What Physical Clutter Reveals About Us Explained

Discover what your physical clutter reveals about you. Learn how physical spaces mirror our emotions and shift your perspective today.

We often overlook the mess in our living spaces, chalking it up to a busy schedule or lack of time. However, the clutter surrounding us can offer a significant glimpse into our mental health. Our environment is a mirror reflecting not just our physical state, but our emotional and psychological well-being.

The Psychological Impact of Clutter

It is a fact a cluttered environment and a cluttered mind often go hand in hand. It’s not just an eyesore—it’s a silent stressor that’s often linked to higher stress levels, anxiety, and even depression. Why does clutter affect us so deeply?

How Clutter Creates Stress

Clutter isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about psychological overload. Clutter overloads the senses, making our brains work harder to sort through visual chaos, ultimately increasing cortisol levels—the hormone responsible for stress.

More cortisol means more stress, leading to exhaustion and decreased productivity. I wrote about how clutter and cortisol reflect in men and women. How Our Mental Health is Affected by Our Home Clutter

Clutter can also heighten anxiety, making it harder to focus and sleep as the brain craves order in chaos.

Clutter and Anxiety Disorders

For many, clutter ties into deeper anxiety issues. Individuals with PTSD, depression, or ADHD might find themselves using clutter as a coping mechanism or avoidance strategy. There is a group called CHAAD, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) that speaks about hoarding. Hoarding is different than clutter.

McLean Hospital a part of the renowned Mass General Hospital in Boston MA claims that Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition characterized by saving items that appear to have little or no worth, often accumulating magazines, mail, newspapers, and old clothing.

The Cycle of Clutter and Mental Health

There’s a vicious cycle at play here: clutter can exacerbate mental health issues, which in turn can make it harder to tackle the clutter. This cycle can trap individuals in a perpetual state of dissatisfaction and inertia.

Finding the cause—often buried in past trauma or unresolved issues—is essential for breaking this cycle, according to APA.

 Photo by SHVETS production

Clutter as a Reflection of Emotional State

Physical clutter tells a story about our emotional and psychological conditions. Like any good mystery, understanding this narrative starts by asking the right questions.

Clutter and Emotional Triggers

Why do we cling to items? Look at products, the marketers sell to us as though the item is going to transform our life, make us more brilliant, beautiful, and fulfilled. People saunter throw brick and mortar stores browsing and looking for that magic elixir.

Holding onto possessions can be an attempt to fill an emotional void. For some, it’s a comfort blanket shielding against past experiences or future fears.

Understanding these emotional triggers is crucial for addressing the root cause and making meaningful changes.

Decluttering Your Mind Needs to Come First

When I am agitated it is very hard to focus on the task at hand. It is a waste of time to ‘try harder’. Until I quiet all the thoughts swirling around in my head I will not complete the task in front of me with the respect it deserves.

Living in a cluttered space is distracting whether or not your conscious self has made the connection.  This is because our brains need to work harder to process more visual overload.

This clutter is also a 24/7 visual reminder of all you have to do, like pay the bill lying on the couch, fold the clothes still in the dryer, put away groceries still in bags, etc. If this doesn’t bother you you are lucky. Women in particular can be bothered more than men about this because it is a constant to-do list.

If the clutter does bug you and you want to start decluttering your physical space ask yourself why. Your answer will be telling.

A simple change like journaling about this can set the foundation for healthier habits. Spend a few minutes a day to learn why you have trouble letting go of things, procrastinate, and other habits that are working against you.

Organizing Your Thoughts as a Form of Self-Care

Thought organization isn’t just about clarity—it’s an act of self-care. By clearing mental clutter, we set the stage for focusing on physical spaces.

This isn’t instinctual for everyone; it’s a skill that can be honed with practice. Practicing this skill can make a big difference in your day to day activity.

Many people resist writing their thoughts. I would no more stop finding my answers by writing than I would stop breathing. I learned years ago this is where the magic lies.

Professional writing is not what I am talking about, do a quick ‘brain dump’ where you just get all the scrambled thoughts out of your head an onto a piece of paper.

I have cheap spiral notebooks I pick up to write in. By writing about something for a few minutes I can either see my part in whatever it is that is bugging me and act accordingly or simply write to sound off. Pay no attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation, or sloppiness.

Many people say they could never write this way. Know that is another form of resistance. It can be hard to unpeel the layers, especially if you have been held back for a long while. The same holds true for the busy working mom with several kids. You do have time to write, just barter a few minutes from scrolling TikTok.

Get a weeks worth of free writing prompts on Declutterbuzz.com to get you started. Find the prompts on the left side of the home page.

Physical and Mental Health Connection

If you want your home and mind to be in more of a peaceful sync it is important to start by decluttering both. Your home is your safe space. I call my home my nest because it is the snuggly comfortable place I go to relax and regroup.

Living with intention

Living with intention is easier to do when your clutter is tamed because you are less distracted and can envision what you want. Once you know what it is you want a plan will unfold according to your intentions.

Physical clutter is more than just untidiness—it really can affect everything. I want everyone to experience the Ah-Ha moment I watch others get when they start the process of decluttering their lives once and for all.

This can be done by recognizing the need for change and starting with small steps to figure out what your clutter means to you. You may decide to keep the status quo, you may decide to shake it all up. Whatever you decide it is up to you an appraisal to givve yourself the best chance to live the best life you can.

I know beyond a doubt we all are worth the effort it takes and deserve all the peace we can get out of life.