10 Ways Decluttering Benefits Mental Health & 10 Tips For Organizing Your Space
A Calm Space Leads To A Calm Mind
Feel concerned that the mess in your house has become so big, it's starting to affect your mental health? This is a completely valid and common experience many people share. If you're looking for answers or simply want to improve, we've got the facts for you. To help you stay informed, here are 10 ways decluttering can improve your well-being, and 10 tips to help you get started.
1. Helps You Relax
It's simple: being in a clean, relaxing room helps you instantly relax too. Your brain immediately turns to focusing on yourself, allowing you to decompress. An organized space essentially comforts you by saying you have nothing here to worry about.
2. Builds Healthy Habits
It's easy to fall into a pattern of laziness, and while it might momentarily feel good delaying your responsibilities, it's bad for your mental health in the long run. When you build a consistent decluttering routine, it allows you to follow healthy habits that make you feel good and proud of yourself. Self-confidence is everything for your well-being, and this is one simple way to achieve that.
3. Removes Visual Stressors
Do you really want to come home everyday to a messy bedroom, dirty bathroom, or chaotic living room? In these spaces where you should find peace, seeing these stressful visual cues can quickly make you feel anxious and frustrated instead of relaxed. By tidying up, you easily remove these visual stressors that can ruin any perfect day.
4. Better Sleep
Your bedroom is supposed to be a haven of relaxation and quiet, but it's hard for it to live up to that expectation if all your possessions are thrown every which way. As a result, it's been studied to lead to lower quality sleep, likely due to how distracting the mess can be both mentally and visually. So if you're trying to feel more rested, decluttering will help your mind feel more at ease before you doze off.
5. Find What You Need More Quickly
That book you love and that feel-good sweater that helps you de-stress? You're not going to find them easily under all that mess! When you don't know exactly where your favorite things are, it can lead to worrying that you've lost them forever. You'll be a lot better at handling stress when you know your go-to items are just a hands-reach away.
6. Allows You To Be More Mindful
We all get caught up in the craziness of everyday life, so it's important we remind ourselves to slow down every so often. Decluttering can actually be the perfect way to unwind and check in with yourself. For instance, as you fold your clothes, why not jam to your favorite tunes or watch your favorite comfort show? Cleaning doesn't have to be a boring, annoying task!
7. Easier To Focus
When everything around you looks so cluttered, your mind will start to feel that way too. Studying in the kitchen won't be easy when there are dirty dishes everywhere, and taking a relaxing bath is hard when the counter is a massive mess. By decluttering your safe spaces, you're giving your brain a chance to breathe - it's easier to focus when there aren't distractions around.
8. Improves Your Social Confidence
How many times have you had people over, only to suddenly worry your house is too messy? Surprisingly, this seemingly small worry can really affect how you socialize. When you tidy your home before having guests, it actually allows you to focus on the relationship, instead of stressing over that sloppy bathroom you're trying to desperately hide.
9. Makes You Feel In Control
It's your personal space so be in control. When you leave behind mountains of dirty clothes, dishes, and belongings, it can feel like you're being swallowed by your own mess. That's why it's up to you to take back that control; you'll be shocked by how much regaining this power will improve your overall well-being.
10. Boost Your Mood
When you take out stressors in your life, you naturally feel happier and lighter. So when you get into the habit of decluttering and living in organized spaces, you'll find your mood improved. Whether it's because you feel a sense of accomplishment or love how your house looks, doing this makes it easier than ever to put a smile on your face.
1. Start Small
Taking the first step is always the most overwhelming part. When decluttering starts to feel like a massive challenge, just remember it's okay to start out small. You don't need to clean up everything right off the bat; even little contributions like buying organizers, setting a task list, or clearing the counter is a step in the right direction.
2. Go By Sections
Have too many places to tidy up? Instead of running around trying to tackle too many beasts at once, go by sections. Begin with just one area and divide that up even further. For example, in your bedroom, first deal with your bed, then your desk, and so on. This makes it easier to know what you need to do.
3. Don't Hold Back
You have to be a little strict whenever you declutter. Are you keeping things just for the sake of having it? Or do you actually use it? Knowing when to say goodbye to items can be very difficult but necessary when you're trying to clean. Just remember you're decluttering for your well-being, which mean some things will have to go.
wallflower organizing on Unsplash
4. Keep Your Favorite Belongings Together
Because we've highlighted the importance of knowing where your favorite possessions are, why not make it easier during your organizing stage by keeping them together? Your blanket and book duo? Store them in a nice box where you use them most. Your most comfortable sweatpants and sweater? Keep them in a designated spot in your closet.
5. Take Breaks
It's important to be kind to yourself as you take on this huge task of organizing everything. Make sure you take breaks and stay hydrated. If you're doing this to improve your mental health, you must look after yourself during every stage of the process. After all, your well-being matters when you're decluttering too.
6. Set Goals Ahead Of Time
Before you even start tidying up, it's a good idea to set goals whether it's for the day or overall. It allows you to work towards something and feel accomplished by the end of it. It also ensures you're not overdoing it; if your goal is to declutter the bathroom and bedroom in one day, don't stress yourself out by taking on the kitchen too.
7. Use The 10-10 Method
Still having trouble? Give the popular 10-10 method a try! This recommends that once you pick an area, set a timer for 10 minutes and try to declutter 10 items during that time. Doing this can help you feel focused, make you move with purpose, and helps you set an immediate goal to achieve.
8. Visualize Your Expectations
If you're looking for some motivation, why not try visualizing your expectations? Seeing what the room could look like after you've tidied it up can give you the drive you need to get it done. It's all about seeing the potential.
9. Make It A Routine
To save yourself the same trouble again, make decluttering a part of your routine. Set a goal of doing it every few weeks so that it's always a small task instead of a big one. It'll be much less stressful this way.
Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash
10. Let Yourself Be Proud!
There's no reason why you ever need to feel ashamed of your space. In fact, you should be proud you decided to take action and change for the better! You're doing this for your own health, so take pride in your accomplishments and let this be a feel-good moment.
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