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Uncluttering and trade-offs
I tend to view the world through the eyes of an economist. When I make a decision — small or large — I typically do a cost-benefit analysis first. I know that the world isn’t dichotomous, and that there are unlimited shades of gray, but I still tend to weigh all my decisions as trade-offs. I have to give up X (or a part of X) to get Y.
To buy a car, I have to save money each month for a few years until I have enough in a bank account to buy a car that best suits my needs. Each month when I put money into savings, I’m choosing not to spend that money on something else. I’ve decided that Y (a car) is more valuable to me in the future than X (whatever else I could have spent the money on) is now, and I eagerly make the trade-off.
When uncluttering, these trade-offs are sometimes less obvious, but they’re still trade-offs. If I want Y (a clutter-free life focused on what matters most to me) I have to give up X (clutter). Except, it can be difficult to see how an old t-shirt or dusty sports equipment is keeping me from achieving a remarkable life. It’s not until the clutter is gone that the benefits of removing it are so obvious.
In my line of work, I hear a lot of reasons about why someone can’t live clutter free. These are really statements about trade-offs. When someone says, “I can’t unclutter because …” whatever comes after the “because” is what matters more to the person than uncluttering. “I can’t unclutter because I have to cart my kids back and forth to piano lessons, soccer practices, and swim team,” is a statement that the person values her children participating in extra curricular activities more than getting rid of clutter at home. In my opinion, this might be a decent trade-off. Having a clutter-free house might not be a priority for the person. What is important, though, is being honest with yourself about your priorities. If a clutter-free home is what you want (Y), then know you will have to give up clutter (X) to get it and you’ll have to spend your time uncluttering (Y) instead of relaxing (X) to make it happen.
Compare the benefits of an uncluttered life to the life you’re currently living and decide which you value more. Is an uncluttered life your Y? Are you willing to give up X to get Y? Only you can make this decision.
29 comments posted
Posted by Dorothy - 07/22/2010
Erin, respectfully, I think you have the wrong end of the stick on this one.
Living an uncluttered life and having one’s children participate in extra-curricular activities are not mutually exclusive. You can do both and, in fact, having an uncluttered home would most likely (after the initial efforts) give one MORE time to participate in the extra-curricular activities.
People don’t unclutter because their clutter is important to them; they get something out of it — some way, some how, living in clutter is better for them today than living in an uncluttered home. Period.
It’s like someone who lives with an abusive spouse. Today, they get more from the abuse than they’d get from giving the spouse the heave-ho.
Posted by sara - 07/22/2010
Nicely put. I hear that a lot when I tell people about my coupon system – that’s great, I couldn’t do that because… And I always think – well if the end goal (for us it was saving money on groceries to save for a house) is important enough, I don’t mind spending a little more time and effort on the groceries if it will help us get to the house quicker! If the most important thing is having free time or whatever, then, great, don’t spend the time clipping and organizing. It comes down to what’s the more valuable thing.
Thats a really helpful way to help me hear those comments. thanks!
Posted by leansimulations - 07/22/2010
Agree with Dorothy above. As long as you improve your organization system, then uncluttering will free up time for what you’d rather be doing.
Posted by Erin Doland - 07/22/2010
@Dorothy and @leansimulations — You are missing my point. YOU know the benefits of being uncluttered lead to more time to do those things you mentioned. However, this is not the case for ALL people. Your assumption that other people have come to this same conclusion is inaccurate. Not all people realize that if they get rid of the clutter they will have more time for these things.
Posted by Erin Doland - 07/22/2010
This is a huge pet peeve of mine … people thinking that simple living is the “better” or “right” way to live. Being uncluttered is a CHOICE. You can’t force it on anyone, you shouldn’t force it on anyone, and — most importantly — it’s not a better way of life. Simple living, if it’s what you have chosen to do, is the better choice FOR YOU. Being messy might actually be the better choice for someone else.
Posted by KateNonymous - 07/22/2010
@Dorothy, you’re right, but I’m not at all happy with the comparison of living in clutter and being abused. Clutter is an inconvenience; abuse is violent (emotionally even if not physically) and damaging.
@Erin, I really like this post. I’m still living in clutter, and want to change that. But I also recognize that having an uncluttered house has never been a priority for me. I suspect that this is, to a great extent, because I grew up in a cluttered house, and my mother had (and provided us with) an amazing life. I think the first step has to be making it a priority, and that’s what I’m working on now.
Posted by Mletta - 07/22/2010
Erin writes:
“Being messy might actually be the better choice for someone else.”
