Decluttering Brings Peace

We all sometimes feel overwhelmed by clutter and "stuff" around our homes, desks, or schedules. Being around clutter adds to stress and anxiety, preventing us from feeling peace and enjoying family and friends. 

Last weekend, I spent several days at my cousin's home in California, where I was reminded that an organized space makes everyone feel relaxed and welcome.  My cousin is an incredible interior designer/decorator, which I already knew, but staying in her home, I discovered she is also a master organizer.  Every drawer in her kitchen was neat and clean, and every bathroom drawer was neatly stocked with everything a guest could need.  There were displays and organizers for everything in each drawer and closet. Everything was placed perfectly, and everything was in its place. 

When I returned home and looked around, I began to feel stressed when I encountered a drawer or closet that looked a bit cluttered. My house is clean and mainly organized, but there is room for improvement, so after I stayed at Cousin Debbie's house, I was motivated to declutter and organize my own. I also wanted to share my research and ideas with you through this blog so you can begin decluttering, too.

Why is decluttering important? Clutter in your spaces and schedule causes stress and anxiety. Diane Roberts Stoler, Ed. D., a neuropsychologist, writes, "If your space is unorganized and filled with clutter, it can be difficult to focus or concentrate. Research has shown that people are less irritable, less distracted, more productive, and better able to process information with an uncluttered and organized work area." "Several studies show a correlation between disorganization, clutter, and mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Messy environments can cause frustration, helplessness, and feeling overwhelmed."

Decluttering spaces and organizing your home improves your mood, motivation, and eating and sleeping habits. You sleep better in a less cluttered room and eat healthier in an organized kitchen where you can cook quickly and efficiently.

Now that we agree that we need to become less cluttered and more organized let's discuss how to do it.

When we think about decluttering and organizing, we fall victim to many negative thoughts from our primitive brain.  Remember that all of our negative emotions come from our negative thoughts.  When we see something that seems complicated, our brain will want to avoid it.  Our brain is wired naturally to avoid pain, conserve energy, and increase comfort. Decluttering is uncomfortable.  So, be ready for your brain to object and make up any excuse not to declutter.  Push through anyway.

Start with something small. Embarking on a small project can make the task of decluttering feel more manageable and less daunting. Start with a drawer or a closet, and gradually work your way through one room at a time.  Choose a time of day when you feel most empowered and determined.  As you successfully organize one area, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment and be motivated to continue, empowering you to take on bigger challenges.

Be prepared to discard things.  We all keep more stuff than we use.  Ask yourself whether you love an item and if you use it often.  If the answer is no, either donate or discard that item.  If you have less stuff, you will have an easier time organizing what remains, so give yourself a break and let go of some of your things.  If you are keeping things that carry memories but are no longer used, a good suggestion is to take a photo of that item to retain the memory without actually keeping the item. You can even make a photo book from the pictures and keep it for the memories.

Practice remaining mindful during your decluttering exercise.  Staying in the moment and focused on the task at hand will help you get through even the most challenging decisions. If your brain begins to feel cluttered as you work, take a timed break to relieve that mental stress.  Remember that your brain likes things to feel easy, and organizing is often challenging, but if you focus on the result you will have once you are decluttered, you will ultimately reach your goal. 

If there are things that you are unsure about, you may make up a box of "unsure" items. Pack them away for a year; if you have not gone into that box, you can discard it.  Also, once you decide to donate or trash something, do it immediately.  Get it to a place where you can no longer see it and be tempted to bring it back into the house.  I like to keep my donation bins safely out of sight in the garage until I take them to the donation center.

Once you have weeded out the bulk of the junk, start to reorganize your space.  Use shelves, bins, baskets, and drawer organizers to display your favorite things so you can enjoy them daily.  Once your space is decluttered and reorganized, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in your newly beautified spaces.

Now, it is your turn to start to declutter your spaces.  I hope you will feel empowered by your ability to overcome your uncomfortable feelings and get it done.  Let me know what you declutter and how it makes you feel.  I hope my trip to my cousin's house has inspired you to organize your home more but remember; it is a work in progress: just one drawer, one closet at a time. Every little step will help you enjoy and find peace in your environment and feel better.

Dr. Julie Cappel 

“Being organized isn’t about getting rid of everything you own or trying to become a different person. It’s about living the way you want to live, but better.”  – Andrew Mellen