The Clutter Fairy Weekly Survey #165 Results
Reasons to Organize | External and Internal Influences
Responses to Essay Questions
To view the detailed survey response from any respondent, click on their name in the table below. (You may also find it easier to read long responses in the detailed view.)
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | What are your most compelling reasons to reduce clutter and/or to get organized? | What external factors drive or support your organizing efforts? | What internal factors drive or support your organizing efforts? | What is the most exciting way in which your life will be different when you achieve your organizing goal(s)? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anonymous user | I would like to be able to move through my space easily and have the work areas I need. | There are no external factors that support my efforts in a positive way. There are, however, people who rudely announce, "You have too much stuff!" Many of these people have just as much stuff as I do, but three times the living space I have. Rather than motivate me, these comments make me dig in my heels in determination to prove that I don't have too much stuff. I end up finding ways to keep everything. So far as inheritance goes, I lived with second-hand stuff all my live, then inherited nice things after I was too old and weak to move furniture. The nice stuff sits in a locker. | Shame is an issue, because of the criticism from others, especially people who call themselves minimalists and assume that everyone should live that way. I am still struggling to declutter after my spouse who died leaving a mountain of stuff to sort through along with the stuff from three other estates, so I am overwhelmed with the physical work of it. All attempts to clear my space result in a bigger mess, of course, which causes me to become more of a hermit because of the criticism from others. I don't want anyone to see inside my house. | I will be able to move through my space freely and accomplish tasks in less time. I might be able to let a couple of trusted, non-critical friends in. I doubt that I will ever achieve the spacious, minimalist look so long as I live in a home as small as this one, but having only what I want and need will make a move to a home more suited to my lifestyle easier. |
| Anita | Death and disability– I do not want to leave my only child with boxes of family memorabilia and photos that moved with me in 2010 and haven’t been looked at since It also bothers me that no one will know which belongings I treasured because they held special memories for me. | I keep thinking that if I could just get all the photos and memorabilia out of the basement, I could finish turning it into a dance practice/guest room space. And finishing the decluttering there would give me space for two more people on the convertible couch and two more children on the blowup bed, which would fit on the dance floor. A recent knee injury has given me an opportunity to really tackle all the photo sorting, sometimes, while I’m listening to the Clutter Fairy. Unfortunately, I re-injured the knee that I injured the previous week when I got up too fast from the zoom meeting. Oh well, more time to sort photos. | I have really enjoyed donating my surplus clothing, appliances, etc. because I feel good knowing that someone else will get more use out of the items while keeping them out of the landfill. I also realize that listening to the Clutter Fairy and creating more space in my home, has taught me to appreciate the concept of unoccupied spaces, particularly in my cabinets and drawers. I can now look at an empty drawer in my armoire, and not feel the urge to fill it up again, knowing that if I do need more space in the future, it will be there. | I really love the idea of being able to not only practice dancing in my new dance room, but I have this fantasy where, when the room is finished and decorated with floor to ceiling drapes covering the necessary storage shelves on rwo walls and mirrors on a third, I invite another couple over to dance with us after dinner (Be still my heart!!) |
| Anonymous user | I want to have time for doing genealogy, spend time with family and friends when they are available. I get so anxious and stressed when anyone may come over. | Right now, I need to clear out the bedrooms and closets. They are about half done. We are getting new carpet in a week and a half. We are planning to get rid of our current. I found some stuff in my daughters old room from grade school on up thru med school. I am so stressed since we need to paint first. Ahhhh! | I feel guilty for waiting so long to do the decluttering. I try to start, then get exhausted and need to do other stuff in the house. | I will have time to do things I enjoy |
| Lisa Beth | Productivity without stress. | Accountability partner Desire to entertain family | Fear of letting it get like the home I grew up in. | More time for priorities without guilt of letting things go. |
| Joyce S (or rejoyce; I know there's at least one other listener named Joyce) | I refuse to put my family and friends through what we endured through moving late dad from his townhouse to assisted living. It took over 6 months AND a village. I was doing well until I stopped organizing paper, & haven't gone back to it. I have the family documents, photos, movies , and reel-to-reel-audio tapes of concerts, many of which featured my dad as bass soloist. Things are sorted, boxed, and (except paper) on shelves in closets. However, the closets are full. If I ever hope to downsize, paint, replace worn-out appliances, closet doors, & flooring in my condo, I HAVE to get back to the decluttering. | I'm my eldest brother's guardian, and as he's aged, his health has worsened, thanks to genetics and the pandemic shutdown. I have to keep track of his current health & paperwork, etc. even though he doesn't live with me. Keeping up with communication and doctor visits for my brother has taken from both time AND motivation to get back to decluttering. Also, with his current health needs, I'm in the "I can't make plans because I don't know what's going to be happening" mindset. I can't have family or friends visit overnight because what would be the spare bedroom is full of boxes of sorted paper. Plus, there's no real privacy in 2nd bedroom or living room because what would have been money for new window treatments has gone to repairs for my old car. I have lace curtains over the windows and UV tint, so it's ok in the daytime, but not at night. I'd love to turn the 2nd bedroom from home office back to a guestroom/multipurpose area. | I'm tired of feeling as if I'm carrying the weight of the contents of my closets and family history on my back. I'd like to enjoy looking at family photos, etc. I'd like to get my piano tuned - and have a ceiling fixture in that area (former dining room area w/in a great room) that isn't going to whack anyone on the head who's taller than 4'11', I'd like to buy a new sewing machine and get back to sewing now that I'm retired. I have already shared my surplus, and try to limit purchases to replacements and/or items that have a designated storage space. I also look at pictures on Zillow of condos in my development (e.g., upstairs neighbors), and see all the wonderful ways they've updated virtually the same floor plan (except I don't have a loft), and know I need to do that kind of modernizing before I ever hope to sell and downsize. | I can be creative - music, sewing & crocheting, & I can have company. I can reminisce guilt-free. I can plan for modernizing condo essentials & prepare to downsize. |