Thank you for writing this, Erin. I’m into uncluttering although our house is far from the “simple” life we would like at the moment.
However, over the years, I have met and worked with many “messy” (for lack of better word) people. The mess never got in the way of them living their lives, and well. And it never interfered with the quality of their work. It seems like it should, but it didn’t. I learned that my way is not their way and that it is OK. (Would I want them for roommates? Noooooo.)
They were more open, more flexible, more free spirited and quite frankly, more fun, than the rest of us who were constantly worried about keeping our lives, simple, perfect and uncluttered. We were the ones who were constantly working, obsessively at times, to keep “life” under control as it were. They on the other hand, went with the flow. Obviously, this is not the case with all people who are messy, unorganized and cluttered.
It IS about choices and what works for you. The hard part is if you are living (or working) with someone who holds opposing views. Pair one determined Unclutterer with one person who loves collections for example, and trouble ensues.
I once worked in an office where the owner literally reviewed everyone’s office and desks and, without asking, removed, moved or tossed items. her office gave no dimension to the word “bare” as well as “uncluttered.” She was a miserable person to work for and a control freak in everything. I’ll take the messy non-controlling person any day.
FYI: I hate to admit that I have been, in the past, extremely judgmental about other people’s messes. I’m trying to make up for that now by being accepting and nonjudgmental. But again, it’s easier to do since I don’t have to share space with a messy person!
Posted by chacha1 - 07/22/2010
“Not all people realize that if they get rid of the clutter they will have more time… .”
Absolutely right, Erin – and what’s more, there are plenty of people out there who would vehemently deny that their clutter contributes to their inability to achieve what they say they want to achieve.
They may *say* they want x, y, or z but if it’s pointed out that they can’t have that as long as they are holding onto a, b, or c they just don’t get it. It’s like people who want to lose weight without reducing calories.
Some people love their clutter so much they truly can’t see past it. Trent over at The Simple Dollar had a post recently on self-deception that’s pertinent.
Ultimately of course how people choose to live is entirely up to them. I for one just get a leetle bit tired of those who endlessly complain that they “can’t” do this or that while simultaneously rejecting all suggestions for how, perhaps, they CAN.
Posted by Sylvia - 07/22/2010
I really like this post and the way you explained the x/y reasoning. I have “clutter issues” but your post just motivated me. Thank you.
Posted by Jen - 07/22/2010
I agree with Erin on this one. Sometimes organizing something uses up more of your time than the time you lose from looking through it because it’s not organized. In that case, why would you organize it? Or maybe, there’s another intangible benefit to organizing it that would outweigh the loss of time. I have a few spots of clutter in my home that just aren’t worth organizing for the exact reasons Erin stated.
Also, I find the first poster’s comparison of clutter with domestic abuse to be bizarre. It’s inaccurate and somewhat disturbing comparison.
Posted by Vaughn - 07/22/2010
I am with Erin on this one. One of the major reasons that I like this website and the book is that it is presented as a choice AND it recognizes that not all people will make this choice, and that is OKAY.
I am a split personality when it comes to clutter. At work I am Ms. organization. At home is another story. There are many reasons for this including the fact that there isn’t a lot of emotional attachment to things at work. At home I made the choice that I would rather spend more time with my kids, do x, y, and z than be clutter free. I am working on it but I don’t let it get in the way of life. One of my favorite blog photos this year (sorry can’t remember which one) was a tiny little sign posted in the grass that said “screw the laundry, spring is here.”
Achieving a remarkable life is different for everybody and not everyone agrees that clutter is the enemy to this pursuit.
Posted by leonie - 07/22/2010
The better term (speaking as an economist) would be “opportunity costs”.
good post. good points. Some may not want to quantify their choices in monetary terms and certainly not all choices can be quantified such, but there is always a “trade off” to the choices we make. An opportunity cost is the next highest valued alternative when making one decision.
A cluttered life ie having a lot of things in your life that serves little useful purpose can be costly in terms of options, opportunities and choices that are lost.
Posted by Alana in Canada - 07/22/2010
I have read your book, Erin and I’ve been visiting this website sporadically. Perhaps I’m dense, but I don’t quite “get” how uncluttering my life of things–and living with fewer of them leads (necessarily) to a “remarkable” life. I would love to have that spelled out. As several commenters have pointed out, they have known messy people who had full vibrant lives. So, I don’t think there is a necessary connection at all. Alternately, it is entirely possible to have a life with hardly any stuff in it and that life be miserable and small. So, it isn’t the stuff and at a certain point I think “stuff” is irrelevant. Things like your belifs and the quality of your relationships (or lack thereof) determine whether your life is “remarkable” or not.
