If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious, you might be surprised to learn that clutter could be the cause. It’s mind boggling to think of the many mental health benefits of decluttering your physical space.
Studies have shown that a clean and organized home can lead to increased productivity, better sleep, and reduced stress levels. In fact, decluttering has been linked to a whole range of mental health benefits, from increased focus and creativity to improved mood and self-esteem. And it save you time and brain space because you know where all of your shit is.
The mental benefits of decluttering are easily achieved, simply by starting with one area at a time. From setting small, achievable goals to enlisting the help of a friend or family member, there are many ways to make the process of decluttering and organizing less overwhelming and more manageable.
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Benefits of Decluttering
Psychologists believe that decluttering can have a profound psychological impact, helping people to feel more in control of their surroundings and reducing feelings of anxiety and depression. By removing excess clutter and organizing your space, you can create more mental space and a calm, peaceful environment. All of which is good for your mental health. Additionally, decluttering your space can help you to let go of negative emotions and memories associated with certain objects, allowing you to move forward with a more positive outlook on life.
Reducing Stress and Anxiety
A cluttered living space can increase your the stress hormone, cortisol, in your body, making stress and anxiety prevalent in your daily life. With high cortisol levels, several of your other hormones can easily get out of whack…causing a whole host of downstream effects on your body.
These high levels of stress and anxiety can also negatively impact your ability to relax and unwind. Decluttering your environment can help reduce these negative emotions and create a more peaceful environment. And your uncluttered space will vastly improve your mood.
Enhancing Focus and Concentration
A cluttered living space can also make it difficult to concentrate and focus on tasks at hand, clogging your overall mental brain power. Without you even knowing it. Simply by getting rid of clutter, you can create a more organized and efficient environment that promotes productivity. Decluttering can help you gain a sense of control over your environment and engage your mind in a repetitive activity that can lead to you feeling calmer.
I can personally attest to the fact that clearing my desk clutter can help my focus more than almost anything else. Yes, that one simple task removes ALL the to-do list items that are swirling around in my head. There are no more daunting tasks off to the side in my periphery. And the sense of order gives me that motivational boost.
Boosting Mood and Happiness
A clean and organized home can have a massive impact on your mental and physical health, including boosting your mood and overall happiness. According to USU Extension, decluttering can boost your mood and help improve your health. A tidy home can also create a sense of accomplishment and pride, which can contribute to a more positive outlook on life. There’s a reason spring cleaning is soooo prevalent; you’re literally helping manifest your most organized year.
Basically, decluttering your living space can have a powerful impact on your mental health and well-being. By reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing focus and concentration, and boosting mood and happiness, decluttering can help improve your overall quality of life.
Practical Tips for Decluttering
Decluttering can be an overwhelming task, but with a few practical strategies (and starting with just one room or one drawer), you can make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Here are some tips to get you started.
Getting Started with Decluttering
The first step to decluttering is to start small. Choose a specific area of your home that needs decluttering and focus on that area only. For example, you can start with your closet or your kitchen pantry, both very specific areas that can give you the big WIN you need to keep the motivation up.
Once you have chosen the area, take everything out and sort them into three categories: keep, donate, and throw away. Typically our “donate” pile also includes anything that needs to be recycled so that it doesn’t accidentally make it to the landfill. Be honest with yourself and only keep the items that you use frequently or that have sentimental value.
Creating an Effective Cleaning Routine
Once you have decluttered your space, it’s important to create an effective routine to maintain your clean and organized space. Set aside a specific time each day or week to tidy up and put things back in their designated places. This could be as simple as spending 10 minutes each morning to make your bed and put away any clothes that are lying around. By incorporating small cleaning tasks into your daily routine, you can keep your space organized and clutter-free.
Running our robot vacuum (his name is Munchy) every evening helps us remember to clean up all the dog toys and everything else in our living areas.
Tips for Maintaining an Organized Space
Here are some additional tips to help you maintain an organized space:
- Use storage containers to keep items organized and easy to find.
- Label your containers to make it easy to identify what’s inside.
- Donate items that you no longer need or use.
- Be mindful of what you bring into your home and avoid buying unnecessary items.
- Create a system for dealing with incoming mail and paperwork to avoid clutter from piling up.
By following these practical decluttering strategies, you can create a more organized and peaceful space that will benefit your mental health. Remember, decluttering is a process, and it’s okay to start small and work your way up to larger tasks.
The Connection Between Decluttering and Lifestyle
Decluttering not only improves the appearance of your home, but it can also have a positive impact on your lifestyle, including your health, your sleep and relaxation, and revving up your creativity and productivity.
Influences on Physical Health
Keeping your home organized can have a significant impact on your physical health. A clutter-free home helps you maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. It can also help you to make better eating habits and encourage you to engage in physical activity. By removing clutter, you can create a space that is conducive to you, and give you time, space, and energy for your self-care and personal growth.
Improving Sleep and Relaxation
A cluttered home can make it difficult to relax and unwind. By decluttering your living space, you can create a calming environment that promotes relaxation and restful sleep. A clutter-free bedroom can help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It can also reduce the amount of stress and anxiety you experience. No more (or, let’s face it, less) racing thoughts as you lie awake at night.
Fostering Creativity and Productivity
People who declutter their homes report being more productive and creative. A clutter-free workspace can help you to focus on your work and reduce distractions. Leading to more motivation and energy throughout the day.
Emotional and Social Aspects of Decluttering
The benefits of getting rid of your clutter extend into emotional and social realms as well. Somehow when you declutter, you are not just organizing your space, but also your mind, your thoughts, and (on some level) your emotions. I don’t pretend to know how it works, just that I can confirm it does. It’s like you’ve filed away all the unimportant shit in your brain and then you’ve got more thinking power for everything else–like what’s for dinner.
Enhancing Self-Worth and Control
Getting rid of the things you no longer need or want will enhance your sense of self-worth and give you control of the items that take up space in your life. When you declutter, you are in charge of creating and maintaining your environment, which can make you feel empowered and accomplished. You are also making space for the things that matter most to you, which can help you prioritize your values and goals. By letting go of the things that no longer serve you, you are making room for new experiences and exciting opportunities.
Strengthening Family and Social Relationships
Removing clutter can also strengthen your relationships with family and friends. You are creating a more inviting and welcoming space in your home that you WANT to share with your loved ones. You are also setting a positive example for your family members and friends, which can inspire them to start tackling their own spaces.
Decluttering helps you let go of sentimental items that may be holding you back from connecting with others as well. By releasing these items, you are able to focus on the present moment and create new memories with those around you.
Final Thoughts on Clearing your Clutter
Alright, so you’ve heard it a million times – decluttering your home can really make a difference. But seriously, it’s true! According to a study covered by Psychology Today, women who described their homes as cluttered were more likely to hoard and experience stress. And getting rid of shit helped improve their anxiety or depression. So maybe it’s time to tackle that junk drawer or start decluttering for a cause (there’s a whole month devoted to that!). I mean, who doesn’t want to create a more calming environment and actually be able to find things when they need them?