| Marsh | All the above and to put Walmart out of business.... | Just darn tired of living the "stuff" instead of living the life I desire... | Internal for me is that I have so many essential items from former family, self employment and deceased spouse Others could use these items (98% are new) the rest are in really good shape to re-cycle, up cycle or just pay forward so someone else can get the "treasures"... | The "Clutter Chatter" from my brain will shush up and I can rest or take a walk in the forest or settle in for a QUIET movie and meal night...actually remember what we eat and what movie we watched! |
| Lennee | To feel better. To avoid burdening my children when I pass away. | Can't think of anything. | I'm soon to be retired. I want my objets to reflect this next phase. | Feeling lighter and more up to date with who I am now. |
| Glenna | Right now I believe clutter and disorganization are completely interfering with my life in the following ways 1) for me too really experience satisfaction and peace in my life I think I need to be able to create art and I am having difficulty doing this because stuff is interfering with the ability to spread out and have space for lots of fun projects.. And because my creativity feels blocked with sludge, I continually feel bad every day. Thus, clutter and disorganization are preventing me from enjoying life. This may not make sense to others, but this seems to be my reality. I also am haunted with the regret that I could’ve spent more time with my daughter doing fun, creative activities in art and now she’s missed out on me providing her with these opportunities. 2) i have chronic pain and some low energy issues from an autoimmune disease (Addison’s), and piles of clutter make it hard to get things clean and maintain cleanliness. | I will be able to have FUN in my daily life. This will be shared by giving others (a small circle of people) the space and opportunity to have fun too, both by art time and social contact. | ||
| Anonymous user | Tired of looking at the same stuff. | A need to get rid of stuff and move onto happier thoughts and projects | An urge to find a home where stuff can be enjoyed or used. | More space! A feeling of completing a project! |
| Anonymous user | Ease of keeping house tidy. Clutter is stressful to have around me. | To be able to enjoy experiences with loved ones. | Less to maintain! | |
| Anonymous user | Work toward ageing in place. | New puppy! | Desire to keep us safe when puppy is constantly "into everything". | Less worry, more calm. |
| Kathy | Possible moving, reality of aging, children denial, | My own reality of seeing others in difficult living situations by not dealing with the reality of age inability to care for space etc. | Worked so hard to finally attain this space it will be hard to say good bye when I have finally got here. | Caretaker for any blding issues, more free time, budget a trip. ♡ Fear of space forgotten by family in this space. |
| Evelin | being organized helps coping with depression | my brother´s house is very minimalist and I can see it´s easy to maintain. a friend of mine really likes to decorate, having so many figurines and decorative items would stress me out, it feels cluttered. | I want my home to be easy to maintain | cleaning will be a breeze 😉 |
| Sandra | Getting everything sorted while I’m still mentally capable of doing so | My disability is been a huge motivation in more recent years as I need to get things finished while I am still mentally capable of doing so | Again it is my disability and my declining mental capacity to get things sorted before I can no longer make decisions about my stuff I have also added the idea of ‘memorialising’ some of my things (someone from this group mentioned it a while back) eg written descriptions/information of the provenance of the item/why it is special to me so that it will hopefully help others when they have to take over the decision making for me | I’m starting to enjoy doing my crafts even though organising my craft supplies and the craft room is not finished I’m am starting to make cards for people’s birthdays etc and it’s easier to find gifts and wrap them nicely as the supplies for that are nicely sorted and stored where my staff can easily find/get them for me |
| Anonymous user | I’m retiring soon and would like much less clutter. | A recent remodel of our house has made us rethink storage and how much we need. My hubby says we make our stuff fit the space, not make space for our stuff. A simple statement that makes a huge impact for us and how we purchase items, i.e. coffee, teas, creamers etc purchased from Sam’s. | An organized, decluttered space makes me feel calm. | Less stuff, what remains matters and supports our emotional well being. |
| Lala | I really need to organize this mess but I lack motivation and how the heck do I do this? | I can't have anybody over, ever, and I need to make some money off this stuff. My check isn't enough and costs keep going up, well over the amount I get. No one offers to help, and even turn down pay because it's not enough. | Eventually, I would like to sell my house and move, but not until I get it cleaned up and fixed up. I really want to but my limitations are physical and mental. | I can sell my house and move. I can be free to leave and go where I want to for the last chapter of my life. |
| Jeanne | A clutterfree lifestlyle saves me money and time. The time saved allows me be creative and enjoy my gardening.. The money saved speaks for itself! As a senior senior, I do not wish to burden others with my possessions when I am gone. I prefer a visually calm vista in my surroundings. | I am enjoying the trend of minimalism, since for many years I was thought of as just weird. I shunned the usual social expectations , to the dismay of others. | I enjoy gifting sharing with others items I no longer need or want. | I am in the maintenance phase. I have always been tidy and have organized other from an early age. |
