The start of the new year brings new energy to cleaning up.
We pack away holiday decorations and aspire to get rid of the clutter.
When the word clutter is used, we automatically think about environmental clutter. A messy kitchen.
An overflowing closet where we can’t find anything to wear. A basement full of all the things we don’t know where to put.
My Perspective
I’ve been considering how “clutter” shows up in all 8 dimensions of wellbeing.
Having clutter in any/all dimensions can cause stress.
Below are some of the questions we might ask to determine if clutter is having an impact on our wellbeing.
- Environmental – This is the easy one. The physical spaces in our world can have clutter that weighs us down. It could show up as obvious clutter laying around but can also take less obvious forms – home maintenance that needs addressed, too much stuff (it’s organized, but just too much), or tidy where you can see with a mess behind a closed door/drawer.
- Physical – Here, physical isn’t our spaces, but rather our physical body. Clutter in our body could be a result of our lifestyle and habits – not getting enough sleep, eating an unhealthy diet, drinking alcohol, and more. The clutter could show up as headaches, upset stomachs, or brain fog.
- Occupational – This covers our work. The clutter could be a result of too many meetings, overwhelming email boxes, or a project that has no clear path to completion. Strained relationships with managers, or co-workers can also be a source of occupational clutter.
- Financial – This clutter could be the state of our day-to-day money management. We don’t have a clear sight on what is going out and what is coming in. Our accounts are disorganized, and we wonder where our money is. The clutter could also be in the future – investment plans needing attention or updates, an estate plan that needs created, or understanding retirement goals.
- Intellectual – This clutter can take many different forms. For learners, there could be clutter of books not read, podcasts in the cue, or online classes registered for and not taken. There are the makers who could be overwhelmed by “materials” (wood, yarn, scrapbook supplies, puzzles). Creatives could have too many ideas creating clutter and weighing them down.
- Social – Clutter in our social lives can take many forms. The most straightforward is a calendar that is too full, not giving the space for time alone. Social clutter can also come from relationships and connections that aren’t healthy for our overall wellbeing.
- Emotional – Emotional clutter are all the fears and feelings that we need to release. Our emotional clutter can be triggered by clutter in other areas of our life. As we start to recognize the other dimensions of wellbeing that impact our emotions, the clutter will be easier to see.
- Spiritual – This is the most difficult dimension to define clutter. This could come from a lack of clarity of purpose or no clear understanding of self-care. Sometimes we fill our spiritual cup up with activities, but what it really needs is clear space…. free of clutter.
Your Turn
Considering all dimensions of wellbeing, how does your clutter show up in each area?
Which 2-3 dimensions currently have the most clutter?
Which has the greatest impact on your wellbeing?