Photo by iStock/Riska
Household clutter is common. Mail has a way of piling up on the coffee table, and toiletries get crammed into medicine cabinets. A few messy areas here and there are normal. But if your overall living space is consistently cluttered and disorganized, it actually might be taking a toll on your mental health.
Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that living amid clutter can increase feelings of anxiousness, making it harder to focus, and even disrupting sleep. Sound familiar? Here are a few strategies for tidying up that will help you feel calmer, more capable and less overwhelmed.
Let’s say you want to clear off or organize your kitchen counter. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Then start at one end of the counter and dispose, recycle and organize items as you go. After 25 minutes, take a break for several minutes. Repeat three more times and then stop for the day.
It’s natural to feel a bit embarrassed about our clutter, but a trusted friend can be a huge help when it comes to letting go of accumulated stuff. If your spare bedroom is overflowing, ask a friend to help you sort for an hour or two (try using the method outlined above!). Having someone to talk with can help the time fly by, and once you’re done, you can celebrate your accomplishment with coffee or lunch. Next week, help your friend tackle their closet.
Once you’ve established a clutterfree zone, try to keep it that way. For example, if you’re loving your new clear-and-clean refrigerator, start taking inventory before you shop for groceries. Make a list and set a grocery budget to help you purchase only what you truly need. Dispose of any expired food.
With small pockets of time, a little bit of help and a renewed dedication to stay more organized, a restful refuge is well within your reach.