| Roberta | My most compelling reason to declutter and organize is to leave my children without a lot of clutter to clear out when I pass. I can just see them looking and asking, "Why on earth did she keep that?" I will need to move at some point, and I don't want to move a bunch of unneeded clutter. My home will feel nicer and be easier to keep clean with less in it. I am embarrassed when people come over and see my clutter. | The need to keep surroundings safe for myself and others; the threat of wildfires is real where I live. Last year it destroyed several homes in our town, while all of us were evacuated. If there's less to burn it is easier to put the fires out. My home flooded when I was out of town about nineteen years ago from rain. Even with a large industrial wet vacuum, the water kept pouring in from early morning until some time past dark. I had many things stored in plastic totes which saved them, and the quick thinking of my adult children saved my furniture when they propped them up on case goods of canned food. I also have things to go through that were my late husband's and mother's; it's been a "peeling the onion" type of endeavor, being able to release items at different times. | I like to be organized; life goes so smoothly when things are where you need them, have a place of their own, and you can find them quickly. When I was a child I was called lazy and later in life my housekeeping skills were criticized, even though I was trying to keep up with the clutter of two adults and five small children by myself. Even now, if someone comes to my house I get a shrinking, embarrassed feeling and feel the need to apologize for a messy house. It is very helpful to donate unused items to family or thrift shops supporting battered women, the Habitat Restore, animal shelters, etc. Also, the passing of my husband, father and mother were difficult and I don't want to make an already hard time any harder for my children. | My mind will be at rest, not looking at excess. I will feel more free. It will be easy to manage the things I decide to keep. |
| Catherine | The past few years have been challenging and I feel a little bit stuck and overwhelmed. I think that decluttering would give me the space and energy to get out of my rut. I want to do some new things but need to get this clutter weight off of me. | Stuff I’ve inherited mostly. | Want to move forward, desire to understand what I do and don’t have, urge to make my home as lovely as it deserves to be. | My apt will be prettier and I will have more energy to do other things |
| Intignia | I need to declutter and organize my bedroom where my three Barbie houses are located. There is so much stuff piled in front of them that I can't get to them to "play" with them : ( | I am a clean, neat, tidy, and well-organized person. That is until a virus attacked my brain and immune system and left me bed-ridden most of the time. Now I have such little strength that it is like climbing a mountain to be able to accomplish the smallest of tasks a person needs to do to take care of herself, her home, and her spouse. To be able to shower and brush my teeth is a major accomplishment. By the time I have cleaned the kitchen (in small 5 or 10-minute increments) and worked on laundry I have used up my daily allotment of strength, and there is none left for working on my passion--decorating Barbie homes or stores. | I have great ideas of how to fix my home, my Barbies' homes, etc. Each night before bed I decide which tasks are highest priority for the next day. I make a list. I have great determination. The Spirit is strong, but the body is weak, so most days my productivity is really down and barely anything is done. I keep my list small: 3 to 5 tasks and break each task down to the smallest part. For example: 1. Empty the dishwasher then rest to gather strength. 2. Rinse dishes and load dishwasher, run if full, then rest to gather strength. 3. Clean stove top and counters, rest. 4. Hand wash items that won't fit in dishwasher. Dry and put away if possible. Rest. 5. Sweep. Rest. If I can stay on top of dishes and laundry and shower, then I am content for the most part, but still sad that I have all these nice Barbie houses, playsets, dolls, etc, and don't get to play with them. I rarely dust because there is too much stuff in the way. | I can play with my Barbies. Big, big smile. And I will be able to dust regularly. |
| Bri | I declutter and organize because it makes my regular cleaning routine easier and less stressful. | I don't get pressure from my spouse and other family members who live in my home (a total of 8 adults), but I do feel appreciation when my home is under control. I have been ill on and off and they know what needs to be done because normally the spaces are neat and tidy. If the dishes are piled up, the mud room looks like a bomb went off or the laundry is piled up someone will jump in to help. I feel like my family shows their appreciation for our (mostly) decluttered home when they pitch in to help when I am struggling. Before I started to downsize the jumble, they did not notice more mess piled on top, now they see the mess, know that it needs to be cleaned and pitch in without my having to ask, which feels like love to me. | I started decluttering about 10 years ago after I had recovered from a long illness. For years I was not able to clean and the stuff was PILED UP EVERYWHERE! Decluttering started a snowball of positive results. I felt calm and safe in my newly decluttered spaces which gave me time and energy to work harder on my health which gave me more energy to declutter which helped me to go even deeper with my new healthy habits...10 years later and I weigh 130 pounds less than before, my house is still a work in progress but under control and I have time, space and energy for new hobbies and adventures! | I still have spaces to conquer in my home but I am not waiting for everything to be perfect to experience the benefits of the spaces that I have beat into submission! I schedule time to work on the messes, follow through with my plan and then pack up my gear and go out for an adventure! |
| Barbara | I have realized that all the cr*p in my house is really dragging me down. I have too much stuff and have too much stuff that doesn't have a home. | I have been storing stuff for my mother since she moved from a house to small apartment and can't get her to agree to let it go and haven't been brave enough to just get rid of it myself. It's been 10 years and she hasn't needed it. | I have a lot of guilt that I haven't de- junked and organized already. But I also have a huge amount of inertia and getting started feels overwhelming. Sometimes I make myself do just one thing and can make myself do just one thing, but I haven't been able to push myself into really getting the project moving. | I think it will be a big weight off my shoulders. And a lot less frustration finding things if everything has its own place. I spend too much time churning stuff because things don't have a home. |
