Peter Walsh answers questions for Unclutterer.com

Thanks to my self-imposed media tunnel vision (and the bulging TiVo that enables it), I’ve apparently managed to miss a show on TLC called Clean Sweep that sounds like it’s potentially up my alley. I guess the idea is that they parachute in to crazy-messy houses and help the harried occupants affect a makeover.

The wonderful Unclutterer.com recently interviewed the show’s host, Peter Walsh, and he had a couple interesting things to say about origins of clutter that get to the root cause:

Clutter comes in many forms and the reasons why people hold onto it is similarly complex. There are two main types of clutter: Memory Clutter – which reminds one of an important person, or achievement or event from the past – and I-Might-Need-It-One-Day Clutter – this is the stuff held onto in preparation for all possible futures that one might encounter. Keeping things from the past or sensible planning for the future are great things – it’s when the objects take over that there’s a problem. With many of the people I encounter, their primary relationship is with their stuff. Instead of owning their stuff, their stuff owns them. This clearly is not only unhealthy but also a real stumbling block to happiness and a fulfilling life.

Here’s Walsh’s new book: It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff. Already ordered our household a copy.

I’m deeply afflicted with both these clutter types, and I think one intense flavor of Clutter Type Number Two is people like me who hoard stuff out of a fear of future privation. When I was coming up, we used to talk about being a “string saver” — someone who would hang onto ridiculous pieces of crap in the vague hope that it would eventually save the day (or even just save the family $0.02). It’s a hard habit to break, for sure.

Regardless of the cause, it sounds like a big part of his work must be in acting as kind of informal on-site psychologist, talking people off the ledge about the stuff they can (and need to) let go of.

Interesting. I’ll find out for myself when I add it to the bulging Tivo. (Oh, irony, you are a douchebag.)

via: pjdoland’s bookmarks on del.icio.us