Decluttering has been getting a lot of hype these days. Bloggers and influencers are promoting the subject of decluttering, because of that, people have been giving it a lot of interest. What exactly is decluttering? Cambridge dictionary defines it as an act of removing things you do not need to make it more pleasant and useful. In short, it’s cleaning up your piles of mess.
For some people, letting go of clutters can be challenging. As human beings, we tend to be governed by our emotions. We easily get attached to things, thus making it hard to let go of our clutter. Take a friend of mine as an example. She has a pillow she has been using since forever. It has been with her through achievements and failures and has absorbed both tears of joy and sadness. It does look old and worn out, still, she loves to cuddle it every night.
While it is important to value and care for our clutter, it is also healthy knowing when to let go. It doesn’t only organize our space; it also affects our well-being. If you still find it hard to let go of stuff, read on to find out why decluttering is a must.
“Where there’s clutter in your home, there will be clutter in [you] — either physically, mentally or emotionally.”- Tisha Morris
1. Decluttering reduces stress.
It might not be noticeable at first, but too much clutter in our homes also create stress. A study found out that “all of the mothers’ stress hormones spiked during the time they spent dealing with their belongings.”
Our homes should be our safe haven; a place where we can finally breathe after an exhausting day at work. It is not too late to turn your place into one. Remember that too much of everything does not always do good.
2. Decluttering helps you focus.
This might be a surprise but working in a cluttered room is such a big distraction. You can’t work properly when your desk is full of junks, at the same time it will affect your sleeping habit when you have too much stuff on your bed.
A cluttered environment can make your brain less effective at processing information. A study conducted by Princeton University backed up this claim and found scientific evidence of the effects of clutter.
“ Multiple stimuli present in the visual field at the same time compete for neural representation by mutually suppressing their evoked activity throughout visual cortex, providing a neural correlate for the limited processing capacity of the visual system.”
Organize your desk and notice the difference. Without clutter, you’d be more focused and efficient with whatever you are working on.”
3. Decluttering can make money.
There is money in decluttering. You can sell old clothing and household items by doing garage sales or posting it online. You might not get the same amount as what you spent buying those items, but at least you could get back a small part of the money you have invested in it.
4. Cluttered homes can cause negative behavioural effects.
Having a cluttered environment doesn’t only affect us, adults. A study showed it also has a psychological effect on children, especially on their behavior.
“Noisy, crowded homes characterized by a lack of routines may undermine children’s ability to regulate emotions and behavior and may provide children with opportunities to act out.”
5. Decluttering can get rid of pests and germs.
Have you ever wondered what’s hiding beneath your furniture or under your piles of paper? If not, then consider this. There might be a variety of pests and germs cozily living in those narrow spaces. If you have too much stuff lying around your house, then you are inviting them to live with you.
Decluttering, while considered a trend to some, is actually a way of keeping our sanity. Take a good look at what’s around you. Maybe it’s time to let go.
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