| Barbara | To make things easier to find and make it easier to clean. Improve the flow and feel of our home. I now have a totally blind dog and I need to make it easy for him to navigate. | The thought that any of my coworkers would ever see this mess! | I like the the idea of sharing my excess with those who need it My love for my pets | I could actually invite my friends over and not be mortified |
| Anonymous user | aging, home remodel, freedom to do more enjoyable things than declutter | pressure from spouse, "curate"/display my most significant items vs "archive" everything (from my step-son a professional film festival curator) | desire to entertain more frequently | more peaceful life |
| Brigitte | First and most of all, decluttering is a gift that I give to myself. I so much enjoy a lovely and caring environment. Also I discovered that the more I let go of, the richer I feel. And last but not least: the physical advantage is, that it’s much easier for my back if cleaning takes les time! | I lóve to share my successes on social media to inspire my virtual friends, and I enjoy the amazing feedback I sometimes receive 🙏😍🙏 | My little Granny was using alcohol to numb her feelings. Her surroundings were an absolute catastrophe. During childhood when I visited her, I remember trying to help. But that was not easy. I was extremely shocked when my husband and I (7 months pregnant) washed her before she went to a hospice. The smell of her home was a nightmare! I was ashamed and judgemental, thought it was disgusting. On the other side I felt extremely sorry for her. That was the moment that I decided to never ever let things come so far in my own life! At that time (46 years ago) I did know nothing about hoarders. Now I know she was a level 4-5 degree hoarder. Granny’s life was everything but fulfilled 😔 Thank God what remains, are my loving feelings for her, more than anything else! | I’m nearly there and do already have so many moments of gratitude every time I open my closet or enter our kitchen, bathroom and most of all my own bedroom… Yes - I made my days😍 |
| Anonymous user | A feeling of peace when I walk in my bedroom. Being able to park my car in the garage. Learning better habits about what to keep as far as paperwork. | Stuff that gathered when three family members moved in together. Items I never unpacked from the last move. Reducing keepsakes especially paper keepsakes. Feeling like I can't invite people over because I have to shut my bedroom door. | Lots of shame, feeling like a failure because I didn't recover those chairs, not knowing where to start so not starting. Feeling overwhelmed just seeing the bulk of the stuff in the garage | The feeling of Peace when I get home. Being able to do other projects like painting because I don't have to worry about clutter |
| Hila | Fear of medical problem such as vision loss. To decide what will be left after me. What will be thougt of me. Write an autobiography about me. I am responsible for leaving a clear order and organization after my death. No one should do this for me. | I am writing an autobiographical book about myself. When I organize more topic for writing come up. | Desire to write autobiographical book. And guilt about unfinished project. | When I'm in a messy house I spend more time organizing and arranging. When the house is tidy and organized I can be out of the house longer without thinking about the mess waiting for me at home. |
| Jacque | To make it easier to clean, enjoy my space, and not burden my son with it after I'm gone. | I feel the clock ticking. I'm already 68 and had a cancer scare this year so I need to get this accomplished. | Wanting to be able to have people over without feeling embarassed. | More efficiency and a healthier. |
| Ruth | Ease of cleaning and aesthetically pleasing and I didn't want to burden my kids also more freedom for other activities | totally self motivated | Donating good items that I no longer need makes sense to me | I have enjoyed the fruits of my labor for quite a while but it is a lifelong process |
| Elizabeth | (1) To free myself from the areas in our home that have been constantly "talking to me". (2) To move forward with creating a more inviting and modern appearance in our home. (3) To complete my declutter/organizing goals before my husband's retirement in 2024. | My goals and interest in organizing led me to take a certificate course in professional organizing. I'm working on my personal decluttering/organizing goals first and hope to help others. My husband's retirement goal of 2024 has inspired me to accomplish my goals in order to enjoy life after his retirement. | Desire/drive to have the time to work on genealogy, nurture friendships, create a more modern/coordinated look in our home, and to help others with their downsizing/declutter journey. Desire to silence the areas that have been "talking to me". | Freedom to enjoy my husband's retirement years and the activities he's been planning for such as travel. |
| Johanna | To achieve more mental calm and to give my every day life more structure. Less forgetting and losing things, less. decision fatigue etc… extremely important for my PTSD brain! | I moved from a 40sqf room to a much larger place and am trying to include all the things I had in storage. Also I recently started working from home, including video calls, so I need room for a desk and a large monitor. | The possibility of people coming into my home. Plumbers, friends, anyone. I feel extremely ashamed if my home is not perfectly organised and clean. Even then it’s emotionally draining. I also want to start sewing again, but my supplies are so unorganised and I don’t have the room because of all the clutter around. | I won’t feel as guilty anymore, it will be easier to clean, I won’t forget and lose so many things, I’ll have time and space for crafting and sewing. And I won’t have a hard attack every time someone comes into my home. |
| Sandra | end of life preparations and physical limitations | I want to have family heirlooms and photos distributed now, while I'm still able to. We plan to stay in this home until one of us is gone. If we downsize the house now, the remaining spouse can sell it easily when the time comes. We're doing a lot of maintenance and upgrades also, so that we can stay here no matter how our health is. | I want to be rid of the excess, have family heirlooms in another safe home, and then enjoy the rest of my life freely. | I'll be free to travel to see family without the house "hanging over me". |
| Anonymous user | I like my everyday life to be as easy and smooth as possible. Also I love to have visually calm interiors with breathing room in my spaces to enjoy life more. | Since I spend almost 24/7 in my home due to being moderately disabled this forces me to make space as comfortable as I can not only for my body's impairments but for keeping my mental health fine. | The desire to make myself and my husband happy with our appartment and garden. | I will have less stuff to clean and maintain and consequently will need less paid help and so have more time for my hobbies and to spend with loved ones, yay! |
