The Benefits of Decluttering and Where to Start

Written by: Cora Gold

Clutter is a common issue many homes face. Physical and mental effects can impact your quality of life when things pile up. Knowing the benefits of decluttering can make keeping your space clear easier, helping you live a calmer, healthier life. Here are eight benefits of decluttering your home and how you can begin.

Mental Benefits 

A cluttered home or work environment can strain your mental health. You could experience these benefits by decluttering.

Reduces Anxiety 

A disorganized or cluttered home can increase your anxiety levels. When there’s physical chaos around you, it can overwhelm your mind, impacting symptoms of mental distress.

When surrounded by clutter, your mind can get chaotic, stressing you over the little things. It can increase your anxiety levels and aggravate symptoms of other mental health conditions. Having a clear space can reduce your anxiety levels, boosting your mood and helping you keep a calmer mind.

Improves Focus 

It’s easier to focus on a single task when there are many things to do, especially if clutter is in view. Decluttering can help you zone in on the task at hand. When there are a lot of distractions, your eyes will naturally wander throughout the day, impacting your ability to stay mindful and accomplish your goals. These effects amplify when someone experiences a mental health condition like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Removes Physical Stress

When you have clutter, dust and dander can collect on knickknacks. You’re also likely tripping on misplaced items. These things can make you physically uncomfortable, which can then cause mental stress.

If you feel unwell, it can impact your mental state, increasing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Clearing the space around you can make it easier to keep your home clean and help you stay safe, leading to a better mental state.

Prevent Isolation 

Clutter can be a side-effect of mental health conditions like depression, which can snowball into isolating yourself from others. You may even feel embarrassed to have a messy home — though it’s perfectly natural — causing you to stop inviting people.

If you frequently visit loved ones’ homes but never host yourself, it might make you feel guilty about going to other events. Humans need support from family and friends, so keeping your distance can worsen mental health symptoms.

Improve Your Memory

Clutter can overwhelm your mind. You can only process so much information simultaneously, preventing you from remembering vital details. This experience can make you miss important news and events that can harm your relationships and ability to achieve your goals. Clearing your area can free up mental space and help you remember more.

Physical Benefits 

There are many physical benefits you can see through decluttering.

Provides More Room 

When you declutter, you provide more space to breathe and perform activities. By opening up your area, you can create a more welcoming environment for guests and a better environment for relaxation.

You don’t have to be a minimalist to create a cozy environment, but letting clutter get out of control can make it hard to do things to maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health. Meditation, indoor exercise, and family game nights are more accessible when you don’t have to work around many items.

Reduces Injury Risk 

An item can be cluttered if it doesn’t have a space to be in. Having something in the way of a walking path or sticking too far from a wall or shelf could increase your risk of injury. You should also consider potentially hazardous items like lighters, arms, or fireworks that are at risk of damage that could set them off or make them unusable.

Avoid tripping over and running into items by decluttering. Accidents happen, but they’re less likely without too many things in the way.

Improves Home Value 

Your home can become much easier to clean when there are fewer things to navigate. When your house is easier to maintain, you can catch potential problems as they arise, preserving your home and making updates without breaking the bank or running into an emergency. A well-maintained home can increase its value since there will be fewer repairs for a new owner.

Where to Start Decluttering 

If you have a cluttered home or office, the idea of organizing can seem overwhelming. Taking the following steps can help you conquer your goal of a better space:

• Start with one thing: Take one step at a time toward cleaning your environment. Each day, pick an item and decide whether you need to keep it or donate it. If you keep it, choose where to put it so it's out of the way and in its own space. Doing this every day without bringing more clutter in will help you achieve your goal of an organized space.

• Clean one room daily: Creating a cleaning routine can help you keep up with your environment. Dedicate one day to decluttering one or two rooms, such as your living room, office, and bedroom. Doing so can keep them from getting overwhelmed. Consider making a cleaning caddy for each room or placing a trashcan in each to make the process easier.

• Do seasonal clear-outs: You probably hear about spring cleaning, but you can "reset" a room during any season. Sorting through clutter a few times a year can turn one large job into several smaller ones.

• Ask for help: If you feel too anxious about cleaning up, consider asking for assistance. Everyone has struggles, and family and friends might be willing to help you get organized. There's no shame in admitting you need help getting started or hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

Decluttering for a Better Life 

Clutter could damage your well-being, but clearing it out of your life can help. Small steps can improve your mental and physical health and create a better, enjoyable space.