How to Support Mental Well-Being by Removing Clutter

Is the clutter in your home taking a toll on your mental well-being? Discover how to reclaim your peace of mind by eliminating clutter and creating a harmonious environment that supports your mental health.

Clearing clutter is important for supporting mental well-being. A cluttered environment can lead to stress, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. Decluttering creates an organized and peaceful atmosphere that improves mental clarity and focus.

Research has shown a strong link between clutter and increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm, fatigue, and even depression. But fear not, there are simple steps you can take to declutter your space and support your mental well-being. Let’s get started!

The Mental Toll of Physical Clutter

Living in a cluttered space can hurt your mental health. A study found that younger adults tend to feel the adverse effects of clutter more intensely than older adults, although this does not mean that older people are immune.

Clutter affects us universally, diminishing our overall well-being and life satisfaction. It has been linked to stress, binge eating, and increased work-related tension. Moreover, the negative effects of clutter extend beyond our personal space and spill into our work life, contributing to burnout and job dissatisfaction.

Perhaps the most significant impact of clutter is its ability to influence our sense of “psychological home” – the mental and emotional connection we feel with our living space. Ideally, our home should be a place of safety and refuge from the external world. Unfortunately, the presence of clutter can alter these perceptions. Instead of eagerly anticipating our return home, it may evoke a sense of dread and transform our home into a source of demotivation, depression, and unhappiness.

Considering the significant amount of time we spend at home, it is crucial that we feel happy and relaxed there. This is why maintaining a clean and organized living space is important. It is one of the best ways to support our mental well-being.

Imagine this scenario: you’re having lunch with friends at your favorite place, feeling energized and full of life. You’re even motivated to tackle the chores you’ve been putting off when you get home. However, once you step through the front door and see clutter everywhere, your good mood diminishes.

Eventually, you find yourself on the couch, aimlessly scrolling through your phone for hours, feeling too sluggish and depressed to do the chores you had planned. This example highlights how clutter can impact your mental well-being and productivity. Clutter can also be the cause if you often feel overwhelmed. Check out this article for more information about overwhelm and how to cope with it.

Why Do Homes Get Cluttered?

It can be challenging to escape clutter in our materialistic world. Even after a thorough clear-out, the piles of clutter seem to reappear in no time.

There are several reasons for this, such as:

• Income: Financial struggles make it difficult to part with possessions since they cannot be easily replaced. This leads to holding onto things “just in case,” resulting in a cluttered home. Conversely, having a substantial income can also contribute to clutter, as it enables the accumulation of more stuff.
• Limited Space: A smaller and cramped living space increases the risk of clutter, as there is not enough room to organize belongings effectively.
• Pile Growth: Over time, random items like keychains, bug spray, plastic toys, and old phone chargers tend to accumulate. Continually adding more stuff to existing piles exacerbates the clutter issue.

The stress and guilt associated with clutter persist as long as it remains visible. However, once you clear the piles or move items to a designated “junk” drawer where they are out of sight, the clutter becomes less apparent.

While removing clutter from your immediate view can improve your mood, simply cramming items into hidden spaces does not solve the problem. If your belongings fall out of closets or if you struggle to find what you need in messy drawers, it can cause stress, and irritation, and negatively impact your mental well-being.

Instead of only hiding clutter from sight, take the time to discard things you no longer want or use, and organize the remaining items neatly for easy access when needed.

When Does Clutter Become an Issue?

A cluttered home becomes problematic when it starts impacting your mental health and hampers convenience. Take, for example, placing a large dollhouse inherited from your late grandmother in your closet—it may obstruct access to your clothes. This not only makes it inconvenient for you to get dressed but can also lead to more clutter as clothes may end up on the floor or shoved in the closet.

Visible clutter, especially in confined spaces, is difficult to ignore and can lead to stress, even for items that are not inherently clutter. For example, paintings may create a cluttered impression when stored haphazardly instead of being neatly displayed on the walls.

