How Clutter Causes Stress

It is no secret that clutter causes stress in our lives. Clutter can be both physical and mental, and it can prevent us from feeling organized and productive, leading to stress and anxiety. Clutter can be anything from a cluttered desk to a cluttered mind, and it can have a significant impact on our mental health.

Impact of clutter

Did you know there are actually scientific connections between clutter and mental health? Here is an excerpt from Psychology Today about that connection.

Why does mess lead to so much stress?

1. Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli, causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t important.
2. Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on.
3. Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.
4. Clutter constantly signals to our brains that our work is never done.
5. Clutter makes us anxious because we’re never sure what it’s going to take to get through to the bottom of the pile.
6. Clutter creates feelings of guilt and embarrassment, especially when others unexpectedly drop by our homes or workspaces.
7. Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow most people to think, brainstorm, and problem-solve.
8. Clutter frustrates us by preventing us from locating what we need quickly.

Take back control

Organizing our physical and mental environment can help reduce clutter and reduce stress. Taking the time to organize our space can help us feel more in control of our environment and our lives. Setting aside time to declutter our minds can also help reduce stress, as we can identify and address the worries and anxieties that are causing us stress.

Clutter is one of the easiest life stressors to fix. Here are a few ideas:

1. If clutter has invaded your entire house, don’t tackle the job alone. Get the family involved by starting with a room everyone uses and making each person responsible for a section. If you’re on your own, start with one area at a time and finish de-cluttering that area before moving on to another.
2. Create designated spaces for frequently used items and supplies so that you can quickly and easily find what you’re looking for when you need it.
3. If you don’t use it, don’t want it, or don’t need it, get rid of it.
4. When you take something out of its designated space to use it, put it back immediately after you’re finished with it.
5. Make it fun! As you’re going about cleaning things out, put on some of your favorite tunes. The more upbeat, the better!

By taking the time to organize our physical and mental environment, we can reduce clutter and reduce our stress levels. Clutter causes stress, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent part of our lives.

Related blog: How Decluttering Can Help Reduce Stress and Improve Your Well-Being

Let Us Help

If you need help and do not know where to begin, it might be time to consider hiring a professional to help declutter and organize your home. Let us implement our proven system to help organize your home for good. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation to see how we can help you achieve a clutter-free life.