NEW
NEW DAY
NEW DAY NORTHWEST. CLUTTER, MOVING FROM PLACE TO
PLACE WITHOUT EVER LEAVING.
THERE IS A GROWING AUDIT OF
EVIDENCE THAT CLUTTER CAN
DAMAGE YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL
WELL-BEING AND FLOODING OUR
BODIES WITH CORTISOL AND LINKED
TO DISSATISFACTION WITH OUR
LIVES.
LIVES.
LIVES. CAN ACTUALLY TAKE A TOLL.
YOU WITH MORE ON OVERCOMING THE
CLUTTER CHALLENGE, IS LICENSED
THERAPIST AND HOARDING
SPECIALIST DOCTOR JENNIFER
SAMPSON.
SAMPSON.
SAMPSON. >>> SO, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN CLUTTER AND HOARDING?
>> PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT
ORDER.
ORDER.
ORDER. >>
ORDER. >> CLUTTER IS WHEN STUFF GETS
ACCUMULATED AND IT STACKS UP IN
OUR HOMES AND IS DISORGANIZED.
>> AND WE FORGET WHAT IS IN THE
PILE.
PILE.
PILE. >>
PILE. >> I WILL STRAIGHTEN UP THE
PILE AND THINK OKAY.
THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR RIGHT
NOW.
NOW.
NOW. WHY
NOW. WHY DO WE DO THESE THINGS?
>> WHAT WE CLUTTER?
>> WHAT WE HANG ONTO THINGS?
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS.
I THINK WE GET BUSY AND WE
THREE THINGS TO THE SIDE THAT
WE WILL DEAL WITH LATER.
IT PILES UP AND WE HAVE
PURPOSES FOR HANGING ONTO IT.
AND A LOT OF REASONS.
>> WIND IS GOING TO HOARDING?
>> IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WITH
HOARDING AND THERE IS A LOT OF
OTHER FACTORS AT PLAY.
PEOPLE WHO HOARD HAVE AN
EXCESSIVE, THEY BRING IN A LOT
OF STUFF IN THERE IS EXCESSIVE
ACQUISITION HAVE A HARD TIME
GETTING RID OF THINGS.
THEY HAVE AN ATTACHMENT TO
STUFF THAT MAKES THEM HANG ONTO
IT AND THEN FOR THOSE TWO
REASONS, A LOT OF STUFF KEEPS
ACCUMULATING AND PREVENTS THEM
FROM USING THEIR SPACES FOR
THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES.
>> WE'VE SEEN THE VIDEO ON TV
AND I NEVER IMAGINED.
>> MY HOUSE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE
THAT FOR SURE.
>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE
CLUTTER AROUND.
CLUTTER AROUND. I KNOW I ALWAYS LOOK AT IT AND
I KNOW IT IS AFFECTING HOW I'M
FEELING ABOUT BEING IN THAT
SPACE.
SPACE.
SPACE. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
TO HAVE CLUTTER INFLUENCE YOUR
MENTAL WELL-BEING AND EVEN YOUR
PHYSICAL HEALTH.
PHYSICAL HEALTH. >> AND WE KNOW THAT FEELING
WHERE.
WHERE.
WHERE. WE
WHERE. WE HAVE THE STUFF I HAVE TO
DEAL WITH AND IS WEIGHING ON
ME.
ME.
ME. I
ME. I SEE
ME. I SEE THIS STUFF AND IT IS LIKE
INCREASING MY STRESS OR ANXIETY
ABOUT IT.
ABOUT IT.
ABOUT IT. BUT RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE TO
BACK THIS UP.
IT WAS DONE PROBABLY ABOUT 10
YEARS AGO AND THESE RESEARCHERS
OUT OF UCLA TOOK A LOOK AT
MARRIED COUPLES AND THEY LOOK
AT THEIR MOOD STATE AND THE
STRESS HORMONE LEVELS.
CORTISOL LIKE YOU TALK ABOUT.
AND THEY FOUND THAT PEOPLE WHO
CONSIDER THEIR HOUSE TO BE
CLUTTERED OR THOUGHT THAT THEY
HAD A LOT OF STUFF TO DO AND
TAKE CARE OF WHEN THEY GOT HOME
HAD HIGHER CORTISOL LEVELS IN
THEIR BODIES THROUGHOUT THE
DAY.
DAY.
DAY. PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T, DIDN'T HAVE
LOWER LEVELS.
LOWER LEVELS. >> AND IT AFFECTS WOMEN MORE
THAN MEN.
