How Decluttering Your Home Will Improve Your Health

Clutter can significantly affect how we feel about our homes and ourselves. Does a disorganized house make you feel anxious and overwhelmed? Perhaps if you understand the physical impact of clutter on your body, you’ll be motivated to pare down those closets and that overflowing garage!

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”
–Benjamin Franklin

The Impact of Clutter

Clutter comes in many forms, including stacks of papers on your desk, dirty dishes piling up in the sink, clothes in your closet that don’t fit, and a backlog of emails needing attention.

Happiness

For many people, a cluttered space overstimulates the mind, takes focus away from important things, makes it difficult to relax, and inhibits creativity. In other words, clutter is not good for your health and directly impacts your happiness.

Physiological Impact

Clutter can trigger the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which tends to increase tension and anxiety and lead to unhealthy habits. With higher levels of cortisol, you’ll find navigating through daily life increasingly challenging.

Productivity

If your living space is cluttered, productivity can suffer. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, multiple stimuli in your visual field limits the processing capability of your visual system. It means that a cluttered environment will restrict your ability to focus.

Sleep Issues

Another issue that clutter causes is insomnia. When your space is filled with mess and disorder, you are more likely to stay in a state of worry – even throughout the night.

Solutions for Clutter

Get Help

Clutter is often the result of an overattachment to personal items, making it difficult to pare down. For overwhelmed people, he recommends a hands-off approach whereby you literally do not touch anything. This requires the participation of a neutral outsider who’s charged with the task of holding up each item and asking if you need it. You may want to consider asking a professional organizer for help. You may not have an attachment issue but simply lack the time to sort through everything on your own.

Buy Less

Dr. Ferrari also suggests that people with too much clutter make a conscious effort to acquire less. Once something is in your house, it’s very difficult to part with the item. It’s far easier to resist the temptation to make the initial purchase than it is to get rid of it later. Perhaps delegating errands and trips to the mall is an option to lower the risk of overspending. Personal assistants do exactly that and more.

Keeping your stress in check is one of the best ways to stay healthy and have a clear mind. Call or contact Potomac Concierge today and our highly trained professional organizers will work with you to obtain a clutter-free home and peace of mind.