Causes of Clutter: OUR PAST

When I personally started to declutter our home, I found myself wondering how in the world I allowed our home to be filled with so many things that we didn’t need. As I would write up my list of donations for tax purposes, I was almost ashamed. Did I really want to “claim” that much? Even though I had a family member doing our taxes, I was still embarrassed.

When I look at all of the things we have thrown away, recycled, donated, or given away, it is hard to comprehend that we allowed that much in our home, yet at the same time, I am thankful for the process of getting there. There is no turning back! Yes, I have a choice, but never again will I allow our home to be filled with that many items that we don’t need.

So, WHY the clutter? How did our home get that way in the first place? In this new series, I am going to take the main reasons WHY our homes are filled with clutter and then continue offer tips on how to declutter. These are general causes of clutter and may not be my personal experiences, but I have seen these reasons played out in other’s lives.

The first reason:

OUR PAST

1. Parents and Grandparents: When you look at your parents and grandparents, what did their homes look like? Depending on your age, your grandparents may have grown up during the Great Depression. Think about the lifestyle they had to live – EVERYTHING was valuable. Throwing something away was probably unheard of. Their attics may have been filled with items they might need for later. Their closets filled with old clothes that they may have never worn again, but couldn’t get rid of because of the unstable economy. Their homes may have reflected the times that they had to live through!

2. Your Story: Now, think about if those ideas above were passed on to your parents, and therefore passed on to you? What story have you been given? Reflecting on that story may help you understand the chapters you are in today. So, what story are you now writing – what story are you leaving behind for your kids? How do you want to write a DIFFERENT story?

3. Nature vs. Nurture:

• Nature: What type of climate did you grow up in? Living in the north, you may by default, own more clothing because of the changing of seasons. Winter coats, bulky sweatshirts, fleece pants, all these items take up more space. Someone in Florida may not need to own as many of these items as someone living in Minnesota does.

 

• Nature: What size home did you grow up in? If you lived in a small home, yet had LOTS of clutter, does your home look like that today? Did you grow up in a large home, with not much to fill it? What about a small home with little to nothing? How does your home today, reflect these questions?

 

• Nurture: Organizing is a learned skill. Yes, personalities do play an effect on who we are, but organizing is something that we need to be taught. We see examples from others. We CAN help the way our homes look! Who taught you to organize? Who set an example for you? Who are YOU setting an example for?

All of these reasons DO directly effect how our homes look today. If you are overwhelmed by the clutter in your life, stay tuned to how you can start or continue the process of decluttering, by learning what the CAUSES of clutter are first!