The end of a long winter can make us feel like shedding those layers and lightening up. It can also make us realize how many unnecessary belongings we have around the house. Now is the perfect time to take control of that clutter.
As a military family, relatively frequent moves helped us do some fairly routine purging. At one point, we moved 5 times in 7 years (hey, I won the prize at one of my high school reunions for having moved the most–yippee (I think). And if we were returning from an overseas assignment and we received many items from storage, and each time it made us question why we needed that “stuff” since we had gotten along without it for several years–we would purge again. However, now that we’re not moving as much (thankfully), we seem to be collecting more “stuff” so I’m writing to myself as well about this need to purge because this “stuff” can have a not-so-healthful affect.
How does decluttering impact our health and wellness?
One author writes “I think of clutter as a constant to-do list”. At times (if we are paying attention) we may walk into a cluttered room and our mind starts to race. ‘I have too much stuff. Where should I put it? I don’t have a place to store it so I should get rid of it. But what if I need it?’ All those thoughts are exhausting. And that’s where clutter can start impacting our life.
Studies have shown that clutter causes increased cortisol in women (and probably a few good men). Some of the symptoms of increased cortisol include weight gain; a puffy, flushed face; mood swings and increased anxiety; fatigue; trouble sleeping; irregular periods and fertility problems; high blood pressure; acne or other changes in the skin; higher rates for bone fractures and osteoporosis; muscle aches and pains. Bummer! No thanks!
Meanwhile, if you’re not yet convinced that you may need to declutter, here are six significant reasons it can help us live a healthier life.
1. It Reduces Anxiety: Cluttered spaces are chaos for the mind, overwhelming already-taxed brains with too much sensory information, according to Psychology Today. (This is a biggy for me!)
2. It Can Improve Our Sleep: Our minds don’t shut off just because we close our eyes, parts of our brains are still interpreting external stimuli affecting our rest.
3. It Can Boost Our Productivity and Creativity: Some of the best brainstorming happens at home–removed from the pressures of the office and stressful clutter, our minds can better wander over previously unexamined solutions to problems.
4. It Can Free Up Our Schedule: If our house is a mess–it might be tough to find the things we need (i.e. keys, wallet or purse) on our way out the door–lots of wasted time and effort.
5. It Will Decrease Our Home of Allergens: Dust, dander and pet hair can pile up in unexpected places where those unused items collect.
6. It Can Reduce Financial Pressures: Once we’ve gotten rid of what we don’t need, we need to take control of our spending by making a list of all the things we bring home and how much we spend in a week. Then, truthfully go through that list and mark whether or not those items were things we really needed or just wanted. Have a garage sale–our items could turn into treasures for someone else or just donate it and pay it forward. (Smile)
Does Everyone Need to Declutter? In short yes–routinely our needs change, our style changes, things get ruined or broken and we are given gifts we can’t use or don’t need–it all piles up over time.
“What I know for sure is that when you declutter – whether it’s in your home, your head, or your heart – it is astounding what will flow into that space that will enrich you, your life, and your family.” ― Peter Walsh, Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight: The Six-Week Total-Life Slim Down
I love this quote–more helpful hints in my next article, Warriors!
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