Our
homes are one of the most crucial assets in our lives, and the level of care we
put into them directly affects our mental health. Thankfully, decluttering can
be done as creatively and extensively as you'd prefer. In addition, an
organized home produces a calmer state of mind and a stronger sense of control
over one's life.
The Benefits of Decluttering A
Home
- Improved focus: Clutter is time-consuming when finding what you're
looking for is harder. It's also a distracting eye-sore, so eliminating unnecessary
junk will significantly improve focus for completing tasks at home.
- Better self-esteem: Being disorganized is a slippery
slope that can quickly spiral out of control. A well-maintained living space is
beneficial for restoring feelings of competence and confidence.
- Improved relationships: Roommates and family members may be
a source of conflict for individuals who struggle to manage their clutter.
Additionally, inviting house guests to a tidy home will be more comfortable and
reduce feelings of shame or embarrassment.
- Reduced asthma and allergies: Even though a tidy home isn't messy,
it may still be dirty. Cleaning your belongings as you organize them is
effective at preventing unwanted pests. Also, adequately cleaned houses have
less dust, mold, and mildew, which are notorious asthma and allergy triggers.
- Healthier lifestyle and well-being: The desire and ease of preparing
healthy meals come naturally with a tidy kitchen. Quality of sleep is also
improved in a neat bed and clean bedroom.
Tips For Decluttering Your Home
- To avoid overwhelming yourself, start small. For example, you may plan out
a daily schedule of picking one space to organize at a time. Starting out small
with a drawer or cabinet will make organizing more manageable.
- Structure your decluttering based on importance. Consider your upcoming plans
if you'll be having anyone coming to your home. For example, organizing your
kitchen will reinforce motivation and help you feel more prepared for the event
if you're hosting a holiday get-together. Also, since decluttering takes longer
than expected, giving yourself extra time helps you think clearly about what
you want to keep and get rid of.
- You should never strive for perfection. A pragmatic mindset is
beneficial while decluttering. There's no need to store away belongings for an
aesthetically pleasing living space, primarily if you use them frequently. It's
expected that items in our home will experience wear and tear with age, and
it's best not to compare our living spaces with those of other people.
Habits & Characteristics Of
Clutterers
Individuals
who struggle with cluttering may exhibit the following:
- They need better time
management skills and help to finish tasks they start.
- Have a perfectionistic
mindset, and restart or quit tasks that don't meet their expectations.
- They are easily sidetracked
or quickly lose interest in a task, as often seen in attention deficit
disorders.
- They have a highly active
social life and spend more time with others while neglecting their
responsibilities.
- They struggle with
procrastination; exhibit a pattern of putting tasks off.