As we move into Fall, it’s a good time to take stock of our homes. At today’s speed of life, it seems like clutter tries to take over every inch of space it can. That can make our lives feel even more chaotic and out of control than they already are.
Clutter Creates Stress
According to Psychology Today, clutter creates actual psychological and physiological stress in our bodies. It introduces excessive stimuli into our environments, causes conscious and subconscious distractions that divert attention from things that matter and sends signals to our brains that our work is never done, preventing us from relaxing and creating anxiety. This stress bleeds over into our personal and professional lives.
We Can Control Clutter
But clutter is also one of the stress points in our lives that is easiest for us to deal with. Keep one rule in mind: A place for everything and everything in its place. With that as your guiding principle, accept that you’re not going to fix everything at once. Clutter has invaded our lives over time. It’s going to take time to set it right. But with our one rule, and a plan in place, the more progress you make, the more confident you will become that you can do this.
And, as far as plans go, here are a few options for you:
Household Tips website “The Spruce” offers a primer on organizing every room in your house.
https://www.thespruce.com/organize-every-room-in-your-home-3129164
…and, if you’re overwhelmed, they have suggestions for where to start.
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-start-organizing-your-home-2648114
HGTV offers a nicely organized collection of tips for organizing your home, along with videos and articles you can use to take a deeper dive into each area
https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/quick-tips-for-home-organization
And if you really need to procrastinate– er, we mean, “get inspired,” here’s a seemingly endless collection of tips and ideas on a collaborative Pinterest board with nearly 20 contributors.
https://www.pinterest.com/twotwentyone/home-organization/
You’ve Got This!
But let’s not lose sight of the main point here: Clutter creates stress, and stress clutters up the rest of your life. Make a plan to have a place for everything and put everything in it’s place… and then commit to keeping it there when it’s not in use, and you’ll go a long way toward a happier, less stressful life.