No Drama: Is Clutter Bringing Stress to Your Life?
Photography by NHOPHOTOS; Chicago, IL
by Maria Lloyd
Professional organizer, Jennifer Hunter, describes her career as a dual role between a therapist and a housekeeper. She organizes homes for a living, helping people rid themselves of the negative impact of clutter. She says her job is difficult because people are emotionally attached to their clutter and aren’t readily prepared to rid themselves of the junk as one may believe they should be. Although her clients know Hunter has good intentions, they are still not receptive to her work. Here are the four ways clutter can negatively affect your life:
1. Clutter Causes Stress/Anxiety
Hunter believes the human brain is not equipped to deal with the stimulation of clutter. She says if you look around and you see stuff everywhere, you are more likely to become stressed, but if you clear space and get rid of some the clutter, you’ll be able to think clearly.
2. Clutter is Costly
People spend an average of $10 per square foot to store items in their homes. Nearly 10% of American households rent storage units, spending more than $1,000 annually in rent. Clutter also causes 23% of people to incur late fees due to lost statements. One quarter of people with two-car garages can’t fit both cars in the garage because of clutter.
3. Clutter is Time Consuming
According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, the average American spends one year of his or her life looking for lost items consumed by clutter. You can shed 40% of your household work if you rid yourself of clutter.
4. Clutter is Hazardous
You are more prone to slipping, tripping, and falling when you have clutter. Hunter also discovered rodents can easily occupy your space without being noticed when your home is cluttered. While organizing one client’s home, she found mouse feces underneath mounds of paper. The homeowners had no idea the rodents were inhabiting their space.
Please join the Your Black World Newsletter