Declutter Your Space For Better Mental Health
Declutter Your Space For Better Mental Health. Have you ever walked into a cluttered room and immediately felt overwhelmed? Clutter isn’t just visual ……it has an effect on our stress levels, focus, and mental health.
Excess clutter can lead to decision fatigue, procrastination and overall tiredness. When our environment is chaotic, our brains have to work harder to filter out the distractions so no wonder it’s so hard to know where to start or what to do!
This can lead to:
- increased anxiety, stress and overwhelm
- difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- feeling frustrated, always putting out fires and feeling stuck
- procrastination and staying away from home
And the cycle continues……….
Physical and Emotional Clutter are closely related and both affect our Mental Health.
Emotional clutter often represents unfinished business – holding onto items out of guilt, fear or to keep memories. The emotions that come up as you do this work can be heavy. Feelings of why bother, nothing seems to change or I can’t do this.
When you see the items that are in your way or unwanted and you think “I really should deal with this but……..not today” it is likely weighing heavy on your mind. This is emotional clutter and this can keep you stuck in that cycle.
A simple step to try:
Pick one small area to declutter (a drawer or nightstand)
Set a timer for 10 minutes and work on a specific area and then notice how your mind feels afterward
Some of the benefits of decluttering include less stress, anxiety, improved sleep, mental wellness, and increased productivity.
In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month here is an older post I wrote on this topic
Sometimes we need a little help to get going and even to keep going. Would you like some support? I am offering a few one hour Power Hours just for you.
Only $60.00 for the hour. You will feel a mental shift, less stress and more hopeful after this call. Developing a plan of action and adding some effective tools will help you to get started and to feel more confident. I am cheering you on!
You can book a time with me here
Have you ever felt a mental shift after decluttering? Let me know in the comments below
Happy Decluttering!
I’ve always considered myself organized, but I’ve come to realize that you can have organized clutter. Lately I’ve gotten rid of a ton of paperwork and other stuff that was neatly tucked away (out of sight, out of mind) but I’m so glad to be rid of it – and I’m not done yet! Baby steps…
Hi Janet, Yes, we can always find more stuff to let go of for sure. I am guilty as well.
Wow—this really hit home. It’s incredible how much our physical environment impacts our mental state. That part about emotional clutter being tied to guilt or fear? So true. I’ve definitely had those “not today” moments, and they do weigh heavily.
Thank you for this reminder and for sharing such a compassionate and practical approach. That 10-minute timer tip is something I’m going to try this week. Also, your Power Hour sounds like such a helpful way to get unstuck—sometimes just having someone guide you through the overwhelm makes all the difference.
Appreciate you sharing this during Mental Health Awareness Month—it’s so needed!
Thank you so much Florena – Your words are so appreciated and make doing this post so worth it.
Even professional organizers can have clutter, maybe (or especially?) because we spend our time focused on our clients and their needs. It’s easy to get burned out, but my excitement for organizing my clients (and for my life, in general) gets revitalized when I take those baby steps and organize myself.
I’ve been feeling draggy and uninspired, but between a co-working Zoom day with our colleague Deb Lee where we all organized our workspaces, and a holiday weekend day where I filed all my paperwork, shredded a year’s worth of unnecessary papers, and organized my cluttered spaces, I am SO ready for the summer. I can feel my energy and my mood uplifted.
What a great way to round out May’s Mental Health Awareness Month by taking those baby steps and evaluating the improvements. Great reminders!
Thanks so much Julie – I love how you cleaned up your office and cluttered spaces. Its amazing how much better we feel after doing this.
This insightful post explores how clutter both physical and emotional can quietly drain our mental energy. With gentle guidance and practical tips, it encourages small steps toward decluttering that lead to big shifts in clarity, calm, and overall well-being.
Thank you Joanne, I really appreciate your comment. So true!