Anyway, great post and thought provoking discussion. But it is a puzzle to me why so many on the “Less is more” bandwagon tout out this belief that somehow having stuff “gets in the way” of a “remarkable life.”
Posted by Erin Doland - 07/22/2010
@Alana — I’ll be the first to admit that “remarkable life” is a horribly vague term. Unfortunately, anything more specific and we start defining it … which defeats the purpose. I don’t know what will make everyone happy or what will make someone’s else’s life remarkable.
For many people, when they clear the clutter and focus on what matters most to them, their life becomes more remarkable. They experience more happiness, less stress, more peace with their decisions. The thing is, though, that what matters most to one person isn’t what matters most to someone else.
For the majority, spending stress-free time with family and friends is important. For some it’s dedicating their lives to their spirituality or charitable pursuits. For others, it’s the view from the top of a mountain.
On the other hand, there are some people out there who delight in conflict. There are others who find happiness in material things. And then there are others who get joy from making other people feel bad. Their definitions of a remarkable life have nothing to do with simple living.
Simple living isn’t a goal, it’s just path to a remarkable life. How you define a remarkable life is up to you, and only you know if you need to clear the “stuff” to achieve it.
For me, the more stress I have in my life, the less I’m able to focus on what matters to me. When I’m falling asleep at night, if my life is cluttered, I’m thinking about all the things I have to do and thousands of things that don’t matter to me. However, if my life is free of clutter, when I’m falling asleep at night, my mind is focused on the people and things that truly matter in my life. What thoughts run through your head as your falling asleep at night?
Posted by Tiffany - 07/22/2010
@Alana I think another big part of how “uncluttering” leads to increased remarkableness is the remembering that “clutter” is not limited to physical things. A clean house does not equal a remarkable life. The writers of this site talk a lot about physical clutter, because it’s easier to quantify and identify solutions to, and because one’s physical environment does influence one’s attitude, but clutter can be over-commitment to volunteer activities, or too many projects at work, or difficult relationships, or whatever.
So, for example, sometimes I read an article here about someone whose possessions fit in a backpack and spends all their time traveling. And I think, “but I don’t WANT to give up X, Y, and Z which are larger than a backpack.”
And the truth is, I don’t HAVE to. I LIKE having a house. I LIKE having space to invite 20 of my friends and a kitchen to cook them dinner in and a backyard for the grill. For ME, that’s a remarkable life, and a certain baseline number of possessions are required to maintain it, as is a certain baseline salary, and a certain level of time commitment, etc. And beyond the baseline, there are plenty of possessions it makes more sense for me to own than borrow or rent, and certain possessions I just like having, for whatever reason that is completely up to me. The point is that I have chosen/am choosing what a remarkable life means for me, and am working to evaluate my ongoing choices against that goal. The goal isn’t less for the sake of less, it’s the affirmative choice to own and continue owning, or do and continue doing, for reasons of my own choosing. As opposed to “I keep this because I’ve always had it,” or “I keep this because it’s not broken, even though I never use it.”
The end result of that ongoing evaluation, for many people, is clearing out a bunch of physical stuff that they choose not to need and no longer want to have to dust. And in some cases, that removal of some possessions allows the acquisition of yet MORE possessions, but this time, with a purpose and a goal.
Posted by Amanda - 07/22/2010
@Alana – I think that the main reason many people associate having less ‘stuff’ with having a remarkable life is becuase there are so many people whose ‘stuff’ keeps them from having the relationships they want.
For example, my mother-in-law, who can’t ever have anyone over or have the parties she wants to because of all the clutter and mess in her house. She is too embarassed to have people over but too overwhelmed by the ‘stuff’ to deal with the clutter.
That seems to be what the situation was at one time for many who now tout the ‘less is more’ theory to life.
@Erin – I totally agree about the clutter entering your mind while you try to fall asleep. It can keep me up at night when it is out of control.
