A study from the University of California found that mothers who described their homes as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” had higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Stress is known to contribute to poor sleep, diet and a general decline in health. The research also found that clutter was linked to feelings of stress, fatigue and depression. Decluttering your home is one of the first steps to decluttering your mind for good mental health.
Finding Lost Treasures And Getting Rid Of Unhelpful Items
Deciding to declutter and get your space organized is a great way to stumble across items you once treasured that may bring back happy memories or become useful items that you start to use again. It’s also a good time to get rid of things that aren’t useful to you or your mental health. For example, opening your wardrobe and seeing clothes that no longer fit you is a constant reminder of a size you used to be that can make you feel bad about yourself. Donating those clothes to a charity shop or passing them onto a friend or relative that will fit them is a positive way to get rid of them.
Eat Healthier And Lose Weight By Decluttering
A 2016 study from Cornell University found that stress triggered by clutter may be linked to triggering coping mechanisms too, including overeating comfort foods. The University of Minnesota also that people in unorganized, messy spaces were twice as likely to eat a chocolate bar than an apple. Another study from the Florida State University found that people with extremely cluttered homes were 77% more likely to be overweight. They suggested that clutter and weight gain may be linked to people being too busy, so they’d be more likely to eat unhealthy convenience foods, as well as not having time to organize their home.
Create Storage Solutions
Shockingly, 1 in 4 Americans admit to having a clutter problem in their home. Not all of these items can be sold or donated, and you may want to keep some things but in an organized space away from your daily living area. An ideal option is a storage shed or a garage to keep your possessions nearby so you can get to them whenever you want to. It’s important to keep storage spaces organized and prevent them from becoming your replacement cluttered space.
Many studies have found that clutter can have a negative impact on your mental health, so it makes sense that decluttering can have the opposite, positive effects. So, a bit of spring cleaning could be just what you need.
