One of the biggest things clutter can do to your life, is take away your space. Your house could be literally shrinking in terms of the livable space you have.

With this comes the ability to live, function, enjoy, or relax in that space. In different places, it might be different volumes but the end result is all the same. For example, having only one or two messy piles of clutter isn't that much, it does however rob you of something or it gives you negative thoughts/emotions in return. My messy piles at the moment rob me of peace of mind, an increased sense of having to do something (the never-ending to-do list), and shows my failure to complete tasks. This is quite a heavy load to carry and all I am behind with at the moment is some laundry and some paperwork.

Have you lost whole rooms to clutter?

What if you have whole rooms that have succumbed to clutter and the room itself has lost its purpose? Well, there are a few things you can do.

Firstly, accept that things have become as they are but you can take control either now or when you are ready.
Secondly, ask yourself the question what is the clutter robbing you off?
And what will you gain when changing this space?

I have seen people losing an ugly passage way that reminded them of; 100 of unfinished things - ranging from paperwork to laundry, to items that should have been placed on ebay 3 years ago. They transformed the space in a laundry station and are highly productive with this space now. I have seen others lose their messy junk room and found: their bed (amongst many other things they lost) they also gained a good night’s sleep.

What am I losing and what could I gain?

Once you place clutter in such a black and white frame of reference - what am I losing and what could I gain? It hopefully means that finding the motivation to reclaim your living and work places becomes easier. So this week’s task is; question yourself and start creating space where there once was only clutter.