One in 11 Americans have so many belongings that they have to pay a sweet $91.14 per month (on average) for storage space outside their homes. It’s not necessarily hoarding—sometimes, they just have difficulty parting with their prized possessions because of the sentimental value they hold or the comfort they give.
Unfortunately, it’s not a good habit.
Keep one too many useless items close to you, and they will start affecting your ability to focus, get restful sleep, be healthy, remain productive, and zap all your energy. That’s why it’s important to declutter your space. You’ll create a clean and organized environment that leads to a more clear-headed state of mind.
Still not convinced?
Here are 10 game-changing benefits that are sure to get you spring cleaning ASAP.
How Decluttering Can Improve Your Life
Here are some ways decluttering can do a 180 on your quality of life:
1. It Creates More Space
The cost of housing is rising at a steady pace. With no increases to the federal minimum wage in sight, it makes more sense than ever to make every square inch of your home count. Keep only what you love to maximize space within your home, and you’ll spend less time cleaning, find items more easily, and create a more harmonious living environment.
2. It Eases Stress
A study on wives with higher stressful home scores found that clutter was associated with higher levels of cortisol—the primary stress hormone. Moreover, a study conducted at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab also found that it can make you consume food that is high in calories.
And that’s why you need to declutter your home ASAP.
Decluttering has a profound impact on your well-being—and not just because it can keep overeating at bay. It can also help you feel happier, less anxious, and more confident.
3. It Enhances Well-being
Decluttering can create a relaxing environment that can make you feel happier. Since your home is easier to maintain, you can enjoy greater mindfulness in your day-to-day habits, helping you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings.
4. It Foster Better Relationships
Clutter is a pervasive problem that can make people feel embarrassed and guilty while discouraging socializing. Moreover, because mess creates a sense of chaos, it can be an overwhelming source of anxiety for some people. By cleaning up, you’ll let positive vibes enter the room and feel more comfortable inviting friends over.
5. It Can Improve Your Mood
Clutter can prevent you from bonding with others, causing social isolation which can negatively influence psychological health and lead to depressive symptoms. But if you keep a neat and tidy space, it could boost your mood. The process will also make you feel better about yourself, which can positively affect your mental health.
6. It Increases Focus and Productivity
Clutter creates a distracting environment that drains our cognitive resources, making it difficult to focus on the task at hand. At work, this can negatively affect your output and performance as it takes approximately 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on track.
Luckily, research has shown that decluttering our surroundings can help. It can help us process information faster, be more productive, and be less irritable.
7. It Lowers the Risk of Allergies
Clutter can provide an environment for contaminants like dust mites, mold, and mildew to thrive which can result in allergies. It can also lower the air quality which can make breathing more difficult and make you susceptible to a host of health issues, including heart disease and cancer. When you declutter, you reduce the presence of irritants at home, which can improve your quality of life.
8. It Relieves Anxiety
Our brains like order so having constant visual reminders of disorganization can be confusing. It sends our cognitive abilities into overdrive. And because we cannot focus on what we’re looking for, paying attention to what isn’t working can affect our anxiety levels. Removing or controlling clutter can ease anxiety—provided you do it right.
9. It Revitalizes Your Energy
A cluttered space can drain you. It steals precious time from your day because it’s so difficult to find what you’re looking for. Additionally, it can bombard your senses with too much stimulation, paving the way for mental exhaustion. Having a good clear-out can make your space feel light and peaceful, helping energy flow more freely.
10. It Helps You Sleep Better
In 2020, 17.8% of survey respondents experienced trouble staying asleep while 14.5% had trouble falling asleep.
High levels of clutter could contribute to these issues. Clutter has been found to stimulate the production of stress hormones which influence the structural organization of sleep and lead to daytime impairments caused by fragmented sleep. Meanwhile, another study found that decluttering and self-care habits can improve sleep quality.
How To Get Started With Decluttering
Decluttering can be hard. You may not know where to start and you may find it difficult to let go of certain items. But given the great impact it has on your well-being, it’s a necessary evil you need to take on. Here’s how you can do it:
- Start small. Instead of putting your entire room on your to-do list, start with the drawer by your bedside, move to the closet, and then gradually grow the area you want to clean.
- Tidy up in batches. There’s no need to dedicate your day to getting rid of items you’ve held onto over the years. Make the process intentional, reflecting on the sentiment attached to items for a mindful approach to cleaning.
- Have a sorting system. Create 4 piles: what you want to keep, what you want to donate, what you want to relocate, and what you want to throw. Put the latter in a trash bag and throw it in the bin ASAP to avoid second-guessing.
And remember to take before and after photos of your first clean-up. It will give you a sense of accomplishment, motivating you to take on the next task on your list.
Take Home Message
Clutter can have a disastrous impact on your mood, behavior, habits, and quality of life. By spending some time getting rid of items you no longer need, you can reduce stress and anxiety while moving towards a more mindful and intentional life.
Get started today, and watch it do wonders for your well-being.