| Lauren | I'm disabled, seriously chronically ill, and also have extreme allergies. So I know that if I had less stuff and had the apartment more organized, it wouldn't be quite so overwhelming trying to do quick, light daily cleanings. And I wouldn't feel as concerned about possibly hiring outside cleaning help if I knew I wouldn't be making their job super complicated. I really want to have a functional place where I can host gatherings with friends. | My husband and I have moved 8 times in 10 years, and it has almost always been just me packing and unpacking due to him having to work through the move. And it's always a huge rush thing where I ruin any health gains I've made by needing to push myself too hard to get things done in time. I really don't ever want it to be such a huge task ever again! | I'm blessed to have made some wonderful local friends at this location, and I want to get better at being hospitable. Like me, many of them are in their 30s. But unlike me, they have babies and toddlers and while I love kids, my apartment isn't kid-friendly. My husband is very considerate about my lack of ability to keep house well, especially the many parts that are hampered by ill health, but I know that he and I would both be pleased to finally have things looking not like an endless moving week. | Frankly, just having simplicity in cleaning would make me cry with joy. I have so little energy to begin with, and it's so frustrating that I never have enough to get our place looking even "decent." |
| Fin | Make the house easier to clean and keep clean with less stuff. | Would be nice to be prepared for visitors at all times or readily host something | Decrease anxiety | Would just bring me more peace |
| Heather | I wish to comfortably manage the stuff I decide to keep. Really, that's it. I downsized dramatically last year and am very happy with far fewer belongings. But what remains fit easily in my larger home and doesn't quite work right in smaller quarters so more needs to go. | None really. I have a few items from family I'd like to get rid of but they fit into one box so aren't a major problem. | I don't feel any guilt or shame over previous decisions to accumulate items. Those things suited my life at that point and no longer do so. I'm happy to pass items along to people who want or need them now. | Not very exciting but cleaning will take less time. That's a huge plus. |
| Lynn | Remove house full of unwanted clutter inherited from parents. Simplify my own belongings for easier home management. | I dislike the feeling of clutter and having to paw through things to find a specific item. My parent's clutter holds both good and bad memories for me, mostly bad, that I don't want to have in my life. | My parents were Great Depression babies and were trained to save everything because you or someone else might need it some day. I fight this while decluttering and solve the problem with 'time will tell' boxes in the garage. Anything that fights back and gives me a hard time about removing it from my house, goes into a box and dated. The box goes to donation center after 6 months of non use. | More space in the house for more houseplants! Empty bedrooms I can rent in the future. |
| Debra | I suspect I have adhd and too much visual stimulation is stressful when I am at home. Also, a lack of clutter makes my home easier to clean and keep clean. My flat is small so I need to keep clutter at bay. | Lifestyle—I host often (normally 2X week) and it’s more pleasant for me to have an uncluttered home to make it easier for me to host and a comfortable space for my guests. The home of my childhood has greatly influenced me, although it has nothing in common with my current place; it was large, old, and beautiful— and very uncluttered. I am always aiming for the same feeling, but within the constraints I have now. | Environmental concerns. I try to keep my environmental footprint as low as possible, meaning that I eschew bringing things in which I know won’t last, or are cheap tchotchkes. | Visual simplicity with coziness. A sumptuous minimalism (as much as that seems oxymoronic), where beautiful things don’t get crowded out by clutter around them. |
| Anonymous user | I’d like to say it was to be organised, efficient, and to have a pleasant and aesthetically pleasing home; but I suspect it also has a lot to do with fear of becoming a pack rat like some of my older family members… | Drive: inherited stuff, seeing the state of my mother in law’s place, etc. Support: having moved frequently in the past (including moving overseas) | I have always suspected that holding on to too much stuff was psychologically damaging, long before it became part of the popular consciousness; I wanted to avoid being the sort of person who is stuck in the past. | I will be able to fully live in the present. |
| Anonymous user | having less gear makes me feel lighter (or rather more gear is heavy), I want to have things sorted and packed up. I struggle with how much backstock I have - frugality vs lightness ( fabric wears out, I live in a place where winter can get down to 11F so warm bedding it needed). But I am decluttering some warm sweaters because they really are not going to wear out. | I don't have any outside influences regarding organizing because my stuff is only in my space, pantry/kitchen we have separate counters, shelves and cupboards and while I use more of the shelves I am frequently checking in with my friend if he needs more shelves. | Gandhi said "live simply so that others may simply live". And I do feel that stuff should go where it is needed. And working out what particular stuff works for me, and how much/many of a particular item works for me is a continual process. I feel frustrated by the volume of my bedding but it snows here. | it will be very easy to maintain. backstock will be packed up, current clothes/towels/bedding will be easy to access. |
| Leslee | I like nice and tidy with places for my things. I am highly stimulated by clutter and find it more restful to have a tidy room | Fear that the paramedics won't be able to take me out on a stretcher. Them being able to maneuver around my home is a big fear. As my hoarding friend was warned about this. | I am much calmer in a neat and tidy space. My feelings of self esteem are built up with the moral superiority I get from a tidy room. | I will no longer have to make monthly payments on a storage locker. The money could go to a traveling fund instead. |