Essentially, clutter becomes a problem when your possessions outnumber the available space. Having too much stuff and not enough room can significantly impact your mental well-being. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and demotivated daily, it is a clear sign that you need to declutter your living space.

Practical Tips for Decluttering and Organizing

Decluttering can be a challenge because of the emotional attachment we have to our belongings. However, questioning these emotions is key to freeing yourself and decluttering effectively. If you want to learn how to break the emotional hold that material things have on you, check out my article for helpful tips and examples.

Keep in mind that deciding whether to discard, donate, or sell items can be tough at first. But once you embrace the process, you’ll start feeling better. Clearing out unnecessary stuff brings immense relief and diminishes the power that material objects hold over us – it’s truly liberating.

The trick is to be resolute and not let emotions hinder your decluttering journey. I’ve found that the more decisive I am in discarding things, the more efficient the process becomes. Once my living space is clutter-free and peaceful, I have no regrets.

Having a regular declutter schedule can be a great way to keep your space more tidy. It’s actually a form of self-care as it improves your mental well-being. If you want to read more about how to build self-care practices into your daily life, then be sure to read this article on the topic.

Ready to declutter? Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Set Clear Goals

Before you start decluttering, set clear goals for your space. What do you want to achieve? Perhaps a tidy living room, an organized home office, or a clutter-free kitchen? Having a specific goal in mind will guide your efforts effectively.

2. Start Small

Decluttering can feel overwhelming, especially if you try to tackle your entire home all at once. Instead, start with a small, manageable area like a closet. Avoid the urge to throw all your clothes onto the bed or floor, as the sight of a chaotic mess can be draining and may tempt you to give up.

Focus on one section at a time. This approach reduces the risk of exhaustion and increases the likelihood of completing the decluttering process.

3. Use the Three-Box Method

When decluttering, follow the three-box method:

• Use one box for items to donate
• Use another box for items to sell
• Use a separate box for items to discard

This method simplifies decision-making and keeps you organized throughout the process. Be decisive when assigning your belongings to the boxes. Successful decluttering involves getting rid of, donating, or selling all the items that you don’t use, need, or want.

4. Sort by Category or Location

When decluttering, it’s helpful to organize items by category. For instance, gather all your books in one pile, clothing in another, and random items in a separate pile. This approach provides a clear view of your possessions, making it easier to decide whether to keep, discard, donate, or sell them.

Another effective method is to declutter by location. Begin with your living room, focusing on one section at a time and then moving on to the next. Don’t forget to keep your three boxes handy for sorting.

5. Use Storage Solutions

Invest in practical storage solutions such as shelves, bins, and organizers to keep your space organized. These tools are particularly useful for maintaining order in closets, kitchens, and home offices.

Remember that decluttering is an ongoing process. Set aside time for regular maintenance to prevent clutter from accumulating. A weekly or monthly decluttering session can help you stay organized.

To prevent clutter in your home, be mindful of what you bring into your space. Before making a purchase, ask yourself if you genuinely need or want it.

6. Maintain Good Habits

Once you’ve removed clutter in your home, the work isn’t finished. It’s important to establish good habits to maintain an organized and clutter-free space. Instead of randomly storing things around your house, make a habit of putting them back in their designated places.

Learning to put things back where they belong takes time. However, with consistent practice, it will become second nature, eliminating the need to worry about clutter. The best part is, that keeping your space tidy has a positive impact on your mental well-being.

Final Thoughts on Decluttering:

Decluttering your home is not just about creating a clean and organized space. It’s also about improving your mental and emotional well-being. By removing physical clutter, you can create a sense of calmness and control in your environment.

Remember to be patient with yourself during the decluttering process. It may seem overwhelming at first, but take it one step at a time. And don’t forget to reward yourself for your efforts along the way.

Incorporate these practical storage solutions and good habits into your daily life, and you’ll soon notice a significant difference in how you feel in your home.