Mess. Out of sight, out of mind?
Not for me, and research says not for you either.
When I tidy my cupboards, am I really trying to order my mind?
Yesterday, with the day off work and a toddler at nursery, I was in sorting mode.
We moved into this house in June 2024, and I became a middle aged woman with a utility room. Acquiring this new status and space was such a luxury…that I filled it with crap immediately.
Over the last seven months our dumping ground has blossomed. The initial frantic moving in “put it in a cupboard, any cupboard” energy has meant garden tools have found cosy homes next to serving dishes; hoovers have been rubbing shoulders with both lightbulbs and Tupperware; hammers and far too many IKEA allen keys have cohabiting with miscellaneous BBQ equipment. And when our porch became damp? Enter plenty of shoes and piles of coats. And when we painted parts of the house? A child’s kitchen, basket of toys and vases.
Through it all, our dog managed to make a safe path to her bed, food and water bowl, and we established a well-trodden track to the washing machine.
Out of sight, out of mind? Sadly not for me. Although I have been able to shut the door, I’ve felt the mess inside me. The precarious balancing of items, the frustration of not being able to find things, the physical jumble creating an internal muddle.
So yesterday, I confronted it. I blew the doors off - literally - revealing open shelves so that now nothing can hide.
I listened to Alain de Botton speak with Russell Howard, nursed a cup of tea, and sifted objects into piles - keep, charity, sell. Sorting and categorising, wiping and cleaning, stacking and shifting, over and over again.
We now have floor space, a clear work-surface and tidy shelves. I’ve found some order in the chaos.
This certainly rings true for me.
This morning my mind feels clearer and calmer.
A feeling so good that I decided to sort our cutlery drawer whilst I was waiting for the kettle to boil. Forks with forks, clean compartments and I dismissed 18 Calpol squeezers from service. What a time to be alive.
Do you find that mess affects your mind?