Everyone experiences some degree of stress. Some more (or less) than others. What’s important to note is that sometimes stress can accumulate before we ever get a chance to realize it. And when it does, we’re pushed past our limits and wind up manifesting a whole host of problems due to the stress. Anxiety, anger, depression. Poor sleep. Low immunity (i.e., frequently catching colds and the flu). Chronic, or growing, inflammation (which in and of itself can be concerning). Trouble with our relationships at home, work, and even amongst strangers. And of course, the obvious, not feeling fulfilled with our lives. Thus, it’s important that we learn to not only manage our stress but also that we identify its sources. Most of the time, we’re simply told to do things like meditate, practice self-love, and take some time off for ourselves. While these are all valid forms of stress relief (not to mention ones I can recommend), there’s more to stress than meets the eye, and for some of us, none of those options seem to work. If that’s the case, then you need to not only find a healthy alternative to relieving your stress, you’ve got to dig deeper and continue searching for its source. And one of the most common everyday stressors happens to be one that, again, most of us have dealt with at some point in our lives- clutter. Yes, a disorganized, cluttered environment can have quite the impact on your mood and be a silent candidate for your stress.

Not convinced? Then let’s explore this in-depth for today’s post. Are you ready? Then let’s get started.

Cluttered Space = Cluttered Mind

Sure, we all feel confined by clutter-induced stress, but most of us can’t seem to really put a finger on why it does this. Until now. There’s actually research on the effects of clutter and mental health to prove that it’s not all in your head.

Back in 2009, the UCLA Center on Everyday Lives of Families (CELF) published research that showed women who lived with clutter tended to have higher amounts of cortisol compared to those who otherwise kept a tidy home. The research itself was composed of data collected over a three-day period and produced similar results to older data that’d been made throughout a 4-year period. In the end, it was surmised that the degree of stress women would experience was dependent upon the amount of clutter in their homes. [1]

Now, I expect that for some of you, this might not seem relevant, especially if you’re not raising a family. But don’t think twice- this problem is also applicable to being productive. If you’re a student, writer, engineer, entrepreneur (you get the picture), surrounding yourself in clutter can interfere with your work and productivity. Research from Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute shows that otherwise clean, uncluttered environments support better productivity, lower rates of irritability, and fewer distractions in comparison to those that are cluttered and disorganized. [2] It’s also worth mentioning that the researchers found that clutter can actually overload our brain due to it demanding attention over whatever task we’re focusing on. This overload interferes with our focus and cognition, leading to a sense of overwhelm and tension as we struggle to process enough information and stay on task.

While it’s OK to have a messy space from time to time (why else do we need to dedicate at least one day to chore work?), what’s not is when it starts to permeate and literally take over our lives. As such, there’s a reason why professional organizers exist. They’re like superheroes swooping into the rescue before things get ugly. According to the former host of the Learning Channel’s Clean Sweep television series Peter Walsh (a professional organizing expert) this ugliness is not to be taken likely, stating, “When people see clutter, they use language like ‘suffocating’, and ‘I can’t breathe’.” [3]

Ironically, many people are often adding more fuel to the fire through the act of hoarding. This can get so extreme that it becomes a mental disorder. Aptly known as hoarding disorder, the compulsive habit or addiction to save or accumulate as many items as possible, regardless of whether or not they truly need them. The Mayo Clinic reports that hoarding disorder can lead to a number of complications in the long run, including fire hazard risk, social isolation or loneliness, injury due to being trapped by the items (which can cause tripping or falls), poor sanitation that may lead to possible health risks, poor productivity and performance at work, and is associated with a variety of mental health disorders, including OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity), anxiety, and depression. [4]

How to De-Clutter

The act of de-cluttering is meant to be liberating. Joyce Marter, a licensed clinical professional counselor, encourages that, “By purging unneeded items from our homes, it is like deleting files to create disk space on your computer. Suddenly, the whole operating system is more efficient… this decreases stress and increases your effectiveness personally and professionally.” [5]

By cleaning up, you’re quite literally lifting an incredible amount of weight off of your subconscious. Even if there are other stresses of your life that have nothing to do with clutter, your ability to handle them will be much better if you have the right space to feel grounded in. So, how can one de-clutter? Here are my suggestions:

• Start with learning to let go. If your possessions are building up and taking much-needed space, then take a moment to weigh in their value. Are they worth keeping around at the expense of your well-being? Or is this a sign that you’re carrying a costly attachment? Think of it like this: do you own your belongings, or, do your belongings own you?
• Team Up. Call a friend or family member to help you tackle the mess. Maybe you know someone who could use what you may no longer need. Having another person with you helps to get another pair of eyes on the scene who could see what needs to improve.
• Get Organized. Maybe your problem isn’t getting rid of things- it’s that they have no place to go in your house. Are bills, clothes, shoes, utensils, and other items thrown around without rhyme or reason? Do you tend to lose things easily? If that’s the case, then you need to master organization. Create designated areas for different objects- office supplies stay in the office, hair and skin products belong in the bathroom, not the bedroom. Spend some time putting things back into their proper place rather than leaving them out where they could get lost.
• Invest in storage. As a piggy-back from the last tip, consider investing in storage bins. Trash cans, labeled boxes, containers, etc. Again, maybe you don’t necessarily need to throw anything away so much as you need to neatly and strategically put them where they belong. Have a bookshelf or magazine rack. Put any supplements or medications in a cabinet and not on the counter. Put legal documents and other important items in a special folder on your desk. I know it sounds obvious, but you’ll be surprised at how many people forget about being organized!

Final Thoughts…

I realize that there’s a fine art to staying free of clutter. It’s easier said than done in many cases, and I understand the various nuances that come from preventing and addressing clutter. Which is why I recommend you check out this article I found while researching today’s post. It provides a long list of de-cluttering tips by various experts who specialize in organizing. In the meantime, please share with me your tips for avoiding clutter and whether or not you perform at your best in a cluttered space.

Sources:

[1] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167209352864
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21228167
[3] https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/clutter-control#1
[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056
[5] https://www.mother.ly/life/its-science-clutter-can-actually-give-you-anxiety