One of the main reasons to declutter is for your mental health. Less stuff means less decisions and maintenance, allowing more space for serenity and creativity. We can feel the difference when we sit down to a clear desk and a messy desk. I cleared my desk yesterday and it’s like everything is fresh for work today.
Clutter can trigger a stress response, as it’s harder to look for “danger” when there is so much to look at. Imagine your home as the control room of your spaceship; if it’s cluttered, it’s like having alarms going off for no reason. By decluttering, you’re essentially turning off those unnecessary alarms.
A decluttered space is calming.
It’s easier to focus in a clear room. A decluttered bedroom is easier to sleep in.
When you create order, you get a sense of accomplishment (if you allow yourself to feel satisfied.) You are also curating your life as you make decisions on what stays and what goes, giving you a feeling of more control and sovereignty over your life.
When you have room, you can invite friends and/or family over which can be important for mental health.
Which is why it saddens me when I hear people berate themselves over a cluttered home. When they never feel they have done enough decluttering. One thing out of place in an otherwise presentable room, can make some feel unworthy. Others are overwhelmed by clutter and anytime they start, criticize themselves, “How could you have let it get this bad?” Or, “Why bother, you never stick with projects anyway.”
Social media has not helped this. Beautiful pictures of gorgeous, organized, huge spaces.
Once you place a lot of pressure on yourself to declutter so you can feel ok and enough, you lose the benefits of decluttering for your mental health. Nothing is complete and nothing stays decluttered. There will always be more to do. And you are enough – right now.
“Control is an illusion, and perfectionism is a prison.” – Jennifer Tucker
When you start getting an addictive urge to declutter, see what might be under that. Are you feeling not enough? Are you feeling out of control in other areas of your life? Are you envious of the homes of others?
Try decluttering with a light hand. It doesn’t have to be done perfectly.
Be mindful in the moments as you declutter, so you can make decisions from the present moment instead of regretting the past or worrying about the future.
When you feel pressure, try decluttering in smaller ways. 5 items in a room. 5 minutes. Decluttering as you go about your day. Use my free declutter calendar with a small task each day.
When you see a beautiful space on Instagram, know it didn’t stay that way. Someone had to throw clothes and accessories around finding an outfit because they were late. A toddler destroyed the space 5 minutes after it was cleaned. Last week my piano bench was piled high with the remnants of Christmas. I took care of it over the weekend instead of pressuring myself to get it all done the day after Christmas.
Pick up as you go as much as possible. Keep a box for donations in your closet you can fill when you see something you no longer need. Take breaks while decluttering.
When you make ANY progress decluttering, give yourself a pat on the back. (See my blog post on tracking progress.) Feel that sense of accomplishment. Don’t complain about how much there is to do and how little dent you made in it.
Make the decluttering journey as serene as the hoped-for outcome for your space.
What is one tiny step you can take towards decluttering?
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I really appreciated this good advice Beth! Sometimes everything is just too overwhelming, and the gentler approach is best. With less pressure, I am able to accomplish more,- it gets done, at my pace, but it DOES get done. Thank you.
So happy to hear this Fiona. Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves to be gentle.