Happy New Year! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and enjoyed all your holiday decorations! Now it is time to pack those decorations away and declutter the house! Having been a self-proclaimed ‘professional declutterer’ for many years, I know I feel better with a decluttered space, but is there real science supporting actual wellness benefits? Research studies have shown that being surrounded by clutter has a negative effect on our mental health, leading to increased stress levels, anxiety, and depression, and the act of decluttering actually has profound effects on our overall mental health and emotional well-being.
Clutter is subjective; it can mean different things to different people, and people have different thresholds for clutter. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines clutter as “a crowded or confused mass or collection.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a lot of objects in a state of being untidy.” But decluttering doesn’t mean an almost empty home; it means our environment is free of items that we deem as unnecessary. It’s about aligning our space with the life we want to live. Our homes should restore us, not drain us.
Benefits of a Decluttered Space
If our environment is filled with clutter, our minds can feel the same. Our brains naturally seek order and organization. Cluttered spaces are constantly signaling our brain that there is unfinished work. Removing or reducing clutter helps send the signal that our nervous system can relax.
Benefits of decluttering include:
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Enhanced focus. Our brains can easily feel overloaded when surrounded by constant stimulation, information, AND cluttered spaces. Removing clutter can help limit overload and allow us to better focus.
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Less stress. Studies have found a link between clutter and elevated cortisol (the stress hormone). I know when I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, simply taking 10 minutes to clean out a drawer is immediately calming and provides a sense of accomplishment.
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Improved mood. Decluttering can actually release dopamine (the happy hormone).
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Easier to keep our space clean. Without all the ‘tchotchkes’ around collecting dust, we don’t have as many dust mites in the air and it’s easier and quicker for us to dust and vacuum. This may be particularly helpful to those with allergies or asthma.
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Less risk of trips or falls. When things are picked up and put in their place, there is less chance of tripping over items left on the floor.
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Improved sleep quality. Research has shown that folks who sleep in a peaceful, clutter-free bedroom are able to sleep better. You may want to start decluttering in your bedroom!
Tips to Begin Decluttering
Decluttering is an ongoing process. Think about ‘Progress over Perfection’. Take it slow and implement habits to help maintain your newly decluttered spaces. There are a multitude of tips available in books, web sites, podcasts, TV shows, social media, etc. A few examples are Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Dana White’s podcast, A Slob Comes Clean, and the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Each has their own system to help guide decluttering; find the system that best resonates with you. Don’t be surprised when decluttering brings up emotions. You may feel that you spent a lot of money on an item, so you feel guilty; sentimental items can be especially difficult. You may be holding onto something because you might need it someday. Commonly, most systems include asking yourself some questions about items you are debating about getting rid of such as: Do you Use this? Do you Love this? Would you Buy this again with the life you are living now? If the answers are ‘no’, then let it go!!
Here are a few common tips that have been proven successful:
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Start Small. Don’t try to declutter everything all at once. Start with one drawer or perhaps a countertop. Celebrate the finished product instead of focusing on how much still needs to be done. You will likely feel inspired to continue!
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Set a timer and dedicate a small amount of time each day to decluttering. Grab a trash bag and commit to a 10- to 15-minute walk-through to easily gather those items that can be tossed.
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Toss expired items from your refrigerator and pantry each week the day before the trash goes out.
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Keep a ‘donate’ bin in a closet or garage to toss things into as you are decluttering. Schedule a routine date each month to drop off your donated items.
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Designate a space for items. This will help you keep track of things, will save time, and may prevent purchasing duplicates.
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Keep a few items from a collection. Perhaps you have totes full of grandma’s china that you haven’t used in 20+ years? If walking by those totes causes feelings of guilt or stress, perhaps select a few favorite pieces that you can and will use, and donate the remaining pieces. Using these few pieces on a regular basis hopefully brings feelings of joy and cherished memories. Another tip is to take photos of sentimental items to honor a memory.
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Use the ‘One in, One out’ method. When something new comes in, remove one or two older items that you no longer need.
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Seek the help of a professional. If you want some help in your decluttering process, you may want to consider consulting a professional organizer. The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) at https://www.napo.net can be a resource to find a professional. With the increased use of ZOOM and Facetime, many professionals now provide online consultations.
Decluttering can be a powerful wellness tool. When we clear what no longer serves us, we make space – not just in our homes, but in our minds and our hearts – for what truly matters to us.