| Julie | Having had two foot surgeries, means greater mobility as well as safety. | 90% of my stuff my grown children won't want. So by decluttering, I can send items to others who want and benefit from it now. | My mom is 90. I've helped her go through all her closets, kitchen, garage, etc. I want to make it easier for my kids and send items out while they can still be useful for others. | More time for artwork. No more being a caretaker for boxes of stuff. |
| Noreen | I feel happier when the clutter is under control | Inherited items from family and friends are most of my clutter | Easier to craft and enjoy fun time | |
| Rosie | I want to find things when I need them. This will make it easier to get things done. | Sometimes things get misplaced and it takes a long time to find them. | Being disorganized undermines my self-confidence. | We will see!! Hoping to have a more relaxing, beautiful home. |
| Celina | currently, it's mainly the moving, but generally I like to have only what I use/am going to use realistically and have not that many things which collect dust, to make cleaning easier. | the fact that I cohabit with my sister 😉 She can't live in a pigsty | as I'd mentioned - less to clean and tidy up before actual cleaning; not being overly visually stimulated | I'll stop being overly bothered by the sight of the mess 😉 Ill be able to focus on other things and be more relaxed. I hope... |
| Ginger | ▪️ We’re fairly organized. I’ve been on a mission to identify and get rid of excess. ▪️Personal Goals: We have a vision of having only those things we want and need. Less inventory to maintain and clean around. So much stuff came into the house over the years - with little going out. I’ve decluttered for years now. Still more to go.▪️Fear? PRE-Planning? We’re 65+ now. We built & have lived 40 years in a home that’s not senior friendly. (Stairs) We have no plans to move. But, in the event we have to move one day - I hope to have reduced our inventory. | ▪️Peer pressure! It’s all the rage! 😬 ▪️ I’ve always been organized. I haven’t always decluttered. The idea of getting rid of stuff hit a chord with me. We had lots more “still good” stuff than we’d ever need or use. It makes sense to get rid of it so we have less to manage. | We’re working toward a vision. A vision of having “enough”. Just enough. We are working toward simplifying our lives. Making it easier to find and use what we need. Easier to maintain and clean it. Bringing calmness with less clutter noise. | The most exciting way will be the calm and peace of having just enough. |
| Anonymous user | 1. Prep for a move and selling the house. 2. If I need major surgery, the house has to be free of obstacles, so I can move on crutches, wheelchair, walker | I am all alone in decluttering, except for the support from the clutter fairy website and that community. Thank you so much. | Fear that I will become too infirm to do the physical work decluttering. On the positive side, I like donating things as an act of charity. And that it will cost me less to move, if I downsize my possessions. | I will feel "lighter" and freer in all ways. Way less anxiety. |
| Lenette | #1 Inner calm. Clutter is over stimulating to me. #2 Simplicity allows more time to do the things I enjoy doing. #3 At 62 and a widow, I'm preparing for the inevitable downsizing that will happen by age 75. | Husbands clutter I inherited after he died: Besides in our home, he had two barns and two enclosed trailers all full. | Same answers as your first question | Moving back into town will be a cinch. And then I won't have to drive 18 miles to get to a store. |
| Lela | A home which is easier to clean and has plenty of space to stretch out and move around. | I can’t think of any | Dust, grime, and toppling piles of junk are not things I want to see around me. I want to live in a spacious, bright, welcoming, & fresh smelling home that can be straightened up in a few minutes when company is coming. I want a home that feels clean and relaxing. | I have nearly reached my goals, and it thrills me that my house is so much cleaner than it used to be and can stay that way so much more easily. The place always looks nice when company comes over, and there’s always room to exercise, cook, play with kids, or whatever we want to do that day. |
| cee | Know where things are and make easier for others not to hav to sift through to find necessary documents | Get rid of sentimental stuff inherited as well as collected not being used | Guilt feelings of things closing in not able to function | Family fun times quilt free |
| Jane | Making cleaning easier and preparing for the possibility moving to senior living (eventually). | Support from YouTube (like Gayle) | It helps lots to donate with the knowledge others might use what's being donated. | Less time cleaning and more time having fun. |
| Tammy | I want to be able to find things without tossing the whole house. | Tubs and tubs of photos inherited. All those perfect Pinterest photos make me feel pressured. | I have been able to let go of furniture on my local buy nothing group. I think letting others have things that I am not using is great. | Oh I might not panic when people come over! |
| Anonymous user | Don't want to leave a huge mess for our heirs. Want to be ready for visitors without having to hide things. (And things that get moved never seem to resurface and just increase the height of the piles.) Want to be able to clean without stuff being in the way. Don't want the constant conflict in my head of choosing between cleaning and decluttering. | My stuff has a negative impact on my spouse, and his frustration shows. But I have a hard time working with others around, which is a lot of the time since we are both retired. I always feel his disapproval over what I decide to prioritize. | I don't think I have supportive internal factors, except perhaps some motivation to decrease shame/guilt by decluttering and cleaning. I have a strong inner rebel - don't want to do what others tell me to (or suggest) even if it would benefit me. And a strong inner spoiled child - have a hard time accepting the need to do unpleasant things. | |
| C | To make life easier as we age. To not leave a burden to the next generation. To make decisions while we still can. Failing health adds urgency. | Knowing we cannot expect help from immediate family, we must push ourselves to do this on our own. I also want to turn present storage room to extra room for guests or self to sleep in. Wanted to do this for the past decade. | I love it when I can help someone out with some of my extras. I love it when it's easy to dispose ecologically too. I'd like to generate some money from some art I've inherited but can't get going, hesitate too much. | Space! Easy or easier to put away and find things. Easier to tidy up and clean. Pleasure knowing most of my extras are being used or are appreciated by others. |
