Declutter For Your Mental Health

Our mental health can be affected by the physical environment we surround ourselves with. Living in a disorganized and cluttered space can feel unpredictable and impact us emotionally, increasing our stress levels. A cluttered environment can be annoying, cause distraction, make it difficult to relax, and drain our energy. It may even increase feelings of anxiety and depression. Most of us have probably had some sort of experience with clutter in our life. Whether you find yourself organizing your desk instead of studying like you should be or find clarity after sorting through your closet. Clutter exists in a variety of forms, it can be the physical things in our environment, digital clutter on our devices, or emotional clutter in the beliefs we hold on to. Reducing this clutter can help us handle stress more effectively and improve our mental and even physical well-being. When it comes to making healthy lifestyle changes it can be hard to know where to start. Decluttering and clearing your space might be the short daily ritual to get you started in the right direction and it doesn't cost a thing! Creating a space that feels safe, stable, and inviting can positively impact our mental health and how we respond to stress.

Our perception of clutter is individual, be mindful of when your space feels the most calm and inviting. You might be okay with a basket full of folded laundry in your room, but your partner or someone else might find that stressful or distracting. Knowing what makes you feel good gives you an end goal to keep in mind and to strive toward. Start small in your approach to decluttering, don't give yourself unrealistic expectations or aim for perfection. Try to do a little bit everyday to clear your space. Try spending 10 to 15 minutes in the evening to address one specific area such as a messy drawer in the kitchen or putting away things that have been left sitting out. You can create a plan of approach that works best for you, consider starting with the areas that you spend the most time in. Creating a relaxing and inviting environment in your bedroom can help improve the quality of your sleep which benefits all areas of your life. Start small and continue working at it over time, you'll begin to create a calm and organized space as you go along.

Remember that decluttering is not a treatment or cure for anxiety or any other mental health disorders. It is away for you to positively impact your mood and your wellbeing. Be mindful not to get weighed down by perfectionism in your pursuit to a clear space. Avoid getting caught up in images on social media or in other people's opinions of what decluttering should look like. Decluttering is an easy step to start with when looking to positively impact your life and will provide you with more mental and physical space. It requires ongoing practice and works best when it becomes a part of your daily routine. For some clearing their space is the first step toward making other big changes that positively impact their lives. Approach decluttering with an optimistic and open mind and see how a neat and tidy environment impacts your mental health.