Posted by L. - 07/22/2010
@Erin, I mostly agree, but what I still don’t like is when unclutterers say “It’s your choice and clutter doesn’t necessarily mean your life is less remarkable or poorer” and then follow it up with a series of statements like “Some people love their clutter so much they truly can’t see past it” or “there are some people out there who delight in conflict” or “there are others who get joy from making other people feel bad” or even “Their definitions of a remarkable life have nothing to do with simple living.” This type of statement (as opposed to the less biased “some people get happiness from material things”) implies that people whose material possessions aren’t as simplified can’t have lives that are simple or happy emotionally, or that if people are attached to things (or even have a truly cluttered house that they are really happy within) they must be fundamentally misguided: that, essentially, although you’re *saying* being cluttered is OK, really if you saw the uncluttered light you would know that your lifestyle is wrong, wrong, wrong.
I don’t think you perceive your statements that way, and honestly–since uncluttering is so important to your life that your career and website revolve around it–it would be superhuman of you to not allow some bias to filter through. But–I’m just sayin’.
As far as the basic premise of this post goes, I’m divided. We have two young children and I work part-time. Money is tight and that makes some uncluttering decisions more difficult or complicated. I guess, according to this post, I am choosing sound finances and my children over uncluttering. It doesn’t mean I always want to, but the clutter will wait; the other stuff won’t. That said, my emotions have gotten in the way of disposing of some things, and those cases are where I find the central idea of this post (opportunity cost) most useful.
Posted by Erin Doland - 07/22/2010
@L — The only judgments I have about how others live their lives are when it: 1. Infringes on the health, welfare, and rights of someone else (steal my car, violate my personal property rights, and I’ll probably have a few choice words to describe you), and 2. When someone else is intolerant (the quote “I’m only intolerant of intolerance” directly applies here). So, people who delight in conflict tend to violate standards #1 and #2, and therefore I do see this as “fundamentally misguided.” I also think licensed medical professionals like psychiatrists and psychologists see delighting in conflict as “fundamentally misguided.” I’m not really going out on a limb with that one …
I do not hold the same opinions of people who find joy in material objects because I would be speaking ill of myself. I have a handful of physical objects that I consider “prize possessions.” I love my coffee pot, my laptop, indoor plumbing, etc. I imagine I would be sad if I lost them, but I hope I would be able to move past that sense of loss
Every human alive has biases, opinions, senses of what is right and wrong for their lives. I just tend to hold off on passing judgment over someone else until it violates one of my two standards listed above. I don’t have the time and energy to worry about how other people have chosen to live their lives. I tend to save my outrage for the BIG things, like human trafficking, slavery, bigotry, racism. If someone makes a racist comment to my son and me, you sure as heck bet I respond with great wrath. But, if someone chooses to worship at the altar of their boat … whatever. Life is too short for me to lose sleep over that one.
Posted by Alana in Canada - 07/23/2010
@Erin. Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your engaging in the discussion with me: discussing things is one of my chief joys in life!
I want to continue with looking at this statement: “For many people, when they clear the clutter and focus on what matters most to them their life becomes more remarkable.” Absolutely no argument, there! But, in my opinion, after a certain point of uncluttering, I do believe it is the focus, rather than whether they have a lot of “stuff” or a little. I am going to extrapolate and probably over-simplify, but it would seem to be that one’s best chance for a “remarkable life” (however it is defined) is one that doesn’t have stuff in it which detracts from ones focus. Is that fair?
Thus, perhaps the relationship between “stuff” and the “good life” is in balance when the stuff you have 1) doesn’t distract you from your focus and 2) actually enhances and enlarges it. (Now, that’s an exciting idea!) In my experience, though, after a certain point, things, tangible objects are no longer at issue. It’s time–and what we do with it–that, for me, is the source of focus busting “clutter.” Whether I have only enough books to fill a small bookshelf or 12 Billy Bookshelves isn’t the issue.
As for what I think about when I fall asleep? I’ve been thinking all day about that–and honestly? Nothing. I read 15 minutes before bed, sometimes I write in a journal–and I’m always asleep within 15 minutes of when my head hits the pillow.
Posted by Barbara Tako - 07/23/2010
Maybe it is about balance as Alana mentions above. If the focus becomes perfectionistic decluttering that can pull someone away from their life priorities just as much as being distracted by their clutter.
Posted by Nicole - 07/23/2010
Reading your blog – and your book – has taught me that I have used clutter as an excuse for living a bigger life.
Posted by Erin Doland - 07/23/2010
@Barbara and @Alana — I agree 100% that uncluttering for the sake of uncluttering is clutter. I’ve written about this dozens of times on the site. The point of uncluttering is to remove the distractions that get in the way of a remarkable life. If you spend all your time uncluttering, you never focus on what matters most to you. Like I said earlier, uncluttering is simply a path to a remarkable life — uncluttering is not the goal.
