Are You a Borderline Hoarder?

How do you know if you are a borderline hoarder? There are plenty of signs that could point to a hoarding problem, but even if you have some hoarding tendencies, it’s not too late to turn things around. You can avoid clutter by following a few key suggestions.

What Is Hoarding?

One of the most basic definitions of hoarding is that it’s the inability to get rid of common items. Hoarding differs from collecting because the items are generally not of value and most people would see them as just being junk. Hoarders are usually very protective of their stash of goods and get defensive when asked about it.

If you are a hoarder, help is available. Many people have been able to break the hoarding habit with some therapy and new practices. If you have ever wondered if you are a borderline hoarder, check your habits against these six red flags:

Are You a Borderline Hoarder?

You Can’t Bring Yourself to Throw Things Away

Many people hold on to things that they don’t need, but hoarders have trouble tossing even the most mundane things. If you find yourself collecting items of little or no monetary value, you might be bordering on being a hoarder. Set aside time every month to go through your house and toss everything that doesn’t have a purpose.

There Are Places in Your Home That You Can’t Get To

Do you have entire rooms of your house that you can’t access because there’s too much clutter there? Hoarders will often fill up every empty space with their collections, rendering entire areas of their homes inaccessible. Take a weekend and clear out inaccessible rooms. Enlist the help of a friend and ruthlessly throw things away.

The Majority of Things You Collect Have No Material or Sentimental Value

There are those who collect items, and then there are those who hoard. Collectors have specific interests, and their collections are generally contained or displayed in one area. If you wouldn’t put your collections on display for all of your friends and family to see, toss them.