| Millie | I am retired and do not want to leave a mess behind when I die. Also I have a number of much older friends whose lives have suddenly changed due to a unexpected health emergency and their physical crap has only added another layer of misery to their lives that they don't need. I don't want to be in that position. I want to be prepared as best as I can for whatever might occur whether it be it good or bad. | My age and worries about my future living arrangements drive my desire to lighten my load. | I will feel more comfortable in my home. | |
| Janice | Right now, just now,!!! I learned my daughter is visiting from California, I am in the Midwest. Coming in early July. Her childhood room needs a major declutter so she does not have to stay at a hotel, and I am up for it! I am gonna peel that onion and eat that elephant. No Physical limitations, but I do get clutter fatigue. I have "someday" stuff in that room. I acquired a lot (over 50) of Disney stamps, ( the kind you ink on the ink pad and press the design on paper) which are worth about $18 each , which I was going to sell when I retired, which I did retire 6 months ago. I decided I don't want to bother with ebay or marketplace so, some lucky crafter is going to get a nice price at the Goodwill. I am hoping Karma will smile on me. "someday" is no longer a real thing to me, it is only 'today". I don't have the time right now to learn the ins and outs of selling packing and shipping on e-bay, plus we no longer have a printer. My Plans are to work in that room on every rainy day, and work outside in my garden on the nice days here in Michigan, because if you plant too late, you won't get much yield.. No more tetra stacking of stuff, cuz realistically there will be some stuff but not stacks. I am excited to do this!!! | I worked in a section of clothing closet that I had decluttered. Days later, I wanted to get something off the rack, and I easily parted the hangers, found what I needed the first try, because it was where it belonged. I realized nothing was pressing against my thighs, and I was not stepping on any shoes or anything at all. It was like a movie, walk in, get what you want and get the rest of your day going. I felt light, no mind fatigue and I giggled out loud. I want that feeling all the time, that is my motivation. | I have a lot of shame now that I realize what I have. Selfish in a way, although for example, I have to lot of yarn , but it is to make for family and homeless, not myself. Still it is a lot of yarn, . It is organized in one room and not all over the house. If I don't seriously make a dent by the end of this year, it is donated. | I will feel free and proud. I will not cringe when a utility worker or repair person has to go in my home. |
| Christie | I love others clean homes and want my home to look just the same. I have been making lifestyle habits so my kids can also feel the reap the benifits | Visiting friends homes is eye opening. I am struggling with lot of visual clutter. I shopped a lot when my mom became sick and now trying to re organize and donate or throw things to bring back the balance | Reducing items so kids can enjoy a sense of peace. Feel a sense of shame that I am unable to invite people without prior notice. I am making better decisions and question everything I buy but struggling with applying those principles to already existing items since most clothes are brand new | I am sure everyone in the family will benefit from seeing less items in my home. Having a tidy home will give me more time to spend with kids |
| A.G. | It makes me feel calmer, happier, less anxious. It makes doing things in the house possible or work better. I feel better about having guests over. I'm really clumsy and have chronic illnesses so less to trip over is great. I just enjoy it too. Some of my spaces do multiple duty so I have to have one activity or use away to access the others. I think there's also a lot of fear of judgement about how the house looks passed down from my mom and her mom. | Mostly when guests will be over hahaha. And podcasts and groups like this and others. | I just *like* my house being nice. Too much clutter is overwhelming and anxiety producing as well. I find projects really helpful for my mental health as well. I always need to be working on something. And I enjoy the sort of puzzle solving aspect of figuring out a space and how to put it all together and make it work well. And I don't want it to be disgusting when people come over. | My house will function better with less work on my part - be easier to upkeep. |
| Anonymous user | Visual clutter hurts my brain. I also want to be organized so I know what I have so I don't overbuy/buy things we already have. | Watching Hoarders. Visiting my mother-in-law's 6-bedroom house and having to sleep at her daughter's house because hers is full of stuff and the 'air' inside gives us headaches. | I want to declutter because I want to clean less or have the cleaning chores be easier (dusting, vacuuming, laundry, washing dishes). Less 'stuff' to clean. I also like to know where things are and that they have a 'home' and are easy to find. | More time to 1) volunteer, 2) hang out with husband and kids, 3) exercise. |
| Judy | I have been on a decluttering journey for many years. Most recently we are planning a move in a few years when I retire. We want to down size and buy a smaller home where we live now and move closer to our kids with a second smaller home and no yard work at either to make moving back and forth easier. | I have always had a desire to share excess with others. Although after all the years of decluttering I think we are to a good place. | We will be ready to move! And the move will be seamless because of all the work we have already done! | |
| Dawn | To make life flow better/more peaceful, both for myself as well as my husband. Disorganization and clutter is extremely trying and bothersome. | Pressure from my spouse (when he gets up tight about it) and I hate seeing all of the extra stuff before me; it's a constant reminder that "I'm not there yet." | I want to be me and I want to be free. I want to have the things I want/need readily available to me when I need them. The desire to continue in personal interests is hampered by things not being organized...I don't have a true sense of where I am on the projects. | F R E E D O M! |
