Clutter is mean.

Your clutter is screaming at you.  Endlessly.  From the second you walk into your home.  It’s nasty, mean, and condescending.   “Why did you do this?  Why aren’t you taking care of me?  How could you be so irresponsible?  Look at all this money you wasted!  What’s wrong with you?”

It steals your joy, drains your energy, and berates you.  Over, and over, and over again.

Have you had enough yet?  Probably.  But it could be that the clutter has defeated you so continuously and so viciously that you can’t see the way out.  It could be the sheer volume of clutter or the seemingly insurmountable emotional attachments linked to each item.  Or it could be former failed attempts to battle all the stuff that has taken over your space, robbing you of any confidence that you can pair down successfully and not have it immediately whip back to a state of chaos. 

The good news is that stuff… is just stuff.  And you can get rid of it.  You can throw it out, gift it, donate it, whatever you want.  But it does have to leave, and it must leave all the way.  It can’t sit in a bin/bag/box/car indefinitely, waiting for some indeterminate date when it will stop belonging to you and stop being in your possession.  Clutter bagged up with the intent of leaving is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough.  The task of removal must be completed.  Otherwise, those derisive snarky comments are still, muffled as they now may be, coming at you from the bin/bag/box/car.  They won’t stop until the items are permanently gone.

Every item in your environment competes for a bit of your attention, even subconsciously. Some items deserve your attention, some don’t.  You may be trading your time, energy, and wellbeing for the sake of holding onto stuff that’s not serving you (and that’s a crappy deal). 

The more clutter you see, the more mental energy you spend processing it. Over time, this constant low-level stimulation can leave you feeling tired, distracted, and overwhelmed.

A cluttered space also creates decision fatigue. Each time you look at a messy desk or an overflowing closet, your brain registers unfinished tasks—papers to file, clothes to sort, objects to move. These small, unresolved decisions accumulate, draining focus and motivation. Instead of feeling calm and in control, you may feel stuck or anxious, unsure where to begin.

Clutter can make a room feel smaller, heavier, and less inviting, which in turn affects how you feel within it.  You may spend less time in a cluttered room, or you may avoid the room altogether.

Emotionally, clutter often carries guilt or attachment. Items you no longer use but can’t let go of may represent past versions of yourself or unfulfilled intentions. Holding onto them can weigh you down emotionally, keeping you tethered to the past instead of living fully in the present.

Clearing clutter isn’t just about tidiness—it’s about reclaiming energy. When you create order, you create space for clarity, creativity, and peace. A clean, organized environment supports a calm mind, allowing your energy to flow toward what truly matters rather than being drained by the noise of disorder.