The Anxiety-Clutter Connection: Why Decluttering Your Space Can Change Your Mental State
It’s easy to let clutter creep into your living space. It rarely happens all at once but tends to build up over time. Busy schedules, owning too many “things,” and having insufficient storage space can all lead to messy, chaotic homes and office areas. But have you ever noticed how you feel when you’re in a filthy space compared to a tidy one?
Clutter can be very distracting and make it hard to focus. It can also have an overall negative impact on your mental health. Here’s what you should know about the surprising link between clutter and anxiety, and how decluttering can improve your mental state.
Why Do People Have Clutter?
Most people don’t set out with the goal of making their living space dirty. However, there is a fascinating underlying psychology associated with disorganization. Getting therapy online may help you understand if your problems with clutter may be psychological, and what you can do to overcome them. Despite what some may think, messiness isn’t always the result of simple laziness. Often, it’s associated with one of these psychological underpinnings:
They Find Comfort in Their Possessions
People who have a lot of “stuff” in their space may find comfort in their possessions. Even if they never use the items they have strewn about, they may feel safe and soothed just seeing them there. They might also find a sense of comfort in the familiarity of all their “things.”
They’re Afraid to Let Go of Things
It’s not unusual to feel uncomfortable and afraid about letting go of the things you own. This may stem from living in an environment of scarcity as a child. People who are afraid to let go of things may also worry that they’ll immediately regret getting rid of clutter. They might worry that they’ll soon discover that they need the item they just threw away, even if that scenario is highly unlikely.
They Feel Overwhelmed and Don’t Know How to Organize
It can be a time-consuming, labor-intensive task to clean up a disorganized space. Some people may naturally struggle to put things away because they don’t know how to organize. Cleaning cluttered spaces may feel particularly overwhelming to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Their Belongings Have Sentimental Value
Some people feel a deep sentimental connection to their things. They might hold onto old movie ticket stubs and similar reminders of memories they’ve created and fun times they’ve had. Some people feel drawn to purchase anything that reminds them of a loved one who has passed. Sentimental attachments to clutter can be very difficult to overcome.
The Impacts of Clutter on Mental Health
Clutter may seem relatively harmless. It’s not like that pile of dirty laundry is going to harm you in any way, right? It may not be quite that simple. Here are some of the surprising ways clutter can impact your mental and overall health:
- Increased Anxiety
- Difficulty focusing
- Trouble with impulse control
- Challenges with relationships
- Procrastination tendencies
- Decreased well-being
- Lower quality of life
In addition to these mental health impacts, clutter can also have an undesirable effect on physical health. It can increase your risk of tripping and injuring yourself in your own home. Clutter can also harbor mold, dust, and other impurities, potentially exacerbating allergies and asthma.
How Decluttering Can Improve Mental Health
Decluttering may seem like a simple thing, but it can quite literally transform your life and your mental health.
- Reduce anxiety: Cleaning up your environment can decrease stress and reduce anxiety. It can also create a sense of peace and calm in your living or working space.
- Boost self-esteem: Tidying up your space can bring a sense of accomplishment and enhance feelings of self-esteem. This can lead to an improved outlook on yourself and your life.
- Enhance productivity and focus: A clutter-free space enhances focus and productivity. This can make it easier for you to complete your daily work and personal tasks.
- Create a sense of calm: If you consistently feel frazzled and anxious, tidying up the space around you can restore feelings of calm and relaxation.
- Support better sleep: Going to bed in a clean space supports your circadian rhythm and reduces stress, so you can enjoy more restorative sleep.
- Improve relationships: Living in an unkempt space can strain relationships and cause resentment for the messy partner. If you want to improve your intimate relationships, you may want to start by decluttering your home.
People with cluttered homes often feel like their lives and emotions are equally messy. The good news is that you can start taking small steps to organize and tidy up your space today. You don’t have to do it all at once (in fact, trying to declutter your entire home or office in a day isn’t recommended).
Instead, set aside time each day to organize a specific area of your home, such as the living room, a bathroom, or even a closet. Focusing on one area until it’s tidy results in a sense of accomplishment that can give you the energy you need to move on to the next area. With time, you’ll slowly transform your living space into one that’s tidy, beautiful, and comforting. As you do, you’ll likely feel your stress and anxiety levels decrease as your self-confidence and self-respect increase.
