Clutter
CLUTTER - The Overwhelming Weight-loss Wall
Changing our lifestyle habits and maintaining a healthy weight means feeling in control: feeling in control during social situations, feeling in control at work, and more importantly, feeling in control at home. Clutter, whether big or small, can give us the feeling of chaos in our home environment – the very place where we should feel calm. Whether it's laundry on the bed, dishes piled in the sink, a closet overflowing with old clothes, or general junk accumulated from years past, clutter can impede our weight loss for many different reasons.
According to Lisa van de Geyn, from her article Crushing the Clutterbug: "Clutterbugs are susceptible to stress, depression, asthma and obesity.” Clutter can create low self-esteem, negative self-talk and poor decision-making skills. It can also be associated with high blood pressure & sleeplessness. When it comes to weight gain, it's been shown that those collecting clutter often are less likely to exercise and eat healthy.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by any amount of clutter in your home, de-cluttering will make you feel empowered, more in control, and more optimistic. Following are some suggestions of how to start conquering clutter:
- Be objective about your belongings. As yourself: "When was the last time I used this? Do I like it? Am I confusing how I feel about this with how I feel about the person who gave it to me? Am I holding on to this because I spent a lot of money on it?” By answering these questions, you can come to terms with what you're willing to part with and what you really want to keep.
- Take the 15-minute challenge. Start small – if you're feeling overwhelmed by a cluttered bathroom, take 15 minutes and organize all the toiletries on the countertop – set aside anything you don't use and get rid of it.
- Create permanent homes for your belongings. This will prevent you from buying the same things over and over since you'll know where everything is.
- Create a simple organization system and stick with it.
- Shred paperwork you no longer need.
- Apply the "one in/one out” rule. For instance, if you buy a new blouse, get rid of an old one.
- Keep an empty bag in your closet for clothes you want to donate. By keeping a bag for donations there at all times, it will be easier for you to make an instant decision about something you come across that you haven't worn in 10 years!
- Regarding weight loss – Try to steer away from the notion you have to hold on to every possible size you own, "just in case.” Especially as you're losing weight – get rid of the bigger clothes that don't fit you any more! This will empower you to realize that you are on the road to maintaining a healthy weight, and won't ever need those bigger sizes again.
Clutter can be detrimental to our progress on this weight loss journey. If you feel anxious due to clutter in your home, you may then feel overwhelmed by the idea of changing your eating habits and starting to become more active. Perhaps de-cluttering even ONE small area will give you the drive to make other small changes in your life! Make a decision today – you CAN do this, and you DESERVE to feel in control!
Dr. Doug