‘Depression Rooms’ and ‘Doom Piles’: Why Clearing Clutter Can Feel Impossible

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/well/mind/depression-cleaning-clutter.html

by subharmonicon • 4 years ago

17 4 4 years ago

nytimes.com

liveware• 4 years ago

https://archive.is/20230115174122/https://www.nytimes.com/20...

krageon• 4 years ago

The answer to why: Fatigue.

In depression, as in "depression rooms" it is generalised fatigue (I would say fatigue with life).

In executive functioning issues, as in "doom piles" it is something they say is akin to decision fatigue, but all the time.

The solution to both as I read it is "do a small part of it", which is essentially depression advice (baby steps, everything is an achievement).

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I liked the insights but I must say it was a lot of text for a pretty simple set of things that were talked about. Perhaps the human angle (there were some experience bits more related to people) might please another reader.

karmakaze• 4 years ago

I don't know if I have an unusual association with clutter, but I find it somewhat comforting to be around 'my stuff'. It may still of course be a counterproductive distraction like having the TV on in the background and not watching it.

I spent more than a couple days in a hotel room recently and was surprised how empty it felt when I was doing more or less nothing. At home I could have done the same and not noticed how much time I was wasting.

stuntkite• 4 years ago

I don’t really understand minimalism fetishization. I too like my stuff. A lot of times I think minimalism is some type of performative classist affectation or something. I understand some people are just really organized or whatever, but yeah. I like my stuff. It’s interesting stuff.

‘Depression Rooms’ and ‘Doom Piles’: Why Clearing Clutter Can Feel Impossible

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