Do you struggle with clutter? Millions of Americans do. We buy too much, we by things we don’t really need, and we have a hard time letting go of things that no longer serve us. What though if you knew that clutter in your home and life could be harming you?
What you, and many others, may not realize is that clutter can almost certainly affect your mind and body. The following information may be helpful in encouraging you to shed the clutter once and for all.
How does your home make you feel when you walk in the door at the end of the day? Do you feel peaceful and glad to be at home because it is your sanctuary? Or do you feel anxiety because there unfolded laundry in the chair, a stack of mail and miscellaneous items spread all over the kitchen counter, and dirty dishes accumulating in the sink. Scientific reports claim the state of your house reflects the state of your mind. Disorganization and clutter indicate there is something out of balance. The trick is learning what is off-kilter and how to set it straight.
Just think about how you feel when you walk into a really nice hotel room. It is clean, serene, the beds are made and inviting, the counters are clear, and there is no clutter to be found. Many of us LOVE staying in hotel rooms because they are so restful and rejuvenating to the mind. Well, there is no reason why you cannot have that sanctuary at home.
Living in a cluttered home is stressful for everyone in the house. Mom is constantly pulled from what she needs to do to help someone find something that is missing or misplaced. Dad is late for work because he cannot find his car keys. As the pressure to find those things that are lost mounts, so does the tension. Before too long, something or someone erupts.
Think about how you feel when you have misplaced something or when you have to look at piles of random things in corners or on tables and counters. You may berate yourself for being careless and untidy. You may feel frustrated and ready to yell at someone to clean up their things. When your child or spouse comes to you to ask a question, you may not respond in a loving manner and feelings are hurt. Decluttering and organizing your home can help alleviate this problem.
Clutter drains you of energy, motivation, and makes you feel tired. When you have to look at clutter, you most likely feel overwhelmed. You know you need to do something but you do not have the energy to tackle it all and if you can’t do it all then why bother? Don’t think like that. Start small and create small victories for yourself. Take time to clear the clutter from one small area such as the nook where the coffee pot is. Once it is sparkly and organized, make yourself some coffee or tea to celebrate this small win. It can help you feel more energetic and more inspired to work on decluttering in other areas.
Also, insist on help. Put on some music and announce that for 15 minutes everyone is cleaning and putting things away. If there are items that have no clear place where they belong put them in a basket and sort it out later. It is amazing how much you can get done in 15 minutes when everyone is helping. You will likely find that after time is up you are motivated to keep going.
Did you also know clutter could be making you sick physically? No one wants to think about it, but clutter can be the breeding ground for germs, dust, pet hair, mold and mildew. It could even hide a problem with mice or bugs. If you do not believe clutter can make you sick, think of the stress mentioned above. Dust and mold can also cause allergies or worse. Well, there is something you can do about it. As my mom always said…clean is free.
Clutter can also affect your body weight. People with clutter are usually sedentary while those with an uncluttered home are active. Part of this may be because the clutter in the home makes it hard for you to move. You may also be using clutter, like being overweight, as a means to protect yourself. Clutter keeps people at bay and so there is little chance that you will be hurt.
Now that you understand some of the ways clutter can affect your mind and body, consider what you are going to do about it. Will you take a step forward and begin decluttering, or will you let it continue to rule your life and that of your family?
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