Science says: not seeing your own mess is very normal
If I ever move in with someone, I wish him good luck. I am a mega clutterbug. At least, I don't see it that way myself. When I look at my house, I find it very logical that my clothes that are not clean, but also not dirty enough, are piled on a chair. Or that the groceries I just bought adorn the countertop instead of being in the cabinets. It's the way my mind works best: if I don't see something, I forget that I have it. So everything is always in a sort of organized chaos in sight. But what is convenient and clear for me is, of course, hell on earth for a potential housemate. And I understand that too, because there is always something lying around where it doesn't belong. Do you recognize this? Then I have good news for you. We clutter mice can do absolutely nothing about this and are most likely suffering from clutter blindness.
Yes, we are literally blind to our own clutter. Or well, we see it, but we don't register the chaos around us as clutter that needs to be dealt with. Actually, you can already diagnose yourself here, but if you're not quite sure whether you have this problem, see if you can check off the list below. People with clutter blindness continuously suffer from the following things:
– You see that your environment is messy, but have no idea where to start cleaning up.
– On all flat surfaces in your house, there are piles of things that don't belong there.
– Nine times out of ten, you wonder how those things even ended up on your table or countertop.
– You regularly bring new items into your home that, even though you no longer use them, remain in the same (often illogical) place.
Check, check, double-check. I have all of this. So it's clear that we can't do anything about it, but actually, it's important to do something about it. Clutter blindness can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and tension. Everything you drag into your house becomes a task. Clothes need to be washed, ironed, and stored, nice new plates and cups need to be washed, and so on. Ultimately, this becomes completely unmanageable. Have you suddenly felt like dealing with your messy house once and for all? Here's how to tackle it:
1. Ask for help
If you're not sure whether you really see all the clutter, ask someone to help you identify your mess. Be open to their perspective on your space and tackle the clutter together.
2. Take photos
Take photos of every room in your house to notice the clutter more easily. This different perspective shows things that you can't see with the naked eye.
3. Identify your problem areas
Find the specific spots in your house where clutter accumulates, clean them up, and keep them tidy to prevent future clutter.
4. Give everything a designated place
Make sure everything in your house has a designated place to prevent clutter and ensure that you lose your belongings less quickly.
5. Avoid storage spaces
Try not to have extra storage spaces. They can lead to the accumulation of clutter that you ignore and ultimately forget. I know for sure that I could throw everything in my storage box away without missing anything.
6. Clean all surfaces daily
Make sure to clean all surfaces in your house every evening so that clutter doesn't accumulate. Think of your tables, the tops of your cabinets, and the countertop. Some people also call this their house's ‘closing shift.’ These people take ten minutes at the end of the day to ‘close’ their living room and house so that the one with the morning shift (that is, you) can start the day with a clean slate.
Source: The Plain Simple Life