Posted by Vanessa H. - 07/23/2010
I really like this post! It resonated with me immediately, and I have already started utilizing this way of reasoning. This morning I was sitting on the couch watching the news after eating breakfast, and I thought, “I could sit here for another 5-10 minutes easily,” and then I thought, “What is the trade-off here? Would I rather be rushed to be on-time to work, or sit here for a few more minutes?” The trade-off wasn’t worth it. I got up immediately, turned off the TV, and got ready for work. I was early to work, a.k.a. I started my day without stress. Thanks, Erin!
Posted by Pete - 07/23/2010
I like Erin’s general thought. She treats a sensitive subject with an equal measure of tact and candor. With regard to her comments about trade-offs, I think she is spot-on. As the adage goes, “All things in moderation.”
My only contribution would be to observe that the goal shouldn’t be about having less stuff–especially if the stuff that you have is purposeful. Instead, the goal should be about having what you need when and where you need it, organized in such a manner that you can find it easily when the need arises–regardless of what “organized” looks like to you personally.
Posted by Sky - 07/24/2010
@Erin said “For many people, when they clear the clutter and focus on what matters most to them, their life becomes more remarkable.”
I think that best sums it up. One person’s clutter is another’s treasure. But each person can identify what clutter means to them, then choose to stop investing energy in it. Ironically, for some people, the process of decluttering might be clutter, so they are actually better off living a cluttered, remarkable life.
I like the process of physical decluttering as a metaphor for something larger. At times when life seems to be in a spin, I try exploring this question: “Right now, what is most important to me?” Hopefully, a half-dozen clear answers come to mind and the rest looks more like clutter.
Posted by WilliamB - 07/26/2010
Great post. I love seeing people talk explicitly about trade-offs and opportunity cost.
I think L’s problem with being judgemental is that the word “clutter” contains a judgement. “Clutter” has negative connotations, indicates the items get in the way, are unnecessary, are burdensome, etc. There are many other words that might apply, such as stuff, items, or collection. L didn’t have a problem when Erin wrote about “material possessons.”
My goal isn’t to have *less* stuff, it’s to have the *right* stuff. Yesterday is a good example of what that means for me.
- I bought a new lamp to provide strong task lighting at my desk. (The old, semi-broken lamp will be Freecycled.)
- After much consideration I bought two quarter-sheet pans and a grided cooling rack that fits inside. I will not be getting rid of my jelly roll pan (a pan similar to a quarter-sheet pan) unless I determine the new pans will replace the functionality of the jelly roll pan.
- I determined I should have two pair nice weekend jeans, and two pair cruddy work jeans. I put all other pairs in the Goodwill pile. (My Goodwill accepts cruddy clothes, not all do.)
For those who say that being organized takes just as much time as being disorganized I say: quite possibly. I consider it time well spent anyway because then *I* choose when that time is taken – organization as time-shifting. Frex: if I’m organized about preparing for work, I use evening time to get ready. My time in the evening is relatively cheap – I don’t have to be anywhere, I’m probably listening to something I enjoy, I haven’t overslept or are hungry. If I’m not organized then I use morning time to get ready. My time in the morning is expensive and precious. I’m better off using evening time (not that I always do).
Posted by Cindy - 07/27/2010
Erin, I have to say that the tiny theme behind most of your posts have finally changed my outlook and de-stressed me quite a bit! The whole “it’s your life, it’s your choice” thing. I look at designer homes and think that’s pretty, but I love my favorite fleece draped on the couch and my son’s artwork hanging on the wall. I’m choosing to not own a magazine like clutter-free home because I am happier looking at or using these things. But also, if the kitchen looks like a giant slob came for dinner and I don’t have the energy to clean it, then I can’t let the clutter bother me. I’ll only let it bother me if I can change it, right now! It’s very freeing, and although nothing may have changed externally, I no longer need anti-depressants
Posted by 50s - 08/01/2010
Ha-Ha – Maybe it is about balance as Alana mentions above. If the focus becomes perfectionistic decluttering that can pull someone away from their life priorities just as much as being distracted by their clutter.
Posted by Barb @ 1SentenceDiary - 08/06/2010
I’m completely on the Uncluttering bandwagon, as I find that clear open space (or even just a closet that has less Stuff in it) makes me feel relaxed and free in a way that’s difficult to explain.
That said, I’m not going at it as my first priority all the time. There are always trade offs in life. Last night, rather than cleaning and uncluttering, I went to the Red Sox game. It was worth it!
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