The coming warmer weather means many Americans will begin spring cleaning.  Last year, a survey of homeowners revealed almost “a third of respondents have difficulty keeping their homes organized.” This despite the fact that one study concluded de-cluttering is ‘enjoyable’ and ‘easy’ for those tried.

Deacon Joseph Ferrari, a Catholic deacon and a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago, defines clutter as, “an overabundance of possessions that collectively create a chaotic and disorderly living space.”

For some, the beginning stages of de-cluttering are difficult. Ferrari told Drew Mariani that certain items can be de-cluttering triggers. Ferrari recounted a story of helping his then-fiancé move to a new apartment. “I picked up… a toothpick holder and I said, we got to get rid of this.” That sparked a big fight because his fiancé felt he was intruding on her possessions.

Ferrari calls this resistance the “Oh, yeah” effect – the idea that imposing an idea on someone makes them more likely to do the opposite. The concept arose out of 1960s psychological research studying smoking inside of buildings. When restrictions on smoking came into place, “people began to smoke more because you told them I couldn’t,” Ferrari said.

For those hesitant to change, then, Ferrari preaches patience. “You pick away slowly at all the items.” And for a lot of Americans, that’s a lot of items. Ferrari said the average American has over $7,000 worth of unused stuff in their homes. However, getting rid of clutter does not mean a purge of all goods; rather, “it’s getting rid of the overabundance,” Ferrari said.

There’s a spiritual dimension to de-cluttering, too, and Lent can be the perfect time to make that space. Ferrari suggests beginning by organizing a particular area for a few days and spending the next few days deciding which items to give away. When finished, Ferrari suggest giving items directly to people in need. In that way, de-cluttering can be a work of charity and a way of heeding Jesus’ exhortation in Matthew’s Gospel, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”