THAN MEN.
THAN MEN. >> THAT STUDY FOUND THAT WHEN
THEY LOOKED AT THESE MARRIED
COUPLES, HETEROSEXUAL MARRIED
COUPLES WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND
MEN THAT WOMEN WHO HAD THE
IDEAS THAT THEIR HOME WAS MORE
CLUTTERED AT THE HIGHER STRESS
LEVELS.
LEVELS.
LEVELS. MEN DIDN'T.
MEN DIDN'T. THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH DIVISION OF LABOR.
MAYBE THAT IS A DIFFERENT
CONVERSATION.
CONVERSATION. >> WHAT YOU NOTICE AND WHAT YOU
DON'T NOTICE.
DON'T NOTICE. >> SO PHYSICALLY, WHAT MIGHT WE
BE MANIFESTING FOR FILLING THAT
ANXIETY ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR
SPACES?
SPACES?
SPACES? >> THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
WHAT IT SHOWS THAT IF HIGHER
LEVELS OF CLUTTER PREDICT
HIGHER LEVELS OF CORTISOL THAT
LIVING IN A HIGHER CLUTTERED
ENVIRONMENT OVER TIME CAN
INCREASE STRESS OVER TIME THAT
WE KNOW IS A GOOD FOR OUR
BODIES.
BODIES.
BODIES. IT CAN INCREASE HEART ATTACKS,
STROKE AND HEART DISEASE AND
INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH AND
ANXIETIES.
ANXIETIES. >>> AND CLUTTER OFTEN IT SEEMS
TO ME AT LEAST IN MY AND I WILL
SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
IS MY OFTEN THE PRODUCT OF JUST
PROCRASTINATION.
PROCRASTINATION. COMING TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT
BUT I DON'T AND THEN AFTER A
WHILE I FORGET WHAT IT IS.
>> IT IS EVEN IN THE PILE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE TO
HELP THEM GET OVER THE TOP WITH
THAT?
THAT?
THAT? >>
THAT? >> PROCRASTINATION.
>> PROCRASTINATION. I'LL DO IT.
>> PEOPLE DO IT BECAUSE THEY
DON'T WANT TO MAKE DECISIONS.
OR ELSE THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO
ACTUALLY DO THE PHYSICAL
ORGANIZING.
ORGANIZING. IT CAN GET US HUNG UP.
>> ARE YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A
DOUGHNUT.
DOUGHNUT.
DOUGHNUT. >> FOR ABOUT 20-25% OF CHRONIC
PROCRASTINATION GETS IN THE WAY
OF GIVING GETTING STUFF DONE
AND LIVING THE LIVES THEY WANT
AND WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE,
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW
THAT OVER TIME THIS GETS WORSE.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WOULD
CLUTTER, PROCRASTINATION, THEY
ARE LINKED TOGETHER AND
INCREASES WITH AGE AND LATER IN
LIFE, PEOPLE HAVE HIGHER LEVELS
OF CLUTTER AND LIFE
SATISFACTION.
SATISFACTION. >> AND THAT MEANS THE FLIP IS
TRUE.
TRUE.
TRUE. THEY START DOING THESE THINGS.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY FEEL BETTER.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
IS THAT ENOUGH TO TELL YOURSELF
THAT I'M GOING TO FEEL BETTER
IF I DO THIS.
WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO GETTING
STARTED OR EVEN KNOWING WHEN
YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET SOMEBODY
TO HELP YOU.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
DECLUTTERING METHODS THAT ARE
KIND OF TRENDY RIGHT NOW.
THEY CAN BE HELPFUL FOR A LOT
OF PEOPLE AND SO WHAT THE CON
MARY METHOD.
MARY METHOD. >> THERE ARE LOTS OF STUFF.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T GO FULL WITH
THAT THERE ARE SOME GOOD TIPS
IN THEIR.
IN THEIR.
IN THEIR. >> A TON OF PEOPLE BUT THAT WAS
HELPFUL FOR PEER KIND OF
LOOKING AT AN ITEM AND MAKING
DECISIONS AND PAYING ATTENTION
TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH AND
MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER
TO PART WITH IT OR TO KEEP IT.
THAT CAN BE HELPFUL FOR A LOT
OF PEOPLE.
OF PEOPLE. BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IT IS
NOT.
NOT.
NOT. PEOPLE WHO HAVE PHYSICAL
REASONS THAT THEY CAN'T
ACTUALLY CARRY OUT THE
ORGANIZING OR MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES. LIKE COURTING
DISORDER.
