Remove Clutter From Your Life Part 2

There’s a reason why we need to reduce clutter in our lives. According to Psychology Today, all this clutter, physical and mental, can interrupt your flow—both your ability to move and your ability to think. In a 2016 study at the University of New Mexico by Catherine Roster and colleagues they examined how clutter compromises an individual’s perception of home, and ultimately feelings of satisfaction with life. The underlying premise of the study was that because many people identify so closely with their home environments, the extent to which it’s cluttered can interfere with the pleasure they experience when being in that environment.

The authors of the New Mexico study concluded that “Clutter is often an insidious and seemingly harmless outgrowth of people’s natural desire to appropriate their personal spaces with possessions… when [clutter] becomes excessive, it can threaten to physically and psychologically entrap a person in dysfunctional home environments which contribute to personal distress and feelings of displacement and alienation.” This week we’ll continue to share how we can remove clutter from our life and create a healthy space that’s favorable to better mental health. Be sure to read part one here.  

Maintain a Clutter-Free Space
It's just as important to maintain your decluttered home as it is to declutter it in the first place. The key is consistency. Once again, you may find it helpful to dedicate regular time to tidying up. For instance, you might spend 10 minutes at the end of each day putting things back where they belong.

Before you make future purchases, you might want to double-check that you don't already have that item or something similar. Also, consider whether you will actually use the item. You're not alone if you've purchased the latest workout equipment or a new electronic device only to have it sit in the corner collecting dust. A clean, decluttered room can help you feel more in control of your environment and promote a sense of calmness. By being more mindful about what you bring into your home (and what you let go of), you're honoring your space and benefitting your mental health.

Learn More About Decluttering
There are tons of TV shows, books, podcasts, and articles on decluttering. Simply start your search online and see what resources come up. For instance, you might learn more about the Japanese art of feng shui, which has guidelines on promoting good energy flow in a room based on how you arrange furniture and belongings. Research suggests that bedrooms that are aligned with the practice of feng shui can even help promote sleep.

There are also plenty of tips for getting rid of digital clutter. Unsubscribing from email lists, deleting documents you no longer need, and organizing your files into folders are all useful ways of making your digital space easier to navigate.

Be Kind to Yourself
It's natural to have thoughts like, How did I accumulate so much stuff? But try not to be too hard on yourself. Blaming or shaming yourself will not change your situation, and you're not alone if you're overwhelmed by the number of possessions you have. Practice self-compassion and remember, you can achieve your decluttering goals with time and patience.

Reward yourself for your efforts. Instead of waiting until you've decluttered your whole house, giving yourself some type of reward each time you clean may help you persist over time to achieve your long-term goal. For instance, after you spend an hour cleaning, maybe you sit down and watch an episode of your favorite TV show or play some music and have a solo dance party. These types of rewards can help keep you going until you overcome all of your clutter.

Seek Professional Help
If you're finding it difficult to clear your home of clutter, know that there are mental health professionals who can help. One type of therapy that may help is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). With CBT, your underlying thoughts and feelings are brought to the surface, so you and a therapist can address anything that's preventing you from making positive life changes. (CBT is a common treatment type for those with hoarding disorder, too.) A therapist can teach you healthy coping mechanisms to deal with the anxiety, stress, or guilt that may arise as a result of getting rid of clutter.

Cutting through the clutter can absolutely create benefits for your physical and mental wellbeing. We at RISE will be joining you in creating a clutter-free home and work environment and look forward to hearing how you’re doing.

Blessings of joy and health,
From all of us at RISE