Why Do We Complicate Decluttering & Everything Else?

Why Do We Complicate Decluttering & Everything Else? Because it is easier than slowing down to recognize why we are doing this instead of fulfilling our dreams. 

You can’t hit a moving target is one of my favorite expressions. We are very very good at being busy and making excuses why we don’t have the time to do the things we don’t want to do. We put off having the important conversations because we are ‘too busy’.

Life is good until we get in the way and complicate it. Oh sure, there is a heartbreaking tragedy every minute of every day. If we entrench ourselves in it we would never want to get out of bed. This is not to say we should ignore these wrongdoings. We should not. 

There are productive ways to deal with everything. Busy work can be the enemy and most often we never recognize it.

Here are the top reasons we complicate decluttering and everything else: 

We let toxic people into our lives

Allowing toxic individuals to influence our lives introduces unnecessary complications, as their negative energy can undermine our well-being and hinder personal growth.

We don’t know the difference between being busy and being productive.

Often, we confuse constant activity with true productivity, failing to prioritize tasks that genuinely contribute to our goals and well-being.

We procrastinate often, leaving the important things because we don’t want to deal with them.

Procrastination delays our progress, preventing us from addressing crucial tasks. This is one way we complicate life.

We over schedule ourselves because we can’t say no.

In an attempt to please everyone, we end up overcommitting and spreading ourselves thin, hindering our ability to focus on what truly matters. Not a great way to enjoy peace of mind.

We multitask, and nothing gets done to the best of our abilities.

The American Psychological Association in Washington DC states Juggling multiple tasks simultaneously complicates things because this often leads to subpar results, as our attention is divided. Multitasking gets in the way of thorough and effective work.

I have a mantra I say out loud when focusing is difficult ‘this one thing I do’. This grounds me.

We waste time filling our heads with too much information on frivolous things.

Overindulging in irrelevant information distracts us from essential matters, contributing to mental clutter and preventing us from focusing on meaningful pursuits. A lot of people waste too much energy.

We all have to decide what information is irrelevant and adjust accordingly.

We don’t stand up for ourselves.

Failing to assert ourselves can lead to complications, as unexpressed needs and desires create internal conflicts and inhibit personal development.

Learning to defend myself was one of the best things I ever did. I was taught to ‘say what I mean, mean what I say, and not be mean when I said it.

We care too much about what others think.

Constantly seeking validation from others adds unnecessary complexity, as we may compromise our authenticity and well-being to meet what we perceive are there expectations.

What other people think of me is none of my business. This is their stuff, not mine.

We are dishonest with ourselves and others.

Dishonesty complicates everything, it erodes trust in relationships and creates internal conflict. Why would anyone want to burden themselves with all this unnecessary stress?

We stay stuck in our comfort zones.

Resisting change and staying within our comfort zones can hinder personal growth, creating complications by preventing us from embracing new opportunities.

Take a step outside your comfort zone and let the magic happen!

Many people procrastinate decluttering because they say they don’t know where to start. Start where you are. You don’t have to move a muscle. Simply look around and pick a small area or one item and declutter it.

Decide if you should keep the item or discard the item. It really is this simple. Not necessarily easy, simple in theory though.

We aren’t spending time discerning truth from fiction.

Failing to critically evaluate information can lead to confusion and misguided decisions, adding unnecessary complexity to our lives.

The good news is there are plenty of tools available to fact-check information today.

We are not practicing intentional living.

Lack of purposeful living results in drifting through life without clear direction. This adds to lots of negative feelings, like low self esteem and dissatisfaction.

Put those good intentions into an actionable plan! Intentional living starts with decluttering.

We have a decluttering challenge going on over in our Facebook group. It is never too late to start decluttering. Grab your free workbook and access code to our private decluttering group.

We try to control other people and things because it’s easier than focusing on ourselves.

Attempting to control factors beyond our control is a lesson in futility. This seldom works and may cause more problems. You are avoiding your own genuine self-improvement while trying to change others.

Letting go of people and things can be difficult. The allure is it is much easier to fix other people’s problems than our own.

We spend time whining when the time would be better served finding solutions.

Complaining without actively seeking solutions prolongs problems. It is more effective to look for a solution to whatever it is you are whining about.

Stop waiting for a perfect solution. There is no perfect time, act using the tools you have today.

We compare ourselves to others and suffer jealousy.

Constant comparison to others can make us envious. This can cause emotional complications that stand in our way of becoming the person we are supposed to be.

We hold on to resentments.

Clinging to past grievances complicates relationships and well-being, preventing the healing necessary for personal growth.

We have narcissistic tendencies rather than focusing on others we can take loved ones for granted.

Self-centered behaviors most always strain relationships. It is important to nurture relationships and not overlook the needs and feelings of those we care about.

We worry, and 99% of the stuff we worry about does not come to fruition.

Excessive worry about hypothetical scenarios adds unnecessary stress, as most imagined concerns never materialize. Spend less time worrying and more time doing.

We don’t balance all the areas of our life.

Neglecting certain aspects of life in favor of others creates an imbalance. This can lead to resentments and resentments often lead to anger and hurt.

We spend too much time living in the past and future and miss out on the present.

Dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about the future detracts from the richness of the present moment.

If you have one foot in the past and another foot in the future you will miss out on the gift of the present.

We avoid confrontation.

Evading necessary confrontations can lead to unresolved issues and can add a strain to relationships, preventing genuine communication. Have that convo at your next opportunity

We never learned how to make decisions; therefore, we often make poor decisions.

Decision-making skills are crucial for navigating life, and a lack of these skills can result in poor choices that complicate our life.

Poor decision making skills keep us stuck while decluttering – especially sentimental things. Going through our things that have sentimental value can be an emotional thing. If you would like to declutter sentimental things there are work arounds.

We consider ourselves a victim.

Adopting a victim mentality can boomerang and often does. You can either get bitter or get better.

We can suffer pent-up frustration and resentment because we don’t know how to live up to our potential or make excuses why we can’t. WE Often claim to be a victim of other’s wants and desires.

Failing to tap into our full potential and making excuses keeps us stuck.

We lack effective stress management strategies.

Without healthy coping mechanisms, stress can accumulate, and lead to negative mental and physical outcomes. This complicates life.

We can complicate life or we can opt for a simpler life. Each step of the way we can either choose complex systems or simple ways to manage the different areas of our life.

Perfectionism

We don’t start because we are afraid we won’t do it right, whatever it is. We are not expected to know it all. This would be impossible. I could go on and on about this subject because I am a recovering perfectionist.

I hope you will allow yourself to not do things perfectly. There is no such thing as failure, only delayed successes. Just start!

When you find yourself with a good excuse at the ready, don’t use the excuse. Work on a solution. Take on baby step.

Instead, find one little thing you can do to move the needle. Get out of your comfort zone. If this is scary take one small step at a time, The first step is always the hardest whether you are decluttering or doing anything new.

Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

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