Why the Indian mindset of hoarding and cluttering is a problem

How many things can you count on your fingers that serve no purpose, yet you still hold onto them? We all struggle with hoarding and cluttering, but it's crucial not to let this habit affect your mental well-being.

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Cluttering and hoarding can impact mental health When you buy a T-shirt, you probably think of it as just another piece of clothing—something you'll wear a few times, then pass on or discard. But your mom? She sees it differently. To her, it’s not just a T-shirt; it’s an investment. First, she'll insist it's still as good as new and that you should wear it a few more times. When you're reluctant, she'll take it off your hands, repurpose it into a dusting cloth, and then slowly transform it into a floor-wiping rag.

If you've got a few T-shirts to get rid of, she'll give them to the house help after carefully considering all the other ways they could be reused. This isn’t just about old T-shirts. It's the same story with the jars that come with packaged products or the food delivery boxes we receive.In an Indian household, there’s no room for aesthetics when it comes to stacking and storing; everything has a second, third, or even fourth life. If you think you're any better than the previous generation, take a moment to look at the things you're holding onto—those expired makeup products, the winter coats you haven't worn in years, the random bits and bobs cluttering up your drawers. Let’s be real: cluttering and hoarding are problems for all of us, whether we admit it or not. The attachment to old itemsDr Arti Anand, senior consultant - clinical psychologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, tells India Today that we usually associate old items with memories and emotions, which makes it difficult for us to part with them.