Clutter can turn into a much more serious problem than we used to think. Not for the interior – for the psyche.
There is a thin but distinguishable line between “there is everything you need” and “there is not enough room in the house for things”. When it wears off, the mess starts to turn into a disease.
“There is a disease when people bring different things into the house from the street and cannot stop. The thing is that they are unable to cope with their urge to keep the accumulated, a person believes that all these things he really needs, they will come in handy. This is called “Diogenes syndrome” or “Plyushkin’s disease,” says the psychiatrist. Elena Timofeeva.
We have collected 10 signs that honk: it’s time, it’s time to finally arrange a “celebration of decluttering” and clean up.
1. It is difficult for you to throw out even a broken thing.
“What if it can still be fixed?”, But it never comes to repair. It’s easier to buy a new one. So there are deposits of old broken phones, mixers, cracked mugs and God knows what else. And if the phone and other equipment can be handed over for recycling and get bonuses for this, then broken dishes are only in a landfill.
2. Not all things in the house have a place
Something did not fit into the closet, something – on the shelf in the kitchen and now hangs, stands and rolls wherever it is. This is a sure sign that it’s time to go through all the contents of the lockers and throw away what you have not used for a long time.
3. Postpone household chores for later
This is how mountains of dishes are formed in the sink and even on the table, heaps of non-ironed linen in the basket, unsorted mail and purchases. Everything is standing and waiting in the wings, but it will never come.
4. You have to clean up the table before you sit down to dinner.
And also throw all unnecessary things out of bed, before going to bed, from a chair, before sitting down, because these things have no place. Or you are categorically too lazy to remove them.
5. “What if it comes in handy”
Yes, suddenly the day will come when you need a handful of old buttons, you will find all the unpaired socks, or this thing will be urgently needed … By the way, what is this thing? Sometimes people regret to throw out the thing, not even imagining how exactly it could be useful in the future.
6. “I will give it to someone”
You liked the thing so much that you decided to buy it. And the unnecessary purchase was justified by the fact that it would be a great gift for someone. However, this thing is still gathering dust in your house. Maybe still give it? But no, throw it away.
7. Unpacked boxes
It happens so – you move from place to place, carry boxes with you, and some are still unassembled in one apartment or in another. Do you know what to do with these boxes? That’s right, take it to the trash heap.
8. You have several identical T-shirts
And not because you are a fan of Steve Jobs’ style and prefer to dress the same every day. But because you completely forgot that you have already bought the same thing. And voila, now there are two. Or three.
9. You buy because it is cheap, not because you have to
Here it is, the sale! Discounts, promotions! How to resist them? Easy – just remind yourself that you don’t need those two hats. And two pairs of leopard rubber boots too. And even this crazy sequin jacket is unnecessary, even though it’s 70 percent off. After all, they all have the same path – into oblivion in the depths of the closet.
10. You pick up free shampoos from hotels
And soap and slippers. And even if you are not going to use them – well, who needs disposable slippers at home? There is only one laugh.