A stuffed wardrobe shows you can’t let go of your fantasy self…and 4 other things YOUR clutter reveals about you
A new book has revealed the emotional messages your most disorganised areas are sending and how to fix them

IS your wardrobe heaving with size 10 jeans you will never fit into again?
Or is your garage so jam-packed there’s no room for a bike, let alone a car?
Your clutter, and where you stash it, could be pointing to underlying emotional issues, according to a new book.
In her book What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You, author Kerri Richardson has revealed the secret message hidden in your mess and how sorting it out is the path to happiness.
So here’s what an overload of junk in each area of your life is telling you.
Wardrobe
Emotional issue: Nostalgia
A closet full of clothes you rarely wear, or don’t even fit into any more, indicates you are pining for days gone by.
In an extract in the, Kerri said: “Wardrobe clutter often means you’re holding on to a fantasy self — one that was more youthful, thinner, or happier.
“Maybe your old dresses remind you of a time when you felt as if anything was possible. Struggling to get rid of them is more about your desire to feel that way again than actually wanting to wear those dresses.”
Skinny jeans, she said, might remind you off your ideal weight or happy nights out.
She advises finding five items you haven’t worn for six months and asking if you really still love them.
Also, organising a night out that will remind your of the happy times you crave.
Desk
Emotional issue: Procrastination.
A paper-piled desk could be a sign you are ready to move on but putting it off.
Kerri said: “Every time you ignore the piles, you’re holding off dealing with difficult issues. If anything about starting a new project feels scary or overwhelming, not dealing with the clutter is a great way to stall.”
She suggests sorting mail as soon as you get it, throw junk mail away and keeping only those letters and forms that require following up.
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Attic
Emotional issue: Guilt.
It’s easy to bung stuff in the loft and forget about it but, if you do, why do you need to keep it at all?
Family heirlooms and keepsakes of the kids or unwanted gifts can all end up gathering dust because to chuck them feels like betrayal of loved ones.
Kerri said: “When you keep things out of guilt, you’re keeping a lot of emotional baggage.
“Family heirlooms often have a lot of obligations, memories, joy, sadness and regret attached to them.”
She added: “Keep it if you cherish it, but if you don’t love items enough to use or display them, they’re clutter.
“If something makes you smile when you see it, it’s not clutter.”
She advised throwing or re-evaluating anything that has been in a box for years and if you love them still, “make them a daily part of your life.”
Car
Emotional issue: No boundaries.
A car that looks more like a rubbish bin means you are letting people and things fill your life too much, and not leaving room for yourself.
Kerri said: “Clutter in the car is often the first sign of feeling overwhelmed, because this should be your own space, not a dumping ground.”
She suggests this could mean your life is too full because you say “yes” to everyone who asks a favour, and because you are so busy, you protect yourself from taking risks.
Kerri advises setting boundaries by saying “no” in “lower risk relationships”, such as co-workers.
Garage
Emotional issue: Avoidance.
Do your half-finished projects clog up the garage space?
If so, you are mentally swerving difficult tasks and pretending they don’t exist.
Kerri said: “Items in your garage quickly become part of the background scenery, so this area can almost always feel like a non-priority.
“However, each time you leave or return home, the mess before you saps your energy.”
Kerri suggests using the Pomodoro Technique, which involves setting a timer for 25 minutes. and then tackling the mess until the timer rings, then taking a five-minute break.
After four rounds, take a longer break.
We recently revealed how decluttering can lead to a more positive outlook on life.
What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You: Uncover The Message In The Mess And Reclaim Your Life by Kerri Richardson, published by Hay House at £10.99.