These coping mechanisms may seem to work in your favor, but what you are actually doing is training your mind to see and hear less and less. Is it any wonder so many people need glasses and hearing aids? And, guess what? Blocking out your surroundings on a daily basis requires a tremendous amount of physical, mental, and emotional energy. Here are some of the ways that clutter and disorganization can affect your quality of life:

Having Clutter Can Make You Feel Tired and Lethargic: If you are living with clutter, chances are you do not have the energy needed to tackle it. That is because stagnant energy accumulates around clutter, causing fatigue and lethargy. Just looking at the clutter probably makes you feel tired and overwhelmed. Here is the good news…getting rid of the clutter will release pent up energy and revitalize your mind and body.

Having Clutter Can Keep You in the Past: When all of your available space is filled with memorabilia or “I might need it someday” clutter, there is no room for anything new to come into your life. Your thoughts tend to dwell in the past, and you feel bogged down with old issues and problems. Clearing your clutter allows you to breathe new life into your environment, clear away the cobwebs in your mind and begin to move forward. In order to create a better tomorrow, you must first release yesterday.

Having Clutter Can Affect Your Body Weight: Peter Walsh’s recently published book called, Does this clutter make my butt look fat? addresses the link between clutter and obesity. Body fat and clutter are both forms of self-protection. Layers of fat or clutter can become your safeguard against the shocks of life and serve to cushion you from the emotional issues you feel incapable of handling. Both provide a false sense of control. Clutter may also prevent you from preparing nutritional meals at home, making take-out, delivery, or restaurant dining habitual.

Having Clutter Can Confuse You: It is impossible to maintain clarity in your life when you are surrounded by clutter. Decision-making is more difficult because you cannot think clearly. When clutter is removed, so are the mental obstacles. Important life decisions become easier. Creating space in your environment automatically gives you the space in your mind to discover and manifest the life you really want.

Having Clutter Can Isolate You and Make You Feel Ashamed: Perhaps your home is so cluttered and messy that you are ashamed to invite people over and panic if someone shows up unannounced. Living like this is stressful and lonely. Why not decide to clear out the junk, feel good about yourself and your home, and regenerate your social life with confidence?