Decluttering Doesn't Just Clear Space ... It Can Also Clear Your Mind!

Granted, it makes sense … after all, if you have piles of stuff that you’ve never shifted or even used recently, why go to the bother (and expense!) of getting packing supplies just to move the stuff you don’t use to another location?!

Or maybe you’re not moving house just at the moment.

Imagine the scene … you come home from a stressful day hoping to relax and clear your mind. But when you go to sit down with a cuppa, the sofa is covered with books/newspaper/stuff that you have to shift. And you find not-quite-empty cups and glasses behind the cushions. And. You. Just. Can’t. Relax.

One of the most common things to cause friction and stress in the home is a cluttered environment, leaving us feeling anxious and overwhelmed.

But decluttering is one of the few issues that is totally within our control. And reducing clutter can, in turn, reduce stress and frustration, and create a space where you feel at ease and can enjoy your downtime!

Pressure at work, or a busy schedule can cause stress. And living in a cluttered environment just adds to that! But managed properly, you could have a stress-free life by simply clearing your space!

Why does Mess lead to Stress?

Psychologists, and indeed many self-help websites can discuss in detail the mental toll that a cluttered life brings. But there are a few definite pointers that may make you consider clearing your space:

• Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli. It can cause a sensory overload that makes it so much harder to unwind.
• Mess distracts us by drawing our attention away (even subconsciously) from what our focus should be on. Even watching television can be difficult when you're surrounded by clutter.
• It’s more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally. Whether you notice it or not, clutter increases brain activity, making it harder for you to switch off.
• It creates anxiety about doing a task, as we’re never sure how long it will take to “get to the bottom of the pile”
• Clutter’s job (amongst others!) is to signal to our brains that our work is not completed. On the other hand, clear space subconsciously triggers our brain to let us know our work is done. Look at your desk space. How does it feel when it is swamped with paperwork, as opposed to cleared?!
• Guilt and Embarrassment are the consequences of clutter. How often do you say “I should be more organised”, or how do you feel when others unexpected drop by our homes or workspaces?
• How often have you been frustrated by clutter preventing you from locating what you need quickly? Ever needed to find your car keys in a rush? There are few things that can increase your stress levels in such a short time!

Whether you feel you need to declutter because you’re moving house, or whether you’re happy in the home you have, clearing your clutter is hugely beneficial to your mental health.

A common misconception is that decluttering means throwing absolutely everything out. Not so! Decluttering is all about identifying just those things in your home that you actually use or find a beautiful addition to your space.

If you don’t use it, why keep it?!