A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves

There was a wonderful article in the New York Times yesterday titled A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves by Tara Parker-Pope. I definitely encourage everyone to read the full article. The main question was: Is Clutter Standing in the Way of your Health? This is the perfect question for starting off the new year where most people's resolutions are about getting healthier.

Below is the synopsis of the article and a link to the main blog page where hundreds of people have left their comments and thoughts.

Being disorganized is frustrating. But it can also stand in the way of better health. That’s the focus of my Well Column in Tuesday’s Science Times, which explains that many efforts to declutter focus on organizing the living space. But the real problem often isn’t the house, but the person. Sometimes disorganization is a symptom of a health problem, like attention deficit disorder, depression or a mental health issue called hoarding. And sometimes, the clutterer just needs to learn how to sort and prioritize and let things go. Most experts agree that getting organized and cleaning up is good for your health.
“People don’t eat well because their kitchen isn’t functional, and they don’t sleep well because their beds are piled with stuff,'’ noted Lynne Johnson, a professional organizer from Quincy, Mass., who is president of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. “I don’t see chronic disorganization ever becoming a medical diagnosis, but it is a contributing factor to noncompliance to taking meds and keeping appointments and being able to do exercise and eat well and all those things that so contribute to having a healthy life.'’ Is clutter standing in the way of your health? Have you found a way to overcome chronic disorganization?