The Two Big Causes of Clutter: Procrastination and Perfectionism

Clutter may seem like simply a matter of too much stuff or not having the right system. But often, the real causes of clutter are the two big P's: Procrastination and Perfectionism.

Procrastination

Procrastination is choosing to put something off until later, even though you could do it now. We’ve all done it—telling ourselves we’ll fold the laundry this afternoon, finish the dishes tomorrow, or have the kids pick up their toys “later.”

The problem? Every time we delay, clutter will start to build.

• The screwdriver left on the counter instead of the toolbox.

• Clothes on the floor.

• Toys scattered across the living room.

  
  

We procrastinate for many reasons—thinking we don’t have time, dreading the task, or simply getting distracted. But when it becomes a habit, procrastination quietly fuels the clutter cycle.

Perfectionism

If procrastination keeps us from starting, perfectionism often keeps us from finishing.

Perfectionism is refusing to accept any standard short of “perfect.” That might sound admirable, but in practice, it creates paralysis.

For example:

• You want a dream walk-in closet with custom shelving, but since that’s out of your budget, you avoid setting up a simpler (but still helpful) system.

• You hold off on organizing until you find the “perfect” method, which means you don’t start at all.

  
  

This all-or-nothing mentality keeps us stuck. In today’s social media world, it’s even harder—scrolling through styled, picture-perfect homes makes us feel like everyone else has it together. (Spoiler: they don’t.) Behind the camera, there’s usually a mess, too.

Three Quick Tips to Overcome Procrastination

1. Stop making excuses

   We often overestimate how long tasks take—putting a screwdriver back in the toolbox? Less than two minutes. Do you have two minutes today?

   
   

2. Turn down the drama

   Dreading a task makes it bigger than it is. Laundry may not be fun, but it doesn’t take “forever.” Break it into smaller, more frequent loads to make it manageable.

   
   

3. Put it on the calendar

   Assign tasks to a time slot: toy clean-up after bath, laundry after breakfast, clear counters as part of your evening routine.

   
   

Three Quick Tips to Tame Perfectionism

1. Focus on done over perfect

   Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough. Progress beats paralysis.

   
   

2. Strive for better, not perfect

   Can’t build the dream closet? Add a shoe rack or baskets to make it better than before. Improvement is still progress.

   
   

3. Only compare yourself to yourself

   Don’t measure your home against social media posts. Ask: Am I making things better for myself and my family? That’s what matters.

   
   

Final Thoughts on the True Causes of Clutter

Nobody overcomes procrastination or perfectionism overnight. Breaking these habits takes time, patience, and determination. But with small, consistent steps, you’ll see progress—and that progress is far more valuable than perfection.

Look around your space today. Which “P” is showing up more for you—procrastination or perfectionism? What is one small change you can make to start breaking the cycle today.?