How tidying up your home will simplify your life.
Where there is clutter, there is stress. And where is the most important place to feel stress-free? Your home. Yet, your home is cluttered and it makes you stressed. And that is anxiety-inducing, which in turn creates an unhealthy home environment and mental state. The conundrum is real. Wondering how to bring peace and positive energy to your home? Face the omnium-gatherum with a plan, confidence and a box of trash bags and you are on your way to improving your mental health and simplifying your life. One room at a time.
How Mess Causes Stress
Living in a state of untidiness affects you in ways that you may not even realize. Clutter makes it hard to relax and nearly impossible to focus on anything positive or productive. If there’s a constant reminder of unfinished chores, we begin to feel guilty about our lack of upkeep and ashamed to have friends and family see the chaos.
So look around you right now. Are you sitting amongst clutter? Is every inch of your desk covered? Are all of your countertops piled with mail and papers that have no significance? What about your sink? Is it filled with dishes that have yet to make their way to the dishwasher? And let’s not forget about the foyer, a favorite catchall for shoes, purses and jackets. If you find yourself answering yes to any of these questions, it’s time to step it up and get organized.
Prepare Ahead
Once you have decided to streamline your home, get some boxes and get moving. Strike while you are freshly motivated and avoid putting it off for another day. Having boxes labeled as trash, donate and keep is the best way to prepare. It is also suggested to follow the two main rules of decluttering: If you have not used it in a year or more, let it go and If you don’t use it, don’t want it, or don’t need it, get rid of it. Once you have your first round of boxes full, tape them up and move on.
Break it Down
To avoid feeling overwhelmed, the best plan of attack is to break it down. In this case, break it into rooms or sections of rooms. Getting your entire home decluttered in one afternoon is not a realistic expectation. And stay focused. Start with one small area and finish it entirely before moving to another area. Take a few moments to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment, then forge ahead through the next task. You will be amazed at how several small successes can positively affect your mood and relieve anxiety.
Decluttering your home is necessary if you want to live a simplified life with a healthy mind. Making the decision to get your home organized and taking the time to actually do it gives you confidence. Happiness. Peace. And that makes it all worth it.
