Getting A Piece Of My Sanity Back: One Room At A Time

Clutter…

Overstimulates our system (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important.

Draws our attention away from what our focus should be on.

Makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.

Constantly reminds our brains that we still have a huge to-do list.

Causes anxiety because the idea of sorting piles is overwhelming

Creates feelings of guilt and embarrassment, particularly when someone drops by unexpectedly.

Frustrates us by making it hard to find anything we need- keys, bills, checkbook, etc.

Psychologytoday.com

I remember when I returned to work shortly after my son was born in 2015. Time started to fly by even faster and responsibilities started to pile up by the minute. I had a five year old and an eight year old who kept me on my toes. After pulling all nighters with a nursing baby and well, everything, going back to work full-time literally took every ounce of energy I had left.

Already a heavy anxiety sufferer now combined with lack of sleep…

… learning new material constantly at work…

…trying to wife and be an attentive mother…

…I was burning out fast.

I remember the days I would walk in the door after work and picking up kids; my “comfort zone” of a house made me want to cry. The clean and dirty clothes piled up, dishes from the night before, toys…well…EVERYWHERE, the messes were shown on display in every room.

My day at work could have been amazing (well as much as it could!), the kids could have had a wonderful day at school, the baby could have slept peacefully- yet I walk in and the overwhelming sense of failure in the form of a cluttered, messy house would rob my joy. I seemed to hold onto clothes for myself and the kids for way too long. The craft bins I was never going to dive into. The bathroom had 100 products– I thought I needed them all!

Now, we weren’t quite hoarders; but five people in a small space of 1100 sq feet (and one bathroom folks) just wasn’t cutting it. My anxiety took the form of major sensory overload. I had a hell of a time organizing anything more than cups in the dishwasher. There was clutter always in view. It all blended in just like photos on the wall. It had been there so long.

Yes, my husband was around; but again three kids ya just never have enough hands to keep up. So, my solution often was to leave. Yup, three kids in tow I would go anywhere just to get away and relax in someone else’s space. Usually a long scenic drive to the Dunkin Donuts across town and then to my moms to catch a break.

But alas, my not-so-humble abode would be just as I had left it.

The good news is, our family had grown so our space had to grow too. Our new home is bigger than our previous, but what really has changed my life to maintain the madness a bit…

…drumroll…

…minimalism.

It is exactly what it sounds like! Minimal stuff, minimal thought, minimal stress.

There is a reason I don’t care for the Cheesecake Factory folks, there are TOO many choices! That menu is ridiculous. I am the kind of person that needs two choices for everything.