Have you felt overwhelmed by clutter in your home? Your mind may feel as cluttered as your space. You’re not alone. It’s easy to let stuff pile up, but the mental health effects are often overlooked.
Today, I’ll discuss how decluttering can improve your mindset. Decluttering goes beyond cleaning. Creating a calm, organized space lets you focus on what matters. Decluttering makes room for new adventures.
I used to be a hoarder. Even though I KNEW most things were useless, I had trouble letting go. I didn’t even think of myself as a hoarder at the time. I was a “collector” trying to live in denial.
Here’s the deal: I changed my mindset when I started decluttering my home. I felt calmer, in charge, optimistic – and the list can go on and on. Decluttering gave me a new start and a fresh perspective. In fact, I think I could even write an entire blog just to recommend organizational products or explain how this habit truly works!
The benefits continue beyond there. Decluttering helps you appreciate the things that matter most in your life. To me it felt like putting on glasses and realizing how poor my vision was before!
Plus, no longer having to wade through piles of stuff to get things done can boost productivity and creativity. Even my writing improved after decluttering my home (especially my office)!
Why Is Everybody Into Decluttering These Days?
Clutter is overwhelming and stressful regardless if you’re a child, a full-time worker, or a retiree. Too much stuff can make it hard to find what you need and make you feel trapped. Decluttering makes things easier to find and creates a more welcoming space, reducing stress.
Secondly, a messy home makes it hard to relax. Clutter can be distracting and make it hard to read, watch TV, or spend time with family. Of course, decluttering creates a calmer environment that also improves your sleep and quality time with your loved ones.
Last but not least, decluttering can boost your self-confidence. Yup, you read that right! Living with a bunch of stuff all around can make people feel like their possessions own them and not the other way around. Decluttering creates order and structure, helping people feel more in control of their lives and environments.
All in all, this simple habit has a huge impact on anybody as it reduces stress, promotes relaxation, boosts self-esteem and control, and improves physical health. But why does something so simple have so many positive outcomes? Let’s explore the psychological reasons why decluttering is so satisfying – but also why it’s so hard to keep our lives tidy.
What’s The Psychology Behind Clutter?
Clutter in homes and offices is often seen as a physical issue. That’s where most people are wrong! Clutter affects mental and emotional health, according to research. Did you know there psychology of clutter actually exists? This aspect examines the causes of clutter, its mental effects, and how decluttering can improve our well-being.
For example, procrastination can lead to clutter. People put off organizing their belongings because they don’t know where to start, don’t have the time, or don’t want to make tough decisions about what to keep and what to throw away. Items pile up, making it harder to find what we need and making us feel overwhelmed.
Emotional attachment to personal belongings can cause clutter. Even if they are useless, sentimental items are hard to get rid of. In the long run, your risk of hoarding increases – a habit that affects your physical AND mental health.
Clutter has many psychological consequences too. For one, it can make it hard to focus and be productive because the visual chaos can be overstimulating. It can also cause stress and anxiety by making it hard to find things and feeling trapped. Clutter can also lower self-esteem and control by making us feel like our possessions own us.
Luckily, though, decluttering helps us let go of unwanted items and organize our lives. It clears our minds and creates a better work environment, improving our focus and productivity. Once you get into this habit, you’ll notice its positive effects right away!
But how CAN you start decluttering anyway? Here are my top recommendations:
Decluttering: a Step-by-Step Guide
Decluttering can be simple with the right approach. Decluttering involves setting a goal, sorting through items, deciding what to keep, sell, donate, or toss, organizing and storing remaining items, and maintaining a decluttered space.
Decluttering starts with a goal. This could involve decluttering a single room or the entire house. However, make sure that you s et a realistic, time-bound goal or else you’re not going to go through with this (trust me, I’ve been there!).
Next, it’s time to sort items. Looking back, I wish somebody had told me how important it is to create piles or boxes for items to keep, sell, donate, or toss. It’s so much easier this way!
While you’re doing this, be mindful of items you haven’t used or no longer need as you sort through them. Donate or sell these – you won’t be sorry!
After sorting, you have to decide what to keep, sell, donate, or toss. Consider practicality, sentimentality, and overall usefulness when choosing items. To avoid re-accumulation, act quickly after making a decision. Donate or sell usable, good-condition items.
The next step is to organize everything you chose to keep. In order to create a functional and attractive living space, use storage containers, shelves, or other organizational tools. As for choosing where to store items, consider how the space will be used and what will be needed most.
Maintaining a tidy space is the final step – and the most challenging one if you’ll ask me. This means being mindful of what you bring home and giving it a place. From regular cleaning to discarding unwanted items, creating small daily habits is the key to success here.
I know it’s easier said than done. However, in 2023 the internet bursts with organization products, experts, and services ready to change your perspective. Whether you’re watching The Home Edit on Netflix, reading Marie Komodo’s iconic book on organization or just buying extra storage boxes, every single step counts!
Conclusion
If you made it this far, congrats! Now you might be one step closer to living a clutter-free life in every aspect.
Here’s a quick breakdown of everything you’ve just read: Decluttering can boost your mood and well-being. This simple habit can improve mental clarity, focus, calm, productivity, creativity, sleep, and overall health.
Further, decluttering helps people feel more in control of their lives and surroundings too. This gives us an instant boost of self-confidence
In fact, decluttering can also break the cycle of feeling overwhelmed and help you feel accomplished and content.
Remember: Start small, break it down, and set achievable goals.
Once you start reaping the benefits of this basic habit, trust me – it’ll become addictive!
Do you have any extra tips and tricks on decluttering? Do you know any hoarders (or maybe you are one right now)? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section for our mindful community and I’ll get back to you ASAP!
Read also: 5 Mindful Zodiac Signs Who Focus on The Present Moment