DISORDER.
DISORDER. LIKE DEPRESSION, LIKE ADHD.
THOSE THINGS ARE LIKE
ROADBLOCKS TO KIND OF SIMPLE
ORGANIZING METHODS THAT MAY BE
HELPFUL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> WHERE DOES THAT PERSON GO
FOR HELP?
FOR HELP?
FOR HELP? >> DO THEY START WITH HER
PRIMARY DOCTOR.
PRIMARY DOCTOR. EVEN IF THERE FEELING THAT
BOGGED DOWN HAVE THE ENERGY TO
CALL AND AN ORGANIZING
SPECIALIST TO MAKE
ARRANGEMENTS.
ARRANGEMENTS. >> I WOULD SAY THAT IF PEOPLE
CAN LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND ASK
THE QUESTION, DO I HAVE A
PROBLEM, GETTING ORGANIZED.
IF I SIT DOWN TO DO IT, CAN I
DO IT?
DO IT?
DO IT? IF
DO IT? IF THEY RUN INTO A LOT OF
ROADBLOCKS AND FEEL LIKE THEY
JUST CAN'T GET STARTED, IT IS A
GREAT TIME TO INVOLVE A
PROFESSIONAL.
PROFESSIONAL. THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZERS.
ORGANIZERS. THERE ARE LOTS IN THIS AREA
MAKING SURE THAT THE MORE
INTENSE THE CLUTTER MIGHT BE A
HOME THAT THEY INVOLVE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE MORE SPECIALIZED
TRAINING IN BULK ITEMS AND THAT
THEY ARE OUT THERE.
AND WHAT THEY HAD ON THE SHOW
NOT LONG AGO.
THE FIRST CERTIFIED EXPERT
AROUND HERE.
AROUND HERE. YOU CAN FIND PEOPLE WHO CAN DO
THAT.
THAT.
THAT. EVEN IF YOU GET ON TASK AND
FIND SOMEBODY TO COME OUT AND
HELP.
HELP.
HELP. >>
HELP. >> I'M WONDERING WHAT IT
REPRESENTS.
REPRESENTS. THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE HANGING
ON TO.
ON TO.
ON TO. WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT TO US?
>> I THINK IS DIFFERENT FOR
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY. I THINK WE ALL HAVE ATTACHMENTS
TO STUFF.
TO STUFF.
TO STUFF. AND SO IT MIGHT REPRESENT A
PIECE OF OUR IDENTITY, IT MIGHT
REPRESENT A MEMORY OR A
TERRORIST TIME.
TERRORIST TIME. IT MIGHT'VE BEEN A GIFT FROM
SOMEBODY OR JUST HIS INTENTION
THAT WE WILL USE IT LATER.
THERE ARE A TON OF REASONS THAT
WE HANG ON TO STUFF.
AND NONE OF THEM ARE BETTER
THAN THE OTHER.
I THINK IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC
WHEN WE START ATTACHING ALL OF
THE REASONS TO EVERYTHING.
>> PARENTS, THEY ARE OFTEN
FACED WITH THE STUFF THAT THEY
WANT TO SAVE FROM THEIR
CHILDHOOD, THEIR ARTWORK, THE
SCOPING, ALL THAT KIND OF
STUFF.
STUFF.
STUFF. AND AT LEAST IN MY CASE, MY
GRANDCHILD DOES NOT WANT THE
STUFF.
STUFF.
STUFF. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME.
GETTING RID OF IT.
>> SO TELL ME WHAT I DO?
>> I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE AS AN
EMPTY NESTOR.
EMPTY NESTOR. >> I THINK IT IS OKAY TO HOLD
ONTO STUFF IF IT'S NOT GETTING
IN YOUR WAY.
I THINK THAT IS SORT OF LIKE
THE MAIN TAKE AWAY.
WE CAN HAVE OUR STUFF AS LONG
AS WE CAN USE OUR SPACE.
IF IT IS GETTING UNDERWAY FOR
SOME REASON THE MAYBE IT MAKES
SOME SENSE TO KIND OF WOULD LET
DOWN AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS.
MAYBE YOU ONLY NEED FIVE
DRAWINGS FROM KINDERGARTEN.
>> INSTEAD OF ALL OF THEM.
AND IT MIGHT JUST BE SOME
DECISION-MAKING AND IF THAT IS
A HARD THING YOU CAN HIRE