Ways De-Cluttering Can Improve Your Health
During this time of quarantine, many of us have been prompted to de-clutter or organize a portion of our home. At first, maybe it was because we had the extra time. Extra time that we normally would have filled with other activities. Extra time to reflect about our environment around us and determine ways to feel peace and comfort in our own home. Possibly this quarantine is now bringing us a second reason for the need to de-clutter. Maybe it is also allowing us to reassemble and reorganize ourselves, possibly “pulling-out” portions of life that are no longer serving us anymore?
The term clutter has its own definition for each person. For some, even a few things out of place can cause anxiety, while with others, they hardly notice multiple things piled in their room. It is also a very personal process. People need to be able to choose for themselves whether or not the item serves a purpose in their lives.
Once we do pull the clutter out of our lives, the following positive findings occur that improve our own mental health:
1. Organized home, organized thoughts!
We are able to be more efficient throughout our day when our items all have a specific place. Mental “clutter” or mental fog has been linked to symptoms of anxiety, nervousness and fear. It also leads to a feeling of being unable to make decisions, focus and concentrate.
2. Relaxed & Healthier Body:
The stress from clutter is real! There is a feeling of uneasiness when we have many things surrounding us. The stress can cause us to feel overwhelmed and even possibly trigger over-eating/stress eating. The process of releasing our items can be difficult. If we are able to rid of many unnecessary things around us and live in a cleaner, calmer environment, our stress and cortisol levels can return to a healthier state.
3. A better connection to your own home:
My home- my mess? Maybe not so much… Clutter prevents us from feeling a connection to our home. This was outlined in a study from New Mexico University. It discussed that clutter can have a negative effect on our ability to establish feelings of well-being that should be developed in our home. Removing that clutter can help you feel a deeper connection to home and create a healthy “home base”.
4. Improved levels of personal happiness:
Donation helps to foster happiness in our own lives when we help the lives of others. Finding organizations that would benefit from our items are opportunities for us to serve others. Multiple studies have shown that giving to others creates joy in our lives. For example, donating all of your maternity items to a shelter for single mothers may make it easier to part with those pregnancy items and turn a chapter in your own life.
5. It rejuvenates and organizes connections in your brain!
Organizing tasks can be helpful with young, developing brains to aging brains. They have been found to be especially beneficial in people who have processing disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. During treatment, giving tasks of organization under a timed variable will improve ability to recall and process information in the brain. Studies are also showing that aging brains can also benefit from organization skills. Organizational tasks allow a person to feel in control in their environment and give an overall sense of accomplishment.
Have you ever decided to keep a pile of clothes/items because you may need it for some moment in the future? Do you tell yourself, “I’ll wear that outfit once I get down that 15lbs” or “maybe someday I’ll need it for some future project?”. It is good to surround yourself with items that serve and support you in the moment. We may be afraid to part with a specific period in our lives and release the connection we have with the item. How do we find ways to separate ourselves from our things? Check out the Marie Kondo KonMari Philosophy that pulls every item into a room and then asks “does this item spark joy?” She introduces a way to rid yourself of items that are not serving a specific purpose.
What if it feels too overwhelming?
Start small! Maybe begin with one drawer. Most experts will recommend removing all items from the space and then examining each item separately. You can make three piles, keep/donate/throw-away. If this process causes significant distress and anxiety/fear, you may need additional support. Maybe you have the means to hire a personal organizer? There are also specialists that will assist using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and personal home visits to ease the process. Many times, past trauma could be at the source of your fear and inability to let go.
Quarantine may be the best time to re-evaluate the items that surround you. Use this time to feel more at home in your environment and cultivate happiness and balance in your life.
