later, the clutter will find its way right in! 

Whether procrastinating a full garage clean out that you don't want to deal with or you're wandering from room to room and not actually putting things back where they belong, these small and large delayed decisions are a direct source of your clutter.

6. Time management

Maybe you have overextended yourself with too many commitments. Maybe you have a disorder like ADHD that makes time management a challenge for you. If you are unable to finish tasks that you've started for any reason, making time for time management in your daily or weekly resets is a must.

Whether, you're not managing your time well or getting distracted while trying to complete decluttering tasks, struggling with time management means clutter will find a way to stick around. 

7. Stress

Stress could come from being over committed, from transitions, or from past trauma. 

But any time our stress hormones are elevated it’s hard for us to make decisions, to manage time, and to clearly think through what makes sense when we're trying to complete a task. 

Stress makes it hard for us to know that it's going to be okay on the other side. 

So stress in your life is a direct link to clutter. It's a full cycle. Reducing the clutter will also help reduce some of the stress.

8. Perfectionism

If you're obsessed with doing everything right, afraid of getting things wrong, or focused on doing things in ways that you think others want you to, that's perfectionism. This desire to get everything right can leave you frozen because you're too worried about perfect to getting started and taking messy action. 

That can be a real block on getting the clutter out and then it just sticks around. 

You buy the baskets and bins because you feel the need to make your space Instagram worthy. But now they're at your home with the stickers and tags on and not serving the purpose that they originally intended because you're afraid that it's not going to be perfect. 

Those bins, those baskets, that desire for perfection. They all just became clutter in your home.

9. Routines, Habits, and Behaviors

Where are you dropping your keys when you come into the house? Where does the mail go? What's that routine? Where are you when you take your shoes off? What's that routine? 

What are those routines, those habits, those behaviors that you've built up over time that are contributing to the clutter? 

It takes time and consistency to minimize the clutter, create those habits, build in those routines, and to become mindful of the actions that will help you from day to day.

It takes a lot of tweaking of those routines and those habits and those behaviors to find what works for you. 

But if it's not working then that just might be a contributing factor of how clutter is coming into your life and sticking around. 

Think about these 9 different starting points when it comes to clutter

What jumps out to you right away? 

What feels to be the most prominent way the clutter finds its way into your life and then sticks around?

And in addition to that, what are some other ways that items are creeping into your life, into your home, into your calendar, and into your thoughts? 

All of these combined can be really hard! But becoming aware is our first defense against the clutter. The more that you can figure out why clutter is coming into your home, the less chance it has to show up and stay around in your life. 

So, start to think through these places clutter has a tendency to show up. 

1. Are you over committed? 
2. Are you way too tempted by consumerism? 
3. Is it something sentimental that you need to work through? 
4. Are you going through a transition? 
5. Are you delaying decisions?
6. Are you struggling with time management?
7. Are you under a lot of stress? 
8. Are you striving for perfectionism? 
9. Do you have routines, behaviors and habits in place to combat clutter?

Kick Clutter Out The Door in 2024

This is the year we're letting go of clutter once and for all! Getting rid of clutter can be hard, but I have the tools to help you get started.

Use my FREE Kickin' Clutter Out The Door in 2024 download to banish the clutter from your home today!

 Hello, I'm Maggie! I am the author of this blog and the owner of Chesterfield Organizing Co. I help people just like you declutter and organize their physical space so they can create the space for what matters most in all areas of their life.

As a professional organizer, it's my job to use patience and compassion, above all things, to guide you through the process of clearing the clutter, creating systems of sustainable organization, and/or helping you move with more ease. Whether you want an in-person service, organizing membership, or online service, Chesterfield Organizing Co. is here to help!