Messiness is not a disorder, but the struggle with the trappings of it is REAL!
There are psychological effects to living amidst chronic clutter. One of the known causes of these effects is overstimulation. Too much stimulation can lead to anxious feelings and other associated feelings like anger, depression, and more.
Have you been feeling like this at all lately? Have you ever felt this way?
Living in a cluttered or disorganized home can add to you and your entire family’s stress levels.
Here’s how:
- Kids thrive in structure- Disorganized homes tend to be highly unstructured. This is where some of that mom guilt should come into play. The kids don’t have any clean clothes to wear. You’re eating out for dinner AGAIN because you haven’t gone grocery shopping. You have overdue library books and now the kids can’t check out any books. Living under these conditions set poor examples of how to do life.
Disorganization causes unnecessary stress.
Take a moment and meditate on that last sentence.
Inhale…Exhale!
- Order creates peace- Home should be your place of peace. Having a pleasant environment free of clutter and that overstimulation thingy, helps families disengage from the world and re-charge for a new day. If the home is in chronic disarray, it is difficult to recharge. The mere sense of things being undone (or done incorrectly if we want to be totally honest) can trigger feelings of anxiousness.
- Families are a team- This is one thing we make sure to teach our kids. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, is our motto around here. You don’t want to begin to build any resentment towards your family. Families are a team, and everyone should be contributing to the welfare and care of the home. Even stay-at-home parents need support with home maintenance and responsibilities.
- Disorganization wastes time- Living a disorganized life robs families of their precious time. Being able to recharge and connect with each other seems like unachievable goals. Spending time looking for lost items makes people late getting out of the door. The scramble to clean up for unexpected company or devoting an entire day to catch up on laundry can cause undue anxiety and cause you to miss out on fun activities that bring you joy.
- Disorganization causes embarrassment- Living in chaos (can’t have anyone over syndrome) or overwhelm can cause embarrassment. Don’t let a friend or neighbor ask for a ride and you haven’t gotten around to cleaning out the car. No ma’am! How about having unexpected visitors, and you feel like your home doesn’t truly reflect who you are, can make you feel uncomfortable and want to avoid hosting guests.
- Being disorganized costs money- Missing or being late to appointments can cost time and money. Families who are not organized oftentimes tend to eat out more, spend more on clothing and other items, and fail to live within their means. This stress can affect marriages and the tension can run over onto the children. Being organized makes it possible to manage a budget and keep track of important items. It prolongs the life of clothing and other frequently used items.
I don’t want you to take this lightly. Don’t get mentally or emotionally trapped in the effects of clutter and disorganization. Sitting on your sofa after a long day, staring at yesterday’s dishes doesn’t promote relaxation. There are real psychological consequences to clutter and chaos. You can improve your mental and emotional health by becoming clutter-free and organized.
