Perhaps the most obvious way clutter can harm your home and life is the buildup of stress that is associated with a large amount of mess around your home or office. In some cases, a little bit of disorganization can be positive and keep everybody on their toes working towards the same goal. However, when clutter becomes a major problem, the issues that arise can touch every aspect of life from mental and physical health to the possibility of maintaining a long-term relationship.Why is clutter bad for your overall health?
Clutter can cause chronic stress, leading to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This can trigger feelings of depression and anxiety, as well as sleep problems. Living in a messy house or having piles of clutter around can make us feel overwhelmed, anxious and depressed. Professional organizers like Marie Kondo suggest starting small, tackling one room at a time, or even one drawer, to avoid feeling like you won't get anything done. Donating or throwing away items that no longer serve a purpose is also a way to clear the clutter and make room for the things that matter. Whether you opt for the KonMari method or hire a professional organizer, clearing clutter is an essential step towards a clutter-free and organized living space, and improved overall health.
In contrast, the opposite is true when we look at the space being occupied by a person who is surrounded by mess and clutter. You may think that a little clutter is not doing too much harm, but mess and disorganization can lead to both mental and physical health problems.
The buildup of stress that is usually associated with clutter is followed by a cluttered mind that will often lead to the wrong decisions being made when trying to live a healthy lifestyle. One of the ways clutter can negatively affect our lives is by leading to bad choices in our diet with sugary and fatty foods chosen as a coping mechanism for the stress we feel when surrounded by mess and clutter.
Health issues associated with clutter are not always solely linked to the mental health of the individual. Instead, many people find they are affected by respiratory illness when they are surrounded by clutter because more dust builds up in an office or home. Until your home or office can become clutter free, you will be faced with the usual problems of fire and trip hazards in your home and office that can lead to major health problems in the future.
Clutter has a big role | Get rid of disorganized mess
Clutter impacts more than just your living space. It can cause stress, anxiety, and even conditions like depression. Getting rid of clutter can be a significant source of stress relief, but for some, the thought of parting with sentimental items or even just too much stuff can lead to a vicious cycle of a cluttered home. Clutter can actually raise levels of the stress hormone cortisol, causing you to feel anxious and stressed. The good news is that you’re not alone. Room by room, decluttering with a cognitive behavioral approach can help. Make a place for everything and everything in its place, and consider removing everything you no longer need. It's time to declutter and avoid any health conditions that could arise from a cluttered home.
Clutter can also play a role in your happiness as an individual who wants to live a long and happy life in your personal space. In some cases, the risk of divorce is increased when a couple and their family live in a messy, dusty home. When clutter gets in the way of everyday life, we often do not identify the problems we are facing that can cause us to ignore the major problems facing us and the changes we need to make.
Another consideration for those who are looking for love is how you are portrayed to a person you hope to spend your life with. If a home is cluttered, some studies have shown up to 50 percent of homeowners will not invite friends or a potential partner into their property because of the unhappiness they feel about the way it appears to others.
What does clutter say about a person?
The state of one's living space can reveal a lot about their personality, but what does clutter say about a person? A cluttered home can indicate a lack of organization or procrastination when it comes to tackling a to-do list. It can also suggest feelings of overwhelm and anxiety, which may be exacerbated by the stress caused by clutter and disorganization. For those who hoard, clutter can become a serious problem that affects their mental health and the rest of the house. However, decluttering and de-organizing can help reduce stress levels and cortisol levels in home environments. So, it's time to avoid the storage unit and start removing everything that no longer serves a purpose, and make everything find its place in the home.
The reason why the clutter causes anxiety and stress
Clutter in the home can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety due to the overwhelming nature of a messy living space. Some people may struggle with clutter to the point where they literally can’t find anything, while others aren't bothered by it. A messy room or home can be a sign of hoarding disorder, which can lead to clutter building up and causing even more stress. By decluttering and getting rid of the extra stuff that doesn't serve a purpose, it is possible to reduce levels of cortisol and decrease feelings of stress and anxiety. It’s important to remember that others feel the same way and that de-cluttering can be done one room or even one drawer at a time.
Where do I start decluttering?
If you're feeling overwhelmed by clutter and don't know where to start decluttering, begin with the area that causes you the most stress. It could be a messy room, piles of clothes, or the living room floor. Start small and work your way up to decluttering your entire home. Consider using plastic containers with lids to organize items and avoid creating a mess in the first place. Remember, clutter causes stress and anxiety, so take the first step today if you want to avoid it.
One of the most popular tips given by experts in removing clutter is to set aside certain areas for papers and other common objects that can cause clutter. The feeling of being overwhelmed we trying to declutter a space is a common one and can be removed by setting aside a specific amount of time over a day or weekend and looking to achieve a few easy to complete goals.
Decluttering can be daunting and difficult to achieve, but the majority of us can complete this with the help of others. Taking the first step to declutter a home is often the most difficult and can result in a reduction in stress and anxiety leading to a more productive, happier life.