Clutter?

[Anne Westlund]

I just started a book called "Does this clutter make my butt look fat?" by Peter Walsh. He does that Clean Sweep show. His premise is that the clutter in your house and especially your kitchen and dining area is connected to being overweight. I'm more organized than I used to be, but I still have some clutter. I will tell you if his program works. Does anyone in this group have problems with clutter?

[Valerie]

Anne, with all due respect to Mr Walsh, I have clutter everywhere and I weigh 95 lbs.
My son and daughter-in-law have clutter and they are both skinny as rails.

I think it has more to do with "I'd rather be painting or sewing than putting stuff away" LOL. Plus lack of space or too much stuff depending on how you look at it.
Don't be too hard on yourself.

[Anne Westlund]

I'm not being hard on myself, Valerie, I'm just looking for different solutions. I simplified his approach, and have read more in the book. He talks a lot about emotional eating. I realize it's not cut and dried. I know I would feel better if my bedroom and bedroom closet were less cluttered and my kitchen could use the once-over as well. Stuff just starts to weigh you down after awhile. It doesn't mean any of us are bad people. Let's put it another way, what if clutter is getting in the way of your creativity? Like you can't find stuff that you want to use in your art projects. Anyway, I'll let you know if anything I read works for me. LOL!

[Jules]

I have read other author's talk about emotional eating...it is evidently quite common. Whats-her-name ( so many apologies I am drawing a total blank right now) also talks about eating more to insulate ourselves from negativity...
When the sometimers passes and I recall her name or book I will come back with that info.

[Valerie]

I'm glad you're not being hard on yourself Anne. Emotional eating is a big problem, both overeating and undereating. I guess I'm just not seeing what it has to do with clutter, but then, I haven't read the book.
I guess maybe because clutter bothers you and it doesn't bother me. Which is probably another whole issue LOL.
Anyway, I would like to know more about it and I hope you find something that works for you. I admire you for keeping at it to find a solution.

[Anne Westlund]

Thanks, Valerie. I love it that we can exchange ideas here. Cool!

[Jules]

I am glad I read this. I , like Valerie have lots of clutter but no butt. I think it has to do more with metabolism and heredity...I do have a physically active job- yet my famly runs toward lean and cluttery :-)
Cooking is not my forte either- I cook because it is necessary for survival- I do not really enjoy it (well, I enjoy eating, just not preparing the meal)...that is not heredity, my Mom, sister and brother are awesome cooks.

I have an on again off again battle with clutter. Once again, like Valerie I would rather be painting, sewing, whatevering than decluttering. Then one day I will just have to get things straightened up- empty my overflowing kitchen junk drawer catch-all by putting things away- sort throung that pile of magazines, re-shelve refrence books...yada-yada-yada- so I put all my wonderful plastic containers to use.
It will only be a matter of time until I will have to repeat the process. I have been doing this since I can remember...I guess I have a theory that if the bathroom is clean,my bed is made and the dishes are washed clutter is tolerable...of course, that is how I feel today. I never know when I that de-clutter bug will activate.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

I've been a hoarder all my life. I take things I can't use from people who want to get rid of their clutter. Thus I have an extraordinary amount of clutter. It weighs me down, I don't feel good about it, and some of it has got to go. I'm making baby steps in decluttering. I realize I've tried to use "things" to fill some sort of emotional neediness in my past, and I feel like I'm ready for a lot less clutter and a lot more lightness in my environment.

Maybe what he's referring to is really mindfulness ... by decluttering you may become more aware of what's necessary and what's not, in relation to nourishing your body as well as in your environment. Can't hurt!

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

January 15, 2009
Clearing a Space for Change
The Weight of Objects
In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.

It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.

When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.

What do you think?
Discuss this article and share your opinion

Want more DailyOM?
Register for your free email, or browse all articles

[Anne Westlund]

Well, my freezer has been emptied of out-dated food. My fridge got the once-over today as I parted with old salad dressings and years old mustard. I kept thinking, "it's still good", but into the trash it went. I may not lose any body weight, but I'm dropping the pounds in other ways. Thanks, Barb and Denise for those articles. It might be a good idea for some of us to clean out our fridges, food-safety wise. Just a suggestion! I'm in the deep clean phase, so am doing a drawer, cupboard or whatever each day. Nothing else to report.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Being raised by parents who had to keep everything because they knew what it was to not have things that Americans consider the necessities ~ I subconsciously adopted those habits. It is a GOOD thing, Anne ...

In my previous marriage, I was always accused of having "no common sense". My hubby was the one who went thru the fridge, throwing things out when they had been there too long for his liking. Now, I am the one who must be responsible for such things. It's a learning experience. It's all relative. I am learning a lot from my current relationship. My bf has traveled the world in the United States Army, voluntarily. He was married to a woman from Korea before he met me. He has jumped out of helicopters. He has worn a ghillie suit and kept so still as to be invisible to "the enemy" in foreign lands, to avoid death and make the way clear for those who followed ... and what I have learned is that people survive ... even if their salad does not look perfect. People survive even if their mustard is out dated. People survive without taking showers daily.

People survive.

[Jules]

This thought has proven useful to me when I get in my de-clutter mode

Let the things that want to belong to you find you. Things hold energy- from where they’ve been and what they’ve been through.
It's better to have nothing than to hold onto something with less- than- pleasant energy/ intentions in it/ or something from a painful time in the past.

The energy of things that we have around us- even clothes- is important. The relationships of colors change when another color is injected into a room. Be aware of relationships between colors and things, and how these colors and things fit and work with one another for you.

Be clear about what you want and need. Don’t just grab everything you can. That’s a state of deprivation and deprivation will duplicate and multiply itself. Put wants/ needs on a list (even it if it’s just in your heart) Then let go. This is a vital/ living universe. Let the things that want to belong to you find you. Make sure they’re the right ones
Melody Beattie-Finding your way home- paraphrased

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Thanks Jewels, that's very helpful; I've read quotes by her before and she always makes a lot of sense to me. I was just thinking yesterday while writing MPs what a blessing my writing/art desk is to me ... it sort of found me! My previous one did too, a Steelcase office desk abandoned on the curb with a free sign on it ... in great condition, just too big and heavy I guess. I'm really ready to make de-cluttering a priority this year!