The Hoarder in You
I’ve never watched the show Hoarders. And I don’t plan to.
When people find out I am a professional organizer, they often ask me how I feel about the show. They are surprised to hear I have never watched it, and I’m not planning on it any time soon. I would find it too upsetting.
Yet, I wanted to read Dr. Robin Zasio’s book, The Hoarder in You—How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life. As a professional organizer, I think it is important to learn more about why people collect things and understand why it may seem impossible for them to part with certain items. Zasio believes “most of us fall somewhere on the hoarding continuum.” While hoarding may not interfere with our everyday lives, many of us have difficulty deciding what to keep, what to dispose of, and how to maintain our belongings in an orderly manner.
Most of us have too much stuff. When I completed the KonMari method, one of the biggest realizations I had was that fewer items in my home made my daily life so much easier and much less stressful. I felt calmer and happier. It wasn’t just about having fewer items in my home—my whole being felt lighter. My mind was clearer.
And that is the point. One of my favorite quotes from Zasio’s book says it perfectly:
“Our clutter not only takes up physical space in our homes and offices, but it also occupies needless mental space—space that could be used to enjoy the lives we’ve worked so hard to build.”