Why Do I Feel So Overwhelmed By Clutter?
When you’re overwhelmed by clutter, it’s time to declutter, sort, edit, and organize.
“Why do I feel so overwhelmed by clutter?” is the first question we typically get from our clients at The Uncluttered Life. The plain and simple answer is that clutter is heavy. Not only does physical clutter take up space in your home, but it also takes up energy—lots of it—and precious brain space.
People think about their "stuff" much more than they realize. Clutter gets in the way of moving forward in life and makes you feel “stuck” because it is constantly weighing you down. It needs attention; it begs for it. When the mess gets this heavy, it’s time to make a change.
The Connection Between Clutter, Physical, and Mental Energy
I have been studying yoga for years, and one of the most important things I have learned from my practice is how to harness and move my energy. Some people think it sounds like nonsense, but it’s not—trust me. Energy is a real thing. It rides on the breath in yoga.
Untying the "Granthis" in Your Home
The Sanskrit word granthi means “knot” or “doubt,” specifically “an especially difficult knot to untie.” In yoga, we use breath and movement to untie or unblock these granthis to move past psychological or psychic barriers to total freedom.
In other words, working through these granthis keeps you from being stuck in your energy. You want your energy to flow like a superhighway, and unblocking the sources of clutter does just that.
Now, relate granthis to the things we keep. There is a lot of energy wasted in managing items that no longer serve us:
Clothing that doesn’t fit.
Shoes we don’t like but feel guilty about donating.
Love letters from years earlier that we can’t throw away.
Unblocking stuck energy lets you move past these "sticky, peanut butter" granthis that hold you back. When you are overwhelmed by clutter, you can either harness that energy and work with it (declutter, sort, edit, and organize) or let it keep you stuck. Ridding yourself of clutter clears stagnant energy and revitalizes your entire life.
Feng Shui: Clearing Stagnant Energy for New Beginnings
Along with yoga, I have also studied the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui. My favorite book about clutter clearing is Karen Kingston’s, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. Every Chinese New Year, my yoga Shala reads Kingston’s book, and every year, I learn something new.
Since I have been studying yoga for twenty years, I have read Karen Kingston’s book cover-to-cover that many times. It was actually the book that inspired me to read Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. For me, it all started with Karen Kingston.
How Placement Affects Your Mood
One of the basic principles of Feng Shui is that objects and their positioning will either promote or block the flow of positive energy (Chi). We need this flow of energy to feel happy, healthy, and abundant.
Physical clutter prevents that flow and causes a buildup of stale energy. You feel uninspired and even exhausted when you’re surrounded by it. Everyday living feels like a chore, like you’re always pushing against the current. Removing clutter makes a world of difference; for example, we have seen couples become pregnant after making space for a baby in their home. You must clear out the old to make room for the new.
The Link Between Physical Stuff and Emotional Clutter
If you hold on to physical clutter, you hold on to emotional clutter. While you may not realize it, living in a cluttered environment has a direct negative effect on how you feel. If you hold on to "junk" in your physical space, you’re likely to hold on to junk mentally and emotionally.
The decluttering process allows you to naturally let go of:
Negative thoughts and anxiety.
The feeling of being overwhelmed by clutter.
Limiting stories you tell yourself.
Persistent exhaustion.
Start Your Decluttering Process Today
Make time to declutter your home and your office space to see how much better you feel. Eliminate those things that keep you stuck. And while you’re at it, pick up Karen Kingston’s book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. It’s a magical book that will inspire you to dig deeply into the process to realize real change.
For more information about clutter and the psyche, please consider Your Golden Journey by Diana Christinson.