The Psychology of Clutter: Why You Keep Avoiding That One Task
You know the task. The one that’s been hanging over you for weeks. Maybe months. Maybe (whispers) years. It’s that pile of papers you keep meaning to sort, the attic full of 'I'll get to it later' boxes, or the garden shed that's basically an archaeological site at this point.
You keep telling yourself, I'll do it this weekend or I just need a free afternoon, but let’s be real.
That free afternoon never comes. And if it does, suddenly, alphabetising your spice rack feels urgent.
So why do we do this? Why do we avoid certain tasks, even when we know life would feel lighter, easier, and less chaotic without them?
It’s not about laziness. It’s about psychology.
You’re not lazy.
Your brain will do whatever it can to protect you!
1. Decision Fatigue: Too Many Choices = Do Nothing
The more clutter you have, the more decisions you have to make.
Do I keep this?
Should I donate it?
Will I need it someday?
Is it worth selling, or should I just get rid of it?
Your brain, being the smart (but slightly unhelpful) thing it is, decides to save energy by avoiding the decision altogether. It’s the same reason you stand in front of Netflix for 20 minutes, paralysed by options, before just rewatching The Office again.
Solution: Reduce the number of decisions. Give yourself a simple system: Keep, Donate, Bin. No agonising, no maybes. If it takes more than five seconds to decide, it goes in the donate pile.
2. Emotional Attachment: It’s Not Just Stuff, It’s Memories
That concert t-shirt from 2008. The shoes you wore on a really good first date. The fancy notebook you bought for 'serious journaling' but never touched.
Clutter isn’t just clutter, it’s emotional baggage in physical form. Getting rid of it can feel like erasing memories or giving up on the person you thought you’d be.
Solution: Keep the memory, not the item. Take a photo. Write down why it mattered. Then, let it go. Your past isn’t stored in old concert tickets, it’s in you.
3. Perfectionism: The ‘All or Nothing’ Trap
Ever thought, I can’t start this unless I can finish it perfectly? That’s perfectionism whispering in your ear, convincing you that unless you can dedicate a full weekend to decluttering your whole house, you shouldn’t bother at all.
Solution: Break it into tiny, manageable chunks. Don’t aim for a Pinterest-worthy after photo. Just aim to clear one shelf, one drawer, one box. Progress, not perfection.
Breaking the Cycle: Why Accountability Helps
When you’re stuck in procrastination mode, doing it alone rarely works. The best way to actually get sh*t done? Accountability.
That’s exactly why I created Let’s Get Shit Done, a 4-week accountability coaching program designed to help you finally tick off those nagging to-dos with support, structure, and motivation.
If you’re tired of clutter weighing you down (physically and mentally), and you want to feel lighter without overthinking it, join us.
Or, if you’re still stuck in avoidance mode, start small, take the free quiz and find out exactly how much your clutter is costing you. Either way, let’s get moving.