Spoiler alert- You are! We all are.
Take 1 minute and 22 seconds to watch this video and test your attention before reading further.
Did you count all the passes? Did you notice the gorilla? When this study was done about half of the participants did not see the gorilla.
So what does this mean? To me, this demonstrates just how much of our surroundings we can filter out and not notice. Specifically, the clutter that has accumulated around our homes. This is why unpacked boxes in the corner, piles of books or mail, and overflowing counters just blend into the surroundings and seem normal. It may be necessary to actively look for the clutter in your home.
So, when was the last time you looked around your home and really saw what was there?
Take some time, look around and try changing your perspective so you can really see everything.
Some ideas to help change your perspective:
Sit in a spot you aren’t usually in and look around slowly taking everything in.
Sit on the floor or lay down so you can see the room from a different angle.
Physically touch items as you move around the room looking.
Ask a friend or family member (who doesn’t live at your house) to share what they see.
Take pictures and look at your space through the photos.
Once you identify the clutter, take the next step and start removing the excess so you can have a lighter, stress-free home.
Check out my previous posts for assistance with this if you need:
4 Tips to Help You Start Removing Clutter
Preparing for a Decluttering Project
This definitely is a great idea for anyone stuck in a decluttering rut. I will have to keep this in mind for the future.
Whenever I’m about to tackle a decluttering session, I always try to do something to look at my space with fresh eyes. It’s amazing how quickly clutter can be overlooked and seem to belong. I hope my tip helps you out with a decluttering session in the future.
I’m sure it will. I also shared it in a decluttering Facebook group I am in because there’s always lots of people who stuggle with moving forward with decluttering. I hope it helps them too.
That’s awesome! 😁Thanks, Michelle!
I like the phrase clutter blind 🙂 I have had to purposely put on blinders these days, as we’re gearing up for a wedding (so much stuff to collect before the big day!) and for a series of moves – our big family (9 people) has been living together and we’re all moving after the holidays! (Well, my daughter will move after her wedding in less than a month!) That will be 4 or 5 moves, and everyone is beginning to pack. I’m grateful for the ‘clutter blind’ phenomenon, or else I’d go absolutely bonkers! But I do look forward to be settled in a place with only my husband to share space with, when I can finally take those clutter-blinders off! Thanks for the phrase 😉
Being clutter blind would come in handy for that situation! I wish you the best of luck for all of your fun adventures ahead. It sounds like you have a lot of fun things going on.😁
Indeed! Thank you so much!
Being clutter blind is real! Even decor items can build up and look cluttered. I am going to re-examine my countertops and shelves!
Oh yeah! I remember back when I first started decluttering my home. I found objects that I didn’t even know I had. Good luck with your decluttering touch-up.
Love the phrase :)..I think it is helpful to be clutter blind on some days! Agree, paying more attention to physical surroundings makes a lot of sense.
Thanks. I agree. With three small kids, I have days where I block out the clutter and just have fun. Having less stuff makes it easy to catch up and not get sucked in an endless rotation of cleaning and chores. Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation!
Interesting, Suzanne! I force myself to be clutter-blind to my life partner’s work space & piles of stuff in our dining room! It used to bother me a great deal, but now, only when company’s coming! 🌞
Some of my husband’s spaces are the same way. Luckily it is mostly his tools and we have a workshop so he has a whole area all to himself. 😁
Clever post. I am good with clutter but have to remind myself to go through things on a regular basis and then am surprised at what we accumulate.
It’s amazing how things seem to sneak in!
I like the sitting down and taking in your environment thing. Sometimes it requires a little concentration to find the clutter in our lives (which could be a metaphor for life in general), which is why I’ve found it super effective to focus on small areas at a time. That’s the best way for me personally. Anyway, thanks for this post, Suzanne!
I find it is best to focus on one small area at a time too. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!