With World Mental Health Day approaching, now is a great time to take stock of your well-being and how you care for yourself. One aspect of mental health that is often overlooked is the role that clutter plays. Decluttering will not only make the spaces you live in more comfortable but may have a profound impact on your mental health.
Outer order, inner calm. Most of us have heard this before, but have we really stopped to think about what it means? Living in a cluttered environment can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. Constant visual chaos can be overwhelming, making it difficult to focus and relax. Decluttering and organizing your space can create a calming environment, lessening stress and anxiety.
A cluttered space also pulls your mind in different directions. Decluttering encourages you to focus on the task at hand, thereby promoting mindfulness. Simplifying your space makes you more aware of your environment, which can decrease stress and increase mental clarity.
Better sleep is often a by-product of decluttering. A cluttered bedroom can disrupt your sleep patterns, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep. Decluttering your sleeping space can create a peaceful and serene environment, conducive to a good night’s sleep which has an effect on all aspects of your life.
Decluttering and organizing your space can give you a feeling of accomplishment and a self-esteem boost. Letting go of items that no longer serve their purpose allows you to put yourself and your well-being first, strengthening a positive self-image.
Well Begun, Halfway Done
So, where should you start? Tackling your whole home at one time is overwhelming and can be setting yourself up for failure. Instead, take it one room at a time. And if that feels like too much, take it one closet, or cabinet, or shelf at a time. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. Finish one space and move on to the next. Once you start to see some progress and feel the calm that comes with it, it will be easier to keep going. Check out The Ultimate Decluttering List: 102 Things to Get Rid of Right Now for a room-by-room list to help get you started.
Now that you’ve started decluttering, what do you do with all of the stuff you no longer need in your home? Obviously, some of it will just be trash, with no other recourse but to throw it out. Thankfully, though, there are many other options for most of the items that will come from your home.
Some options for rehoming your items will not only pay you in mental health benefits, but will also literally pay you. Holding a garage sale is a good way to get rid of a lot of items across many different categories at one time. Different consignment stores will accept different items, selling them for you and keeping a percentage of the sale price. Online sales on sites such as Facebook Marketplace, EBay, and Poshmark have grown in popularity, as well.
There are also charitable ways to rehome your decluttered items. Many different organizations will accept donations of all manner of items, as long as they are in good condition. Thrift stores will also take many things, such as home goods, electronics, clothes, and furniture. Women’s and homeless shelters are another great place to donate clothing and household items.
There are also charitable ways to rehome your decluttered items. Many different organizations will accept donations of all manner of items, as long as they are in good condition. Thrift stores will also take many things, such as home goods, electronics, clothes, and furniture. Women’s and homeless shelters are another great place to donate clothing and household items.
In the kitchen, you will likely purge food that is expired or spoiled. Most of that food can be composted, reducing waste and enriching soil. Canned or boxed food that is not expired can often be donated to your local food bank.
Recycling Options
Many items may need to be recycled. Check with your local recycling center to find out just what can be recycled in your area. These items could include plastic and paper, but also such things as electronics and appliances. Clothing, bed linens, and towels that are stained, torn, or no longer functional can be repurposed into rags. Just be sure not to keep too many and accumulate more clutter. Many fabric items can often be recycled, either at a recycling center or in drop-off boxes that may be in your community.
If you live in Cass County, check out this new handy recycling guide. Here is a list of where to get recycling information for Winona County in the Driftless region
Decluttering isn’t just about tidying up your space, it’s a powerful tool that can reduce anxiety, promote mindfulness and self-esteem, and enhance your sleep. Like any change, the act of decluttering can feel daunting. The key may be to find an aspect that motivates you. That might be only taking on small bites of the project (a drawer or one area of a room), finding financial benefit (selling unwanted items), or finding a useful second life for things through donations, repurposing, or recycling Finding a new home for your things, other than the landfill, can help ease the transition.