How to Declutter Your Home for Mental Health and Productivity

Living in a cluttered home can be both mentally and physically draining. Not only is it difficult to find anything you need, but the mess can also cause stress and anxiety. If you’re looking for ways to declutter your home and improve your mental health, read on!

In this blog post, I will discuss the benefits of decluttering for mental health, as well as some tips, tricks, and tools that can help you reduce clutter and maintain order.

Table of Contents

The impact of mess and clutter on mental health

A cluttered home can be overwhelming and cause stress and anxiety. It is very difficult to feel calm and collected when you are surrounding by mess and confusion.

Physical Clutter

Physical clutter includes things like clothes, shoes, books, toys, and any other physical items. Many people end up with piles of things that the hardly ever use – the result of a consumer culture that leads us to buy more things than we will ever need.

Physical clutter can be very overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of it. Not only does it take up space, but it can also be difficult to keep track of everything, making it difficult to find anything you need. This can lead to frustration and even anxiety.

In extreme cases, hoarders can become so overwhelmed by their possessions that they are unable to function normally. Their living space becomes so cluttered that it interferes with their ability to cook, clean, or even sleep.

While most people are not hoarders, many of us do have a lot of physical clutter in our homes. And while it may not seem like a big deal, this clutter can have a significant impact on our mental health.

A study conducted by the University of Arizona found that that participants who had cluttered homes were more likely to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which impacts stress and anxiety.

The study also found that participants with cluttered homes were more likely to report feeling overwhelmed, distracted, and exhausted. In other words, the physical clutter in your home can have a direct impact on your mental health.

The importance of cleanliness

So far we have spoken about piles of books or toys, which though untidy, are relatively clean. However the situation is obviously much worse if the piles in question are made up of unwashed dishes and dirty laundry.

Living in such squalid surroundings is depressing and is bound to take a toll on your mental health.

When your house looks like a tip you are unlikely to invite your friends over, which can lead to social isolation.

A dirty house can also be dangerous, especially if you have young children. There are many things that can pose a danger to children, such as sharp objects, toxic chemicals, and small items that they can choke on.

In addition the piles of stuff can become a fire hazard. If your home is cluttered with newspapers, clothes, and other flammable items, it is more likely to catch fire.

Declutter and clean your home to improve your mental health

Start with small steps

Don’t try to declutter your entire house in one day. That’s a recipe for disaster. Start with small steps and work your way up.

Start by decluttering one room at a time. Once you’ve decluttered one room, move on to the next. And don’t forget to declutter your outdoor space as well!

Get rid of anything you don’t need

One of the best ways to declutter your home is to get rid of anything you don’t need. This includes things like clothes, shoes, books, and toys. If you haven’t used it in the past year, chances are you don’t need it.

So go through your things and get rid of anything you don’t need. You can donate it, sell it, or just throw it away.

Invest in some storage containers

Another great way to declutter your home is to invest in some storage containers. This will help you keep your things organized and out of the way.

There are a variety of storage containers you can buy, such as see-through storage containers for shoes and clothes, storage boxes that go under the bed, stackable food containers, big toy boxes, and drawer organisers.

Choose the right storage containers for your needs and make sure to label them so you know where everything is.

Set some rules

Once you’ve decluttered your home, it’s important to set some rules to prevent the clutter from coming back. For example, you could have a rule that for every new thing you bring into the house, you have to get rid of two things.

You could also set a rule that no one is allowed to leave their shoes in the living room. Or you could set a rule that every week, everyone in the family has to declutter their own bedroom.

Whatever rules you choose, make sure everyone in the family is on board.Enlist some help

If you’re struggling to declutter your home on your own, enlist some help from your family and friends. They can help you declutter, donate items, and find new homes for things.

You could also hire a professional declutterer. This is someone who specializes in helping people declutter their homes.

They can help you go through your things, get rid of anything you don’t need, and find new homes for everything.

Final thoughts

When you declutter your home, you will create a more peaceful and organized space that will benefit your mental health and enable you to concentrate and get your work done. In addition, living in a clean and tidy home will help you feel more in control and improve your mood.

So if you’re looking to improve your mental health, declutter your home today! You’ll be glad you did.