| Anonymous user | 1. The clutter is embarrassing. 2. Disorganized = Not being able to put my hands on something that I'm pretty sure I have. Sometimes, I have to buy another one of the "things", then will find the one I already had later. 3. With no spouse or children, if (when) 😏 I go, my two sisters are going to be stuck with disposal of things. I would rather it would not be a huge burden. 4. Sort of a re-wording of #1, but, a grown woman, who is not physically or mentally disabled, SHOULD have an ordered, welcoming, tidy home. At least, that's how I feel. | To some degree, there's resistance to getting rid of things my father or mother had. (Divorced from each other decades ago, both had lives with new partners, both are dead now). Both were clutter-y people too. I HAVE whittled down the inventory, but spent several years doing so in the case of my dad's stuff (he's been gone longer). I've got him down to one Bankers Box, though 🙂 And, of course, taught in childhood to not waste things, but everyone has that, I suppose. | I buy nice things, but I struggle to allow myself to use them. And, it IS fun to give things away. So, some of the nice things are with family members who will actually get use out of them. So, not all bad. On some level, I know that I am punishing myself - if I'm making good progress on a project, I'll find something to sidetrack myself. (I'm an idiot, I know) | I can invite my friends into my home without having to apologize for the chaos. I could feel like a grown-up. I could allow myself to do the crafty things (sewing, quilting) that I postpone because I should be organizing and cleaning up, plus, there really isn't a place to work on those things right now. |
| Anonymous user | Now that my husband and I are retired and no longer the sandwich generation of our family we want to do more than clean and shuffle belongings that we have accumulated for the just in case that hasn’t happened. | A lot of people I know are getting decluttered and they inspire me | Shame for hanging on to stuff that could be useful to someone else | Would be able to relax better, the house would be easier to clean, no panic when someone comes to visit |
| Diana | 1. I went through cleaning out my mom and dad's stuff and I don't want to leave that for my daughter when I'm gone. 2. I find it much easier to do everything when there isn't a lot of visual and physical clutter to wade through. 3. I find a tidier and less cluttered environment more relaxing. | 1. My husband doesn't mind when I declutter the rooms that are not his but he does not want me working in his office or "storage room". So I'm leaving those for after I finish the rest of the house. 2. I mentioned that I still have some stuff left from my parents. I've gotten much better about photographing and letting things go but still have some photographs and papers to go through. 3. I stopped doing my latest hobby, sewing and making quilts, a bit over a year ago when we got a very active puppy. I'm not sure whether I will ever go back to it. I did get rid of some stuff but I still have a lot. Space isn't the issue. I have a giant room for whatever crafting I want to do. I feel uneasy about the stuff and wonder if I will start a new craft if I don't have so much stuff calling to me from the previous hobby. | Ha! I mentioned the urge to start a new hobby in my previous answer. Not sure I have any feelings of guilt or shame. I do like sharing my surplus with people who need it and have donated as much as possible of what I have gotten rid of. | I'm hoping not have the visual and physical clutter will free my mind to think of new ways to spend my time. Right now my time is spent cooking and baking (okay), pulling weeds in the garden (yuck), and keeping our 5 acre property going. A bit of time goes to decluttering. The rest of the time goes to hanging with my husband, doing projects, listening to music, or watching TV. It's a good life but I feel like it's unsatisfying in some ways. |
| Ellen in W Michigan | Top 4 reasons: 1. I hate cleaning and want things simpler. 2. Hoping to move within the year and don't want to move excess stuff. 3. I'm getting older and looking at major surgery soon so want things easy. 4. I want to make it easy for my kids when I need help or die. Bonus reason: My areas that are done are so calm and pleasant. | I think I just got sick of the mess and cleaning. Then I discovered The Clutter Fairy, and in 2020, a few other decluttering people. I hear Gayle and Dana K White whenever I am procrastinating. I am so close to feeling "there", but stuck on a few difficult projects. I want my older years to be easier to manage. | I want to make it easy for myself and easy for my kids after I'm gone. They didn't need 6 huge bins of random photos. I'm trying to get it down to 3-4 albums. | I am already starting to reap the benefits of keeping my house neat and clean(ish) because there is so much less to do. Now I have more time for helping or spending time with others. |
| Linda | Getting older, less energy, need to downsize, it bothers me to look at clutter, want more time to do fun things other than shuffle or re-organize things I don't nee. | Getting older, need to take care of things while I can. | I enjoy a clean and de cluttered space. | Will need less space to house things. Will be happy it is finally completed, at least for this phase of life. |
| Kathy | I feel more peace in my home with less clutter. It is easier to clean and maintain. | I’ve had a desire to declutter for a few years now (it’s a slow process) and listening to you both has encouraged me in that. But we plan on moving within the year which has really spurred me on. | My cluttered items and rooms silently nag at me and make me unsettled. They are a reminder that things are not finished, things are not put away, things are here that I need to make decisions about. | I will have more time and more freedom. I won’t have as much to manage and take care of. I am hopeful that this will allow me more time for what I enjoy and more time for thinking about other things besides my stuff. |
| Evelina | Streamline activities in my apartment. Be efficient with my time (I don't want to waste time looking for things). Be ready to invite people over. Be ready to show my background in Zoom meetings! Put aside the past and start fresh. Get ready for the inevitable move that will come sooner or later (I am a renter): I definitely want to make the move as light as possible and I am aware that to do so I need to go heavy on the decluttering. | People coming over. Zoom meetings. Having a cleaner come once a month to deep clean the apartment is a great motivator because I need to prepare the space for her to be able to be effective with cleaning. | The need to leave my past behind. The need to make my current life as rich as possible (by being able to use my space in creative ways) The need to reduce everyday stress related to clutter. The need to live in a beautiful and welcoming space. | I will be always ready to tackle a new project |
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | What are your most compelling reasons to reduce clutter and/or to get organized? | What external factors drive or support your organizing efforts? | What internal factors drive or support your organizing efforts? | What is the most exciting way in which your life will be different when you achieve your organizing goal(s)? |
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