The Psychology of Clutter: How Decluttering Can Improve Your Mental Well-being
When was the last time the -to do list- in your brain’s note section was truly empty? Am I the only one that feels like it’s a never ending battle? That we live in this fast-paced world where it feels like you can never find enough time, no matter how productive you think you are. Something comes up and you think alright, put it on -the list-. This vicious cycle of life, also known as, survival of the fittest often leads us to accumulating allll sorts of stuffff. Whether it be setting down mail to get back to later, or sentimental items we just don’t know what to do with, it can all collectively start to become a mental burden, sometimes without even realizing it. The psychology surrounding clutter goes beyond the stereotypical “messy room”- it digs into the impact our environment can have on our mental well-being.
We’re a couple healthcare professionals turned organizers, of course we want to talk about how clutter can weigh on our mental health
Stay with me- Im about to get a little nerdy here for a minute- Numerous studies have highlighted the connection between clutter and stress levels to be that a cluttered environment can consciously, and subconsciously, overwhelm the mind leading to increased levels of cortisol, also known as our stress hormone. When our personal living spaces are in disarray, on top of our already stressful lives, our brains struggle to focus and in comes that not so friendly feeling of chaos. The visual clutter becomes a distraction and can affect our ability to concentrate eventually leading to mental fatigue and anxiety. We look around and can only see unfinished tasks on our dreaded -to do list- and can often forget that some of the things we dread doing, are often the best for us.
- What are you even talking about? -
Im talking about how therapeutic the power of decluttering can be. The incredible sense of control you feel choosing what belongings hold value to you, and letting go of what no longer serves you. It forces us to face our attachments to material items and truly question their place in our lives. But what it really does is give us one of the best feelings there is, accomplishment. And of course the weight lifted off our shoulders knowing something on that -to do list- is done and dusted.
- Okay, cool Im seeing the connection, but now what? -
Now we talk about how decluttering naturally brings mindfulness into practice. The act of decluttering- focusing on a singular item, evaluating its significance, and making an intentional choice, forces us to be fully present and engaged. Mindfulness by its definition means living in the present moment. We’re calming the mind, reducing stress, and getting some real clarity here. So basically we’re no only getting a *freeeee* therapy session out of all this, but we’re also getting rid of a whole bunch of crap that’s been living on -our list- for days, months, or maybe years.
YOU. CAN. DO. HARD. THINGS.
Hey, hi, hello! We’re Carissa + Emily of the The Little Things Organizing located in the picturesque city of Portland, ME
We believe your time is valuable and that homes are meant to be enjoyed, not stressed over. Our goal is to help create sustainable solutions to make your home more beautiful, organized, and efficient, letting you spend your time how you truly deserve.