Did you know that living a clutter-free lifestyle has a multitude of health benefits?

It is that time of year when I declutter and purge my home. This has been a quarterly practice for me for over 10 years. When I first started this practice it was a huge task that took me months to complete. Taking a few minutes each week to keep things in order has cut down on the quarterly purge work and cleaned up not only my living spaces but my mental space as well.

What is clutter?

Anything that does not add value or bring joy to your life.

What happens to your body and mind when there is clutter surrounding you?

Cluttered spaces have been linked to stress, anxiety, confusion, and overwhelmed feelings. Stress and anxiety created elevated levels of cortisol causing that belly fat and poor sleep. Seeing those piles of clutter is visually distracting reducing your focus. You become less productive because you have difficulty finding items within all that clutter. That is time spent searching for something when it can be used for enjoyable things. The extra energy needed to live within clutter causes fatigue.

All these negatives constantly bombard you, declining your mental health. You are stressed and anxious from the clutter, yet you are too tired and overwhelmed to clean the space creating this vicious cycle you get stuck in.

Where to start?

When you start to tackle those spaces, have bins or piles that are labeled toss, keep, donate, and storage. Anything that you have multiples of, not used, or worn in the past year, that is in good condition, donate. Anything that is stained, broken, faded, or worn-out toss. Anything you use occasionally that you need to keep put in storage.

Do one thing at a time in each space, don’t rush, set a schedule, and use teamwork.

#1 Small and storage areas

Drawers, closets, entryway, cabinets, and laundry room. These smaller spaces and items build confidence with each completion to tackle those bigger areas.

#2 Shared spaces

Kitchen, living room, dining room, and bathrooms. These are the most used spaces in your home. Having these areas organized creates a welcoming space to spend quality time with loved ones.

#3 Personal areas

Bedrooms, “man/she cave”, and clothing storage areas. Though you may not spend a ton of time in these spaces it is still important to have them clutter-free for sleep and mood.

Now that you have divided up your home into spaces to tackle let’s dive in. Start by cleaning any flat surfaces (counters or tabletops). Toss out all those extra papers collecting dust. If you have important documents or projects from the kids upload them to a digital storage app. Dropbox, google photos, and amazon photos are great options.

After you have cleared off all those flat surfaces start going through those drawers, cabinets, and shelves tossing items into piles or bins. As you are doing this take inventory of items keeping only the amount you need. Do you really need 12 spatulas? Toss anything that does not have a pair. Think of the last time you used it and if you love it. If you have not used it in the last year toss or donate it.

Once you have all your belongings in piles or bins decide how you want everything organized in that space. Thoroughly clean all surfaces before returning any items. Get rid of the toss pile or bin. If you have a shelter you can donate your items locally, place those items in your car to donate the next time you are in town or check out Amazon’s “give back box” if you have no idea where to donate items. Take those storage items to where you will be storing them, if you do not have this space set up you can still take them there and plan to organize this area later once you have all items for storage ready. Return anything left in the keep pile or bin and organize it to your liking.

Tips:

Create an inventory list of like items. You may have enough soap for 2 years that you didn’t even know. Store those occasionally used items in your basement, garage, or spare closet. These items would be kitchen appliances, cleaning machines, and seasonal items. If unable to see items label storage containers for easier finding in the future.

Living room - Utilize wall space to keep those flat surfaces clear going forward. Hang pictures on the walls or install shelving. Shelving can be those spots for those small plants, pictures, or knick-knacks. A vertical blanket rack and a storage bin that matches your décor can keep those extra blankets and throw pillows out of site but are easily accessible. Wrangle up all those wires. Use throw rugs, furniture, cord bins, and Velcro straps to remove them from sight.

Kitchen – Only keep the daily used appliances on your counters, such as the coffee pot, and utensil holder. Purge those plastic storage containers. Studies have found that certain chemicals in plastic leach into our foods and beverages. Those chemicals have been linked to metabolic disorders and reduced fertility. Cut down on the number of pots, pans, and utensils to only what is needed and used regularly. Organizing the inside of your fridge so options can be seen and grabbed easily will have you reaching for those healthy snacks.

Small spaces - Utilize smaller bins for like items such as shoes, hats, gloves, batteries, cleaning supplies, etc. Using drawer organizers keeps things from rolling around and getting lost in a sea of clutter the next time you need it.

Bathrooms – Pull out everything and sort through items. Toss out those items that have barely anything left that you have not used in the last year. Donate any unopened items you will never use like bombs, perfumes, etc. Organize similar items and store them in smaller bins like toothbrushes, soap, etc. Donate any old or extra linens to animal shelters.

Personal areas – Remove anything that does not belong. Donate any items that are gently used or brand new that you have never used and won’t. Does it bring you joy? Do you love it? If the answer is no get rid of it. Your personal space should fill you with joy and happiness. After you have decluttered this space you will be hiding out here all the time, trust me!

Create a plan to keep rooms tidy (decluttered)

Once you have organization systems in place for your spaces try to keep them that way. Set aside a few minutes every day to go through a different space to remove any items that do not belong. Create a command center for those papers that come in daily with different bins, so you know what to get to immediately and what to toss. Have those kids help to keep things clutter-free by having designated areas for their toys, craft supplies, etc. Use the “One in, One out” mantra. I saw this on Instagram by Casey of @that.minimalist.mom. She states “If something comes into your house, something must leave! This ensures that you do not accumulate more items than you need.” What a great practice to start.

Now that we know what clutter is and how to tackle it let’s get into all the benefits of living a clutter-free lifestyle. Having a clutter-free home is more than just an aesthetic.

o Improved focus and better clarity

o Better sleep

o Reduced stress and anxiety

o Better physical fitness

o Eat better- chose better options

o Boosts immunity

o Boosts energy

o Happier – higher serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin

For those of us in search of a healthier lifestyle, decluttering should be up there on that list of things to do. The benefits will not only improve your health but give your pocketbook a boost as well. Confronting all those past purchase decisions will have you thinking twice before doing it again. I love the clutter-free lifestyle because of all these benefits. It has been a huge help with my physical and mental health due to the rise in serotonin and dopamine levels (aka happy hormones).

Start living the clutter-free lifestyle and reap the rewards today!

~ Tina