what a mess!

Lately I've been thinking a lot about cleanliness, and the different ways it affects us psychologically. I've often heard it said that a cluttered space is a cluttered mind, and vice versa. In the back of my mind, I always kind of knew it was true, but it was just one of those things that I never consciously took the time to examine -- mostly, I think, from shame at my own tendency to make huge messes.

All of this stems from my pack-rat mentality: "I might need it someday" and "This is too good to get rid of" have combined to create a cluttered home, and a storage unit full of who-knows-what. I am ashamed to let people see my chaotic space, and often complain about the mess to Boyfriend, but deep down I have to admit to myself that it's all mine.

The same is true for my mind -- I have a terrible memory, and it seems to only be getting worse. Figuratively, my mind is just as cluttered as my living space. There's old memories crowding out new ones, song lyrics overwriting the things I learned in school, and names? Not a chance.

In April I came across an article at Oprah.com called When and How to Say "Enough!" by Martha Beck. It outlines the "just-in-case" mentality, wherein someone lives with the assumption that "everything good is scarce" and attempts to gather around themselves much more than what they need. This mindset can result in overeating, overspending, and damaged relationships. By contrast, a person with the "just-in-time" mentality knows that "everything good is readily available" (and of course we're talking about those who live in places where basic necessities are plentiful). They don't overeat, clutter, overspend, and have healthier relationships.


Beck's article really got my wheels turning about the disarray that I choose to keep around me. I keep the strangest things because "I might need it someday." Do I really need that plush Invader Zim keychain that's been gathering dust for three years? Or the fairy statuette with the broken wing that I never got around to fixing? What about the old VHS tapes that I haven't watched in years?

Trent over at The Simple Dollar and Leo from Zen Habits, two of my favorite big-time blogs, both believe that clutter costs not only space, but time, money, and energy, all of which could be put to much better use. I wholeheartedly agree. It's a vicious circle; You have a lot of stuff, you spend more money on a bigger house to store it all. You get more stuff, you need an even bigger house. If you need to clean, then the more stuff you have, the longer it will take you, and the more daunting the task becomes. And even on the most basic level, your mind uses more energy to mentally sort through all of your belongings. Who needs that kind of life-draining environment?!

Not me! I've decided that I'm through with my pack-rat ways! It's going to take some time, but I'm going to sort through everything I own and only keep those things which I am one-hundred-percent sure that I'll need in the future. Already, my Mom and I went through a bunch of boxes in my bedroom and sorted them into "Keep", "Throw Away", "Donate", and "Sell" (because yeah I'd like to get some pocket money for the crap stuff I don't need!) Already my space looks clean(er), and I feel much more cheerful when I enter the room. And it's inspiring! I want to tackle all the rest of my stuff and feel even more uplifted!

What remains to be seen is what long-term effects I'll gain once my task is finished (and hopefully maintained!) Will my memory improve? Will I feel lighter in spirit? Will I finally be able to achieve that simple, austere elegance that I dream about after looking through my Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn catalogs? *le-sigh* A girl can hope.