It’s time to lighten up! No, we’re not talking about those couple pounds you might like to trim off your waistline. We’re talking about the clutter piling up in all the nooks and crannies of your house. We’re here to give you tips on how to get rid of clutter.
Whether it’s those old T-shirts stuffed in your drawers that you never wear or the stack of papers that have piled up in the corner of the kitchen, your health can suffer because of clutter. Specifically, it can be detrimental your mental well-being.
Why You Should Get Rid of Clutter
According to research from the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, too much visual stimuli makes our brains have to work harder to focus. This proves that mess does in fact equal stress. And based on the record-breaking sales of Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” it’s fair to say that a large portion of our society is feeling the collective burden that comes with having too much stuff.
In her book, Kondo states that “visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder.” Amanda D. Carreon, the owner of A Divine Closet, agrees.
“We’re in a busy, distracting and unsettling world right now, so there’s a greater need for ways to liberate oneself from that situation. I think one of the best ways to do that is with physical space,” Carreon said.
Carreon’s favorite method of decluttering for herself and her clients is through the “joy” method. This is where she approaches getting rid of items by asking if it sparks joy rather than asking how long it’s been since said item has last been used or worn.
“If it doesn’t bring joy, it goes,” said Carreon.
Carreon’s method, which is also in line with Kondo’s KonMari Method, shows us that holding on to things that don’t bring us joy creates more space for unhappiness or dissatisfaction.
By clearing out the junk, we can lighten up our minds, our stress and our never-ending to-do lists!
How to Get Rid of Clutter
- Try the 12-12-12 method by finding 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate and 12 items to be returned to their proper home. do this a few times over the course of a month and you’ll quickly see major change.
- Follow Colleen Madsen’s lead at 365LessThings.com as she challenges her readers to give away one item every day for a year.
- Get digital. A lot of the clutter in your life may exist on your computer, and even though it’s virtual clutter, that doesn’t mean it’s not a catalyst for stress. create folders, label clearly and back important items up on to a cloud- based server. Then delete the leftovers.
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