The Art of Decluttering: De-Stress by Having Less

Cleanliness is next to godliness, or so the saying goes. But decluttering can be ironically difficult, because as the clutter in your house increases, your stress levels go up and your motivation goes down.

By learning how to tidy your space, you can relax your mind and feel more in control. Decluttering can be easy—and even fun. There are time tested methods you can use that will help you get more organized and also help you keep it that way. Take the first step by making a firm decision right now. Keep reading to discover some powerful tips for decluttering.

The Mental and Spiritual Benefits of Decluttering

Decluttering is the process of removing unnecessary items from your home or workspace. Many people think it’s a task with a beginning and an end, and in a limited sense, they’re right. I prefer to think of decluttering as a state of mind and a skill that gets stronger with practice.

There are many benefits of decluttering. As you develop a decluttering mindset, you will find it altering the way you spend your time, even when you aren’t organizing or cleaning. You’ll find yourself getting more focused and clear. If you are religious or spiritual, you will probably find it easier to receive inspiration. And a clean house will usually help you feel healthier and happier.

Learning how to declutter can help you find happiness. (Image Source: Shutterstock)

Having an organized living space will help you feel emotionally lighter and more confident. As you get rid of things you don’t use, you will be able to better focus on what really matters. You may even find yourself avoiding purchasing things you won’t end up using. This will save you money and slow the growth of future clutter.

Learning how to declutter can help you find happiness. One of the easiest ways to get started is to create a to-do list to help you get organized and stay motivated.

The Physical Benefits of Decluttering

If you want your family to be helpful and supportive of your desire to declutter, remember that kindness gets better results than complaints. Find subtle ways to compliment or encourage them without being manipulative or coercive. I like to set aside ten minutes before or after dinner to simply announce that I’m going to tidy up a little. I put on some happy music and ask whoever is near a small favor, like to get the furniture polish or a trash can.

It’s important that the people you live with know they don’t have to help and that you won’t be angry if they don’t. People find more motivation when they have the opportunity to help instead of the obligation. If you’re in a good mood and doing nice things for others, they will often reciprocate.

Decluttering Your Life: How Cleaning and Mental Health Are Connected | Cleveland Clinic

Even if your family wants to help you declutter, they already have habits and schedules. Find ways that your desire to declutter will help them, and be proactive. Most people are allergic to something, and decluttering is an effective way to help allergy sufferers reduce their symptoms.

Buying less and being more efficient with what you own will reduce unnecessary consumption, saving you time and money. This will also help protect the environment by putting less stress on our natural resources. As your cluttered house transforms into an organized home, you may be surprised at how much happier you feel.

How to Declutter

Make one place in your home beautiful. (Image Source: Shutterstock)

The key to creating a new habit is to make it fun. These tips can be used in any order, and you don’t have to use all of them. So pick the one that seems the most fun to you and indulge yourself:

1. Make one place in your home beautiful. Beauty is motivational, so find a spot in your home that could be prettier and clean it up. It could be as simple as a shelf where you hold collectables or your favorite Lego construction. Maybe it’s your bathroom sink or vanity, or that special place where you sit down to draw, read, or meditate. Once you have a place in mind, make it as beautiful as possible.
2. Make your bed. Admiral McRaven, retired USN, gave a motivational speech to recent college graduates. He told them they could change the world by making their beds in the morning. It’s the way military personnel set the tone for their entire day. If you make your bed in the morning, it gives you a sense of accomplishment. You’re the kind of person who makes order out of chaos. So make your bed every morning and use it as the seed to help you improve your home organization. 
3. Get a big box and put it in the messiest place in your home. Find something that hasn’t been used in a week and needs to be put away and put it in the box. See if you can fill the box with items that haven’t been used in a week. If you need more than one box, great!

Getting started is the hardest part of any new task or habit. Incorporating one or more of these steps into your daily routine can make this first step seem easy.

Enjoy a Healthy Living Space

A clean home is a happy home. Focusing on the positive elements in your living space can help get you motivated to clean. And decluttering can have a powerful effect on your mental health. Clutter often represents tasks that are only partially done or are being avoided. Every time you see the clutter, it’s a reminder of how much you have to do. This is distracting and can zap your motivation by increasing your stress levels. Most people find mental health benefits from decluttering. That thrill you get from having your space organized can even help you develop a long-term habit of cleanliness.

Unlock the power of decluttering by selecting one of these ideas and giving it a try right now. If you’re not at home, commit to getting organized and making a sustained effort. Decluttering can be a daunting task, but it is worth it in the end. It can help you feel more organized, reduce stress, and increase productivity. I hope these tips help you get started!