The Link Between Clutter and Stress
When I ask new clients "How is your home currently making you feel?" 99% of the time, their response includes the word "stressed".
Whether they feel stress because they can't find what they are looking for quickly, or because they live with anxiety that someone will drop by unannounced, or they feel like they just can't relax in their own home, stress is a very real consequence of clutter for most people.
This month I'll be exploring the many ways minimizing clutter can reduce stress, and leave you with some resources for how to start decluttering.
9 Ways Reducing Clutter Reduces Stress
1. You're not constantly searching for misplaced items. Hunting for misplaced items is stressful, especially when you're pressed for time. When everything has a designated home, it's much easier to find what you're looking for quickly. Imagine opening your front door on the way out to work to find rain, and knowing exactly where your umbrella is. It's a much less stressful way to start the day than having to check five different places in a rush to find your umbrella while the clock is ticking.
2. It saves you money. When you have better systems and routines for handling your bills and paperwork, you aren't paying late fees and missing deadlines due to disorganization. You aren't constantly paying to replace lost items, or buying multiples of items you already own because it's too difficult to locate the items you have.
3. You're not living with anxiety that someone will drop by unannounced. It's really freeing to feel confident that if someone dropped by, your house would just looked "lived-in" rather than chaotic or a source of embarrassment.
4. It's easier to delegate household tasks because there's a clear system. When everyone in the house knows where to find things and where to put them back, it's so much easier for others to help with household tasks. If you ask your kids to clean up the living room, but you don't have an answer for them when they ask "Mom, where does this go?" it's frustrating for everyone.
5. Your home actually looks cleaner after you clean. So many people tell me that when their house is cluttered, they feel like they're constantly cleaning, but it never looks cleaner. After you declutter, things finally look and feel cleaner because you have a place to put things away, rather than shuffling items from surface to surface because your closets and cabinets are full.
6. It frees up more time and space to do the activities that help you feel relaxed. It's so much more enjoyable to craft when you don't have to spend 20 minutes looking for your craft supplies, and another 20 minutes clearing off the dining table so you have space to work. Yoga is more relaxing when you don't have to spend time and energy clearing floor space first.
7. It improves family dynamics. Living with others is so much more peaceful in a less cluttered environment. Fuses run short when everyone always has to turn to you for help finding things. When you can't walk in the front door after a busy day at work without stepping over your kids' backpacks or your spouses shoes, that sets the stage for frustration and angst. When you have established systems in your home for where things go, and everyone is clear on what their responsibilities are for maintaining it, life becomes easier for everyone.
8. You can think more clearly. There's a reason many of us feel the urge to tidy our desk before beginning a big project. When our space feels cluttered, our minds feel cluttered. It's much easier to think creatively and strategically when our field of vision isn't filled with clutter and constant reminders of the things we should be doing.
9. Your home becomes a sanctuary rather than a stressor. After you've decluttered, your home feels like more of a sanctuary. It's a place where you can relax after a stressful day. Yes, there will still be some housework. That's a part of life. But when things have a process and a place, housework transforms from a daunting task to a manageable one. So when it's time to relax, you can truly relax.
The Cost of Clutter in Your Life
This article "The Cost of Clutter in Your Life" from verywellmind.com dives deeper into this topic, as well as offers some tips for getting started with organizing and decluttering.
I hope you've found this month's blog post helpful, and I invite you to take some time to reflect on the cost of clutter in your life. In what ways is clutter causing you stress? How might things be different if you had less "stuff"? If you're ready to get organized and create a less stressful and more functional home, I'm here to help. We can do this!
-Sarah Holden, Owner
Room Service Home Organizing LLC