Ep #75 Summer Wellness: Decluttering Your Space

The Happiness Project

De-cluttering your space has proved to be an effective way to calm your headspace. Remember, extra stuff isn't just messy. It could be holding you back from living your best life. If the constant stream of things to pick up around your home leaves you feeling anxious, you're not alone. Objects have the power to do just that. In fact, when working couples gave tours of their homes, women who used more words describing clutter and disorganization also tended to show levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting chronic stress. On the flip side, those who described their homes as being restful or talked about their beautiful outdoor spaces were less stressed and reported less sad feelings as the day went on. What you can do: Set aside 10 to 15 minutes at the end of each day to put stray items away. How do you react to your clutter? If you genuinely think, “I know where everything is and can be pretty productive in this space”, then you are probably okay with some clutter in your life. But if you look around and start to question where things are, feel overwhelmed and panicked about the mess, or start obsessing about what visitors will think, you are negatively impacting your already anxious mind. But don’t worry! I got you. As a self-diagnosed “clean freak”, I share why it’s important to have an organized space, especially when you already struggle with anxiety, and clear action steps you can take to begin decluttering today! You’ll clear your mind, reduce your anxiety and increase your productivity in no time! Clean Up Your Space And Clear Up Your Mind: The process of decluttering can be extremely rewarding. Getting rid of things that you no longer need actually leaves you feeling lighter and more spacious. You might even feel like you can breathe easier! A clean, organized environment means less distractions and leads to increased productivity. And finally, it is an important way to practice self-love because you are taking back control of your “stuff” so that it no longer has control over you. When you declutter your environment, it’s about creating a space that fills you with joy instead of living in one that depletes you. That all sounds great, but I bet you’re about to ask … “Where do I even start? What if I don’t want to get rid of something? How do I know what to keep or throw away? What if I throw something away that I’ll need in the future?” And so on and so on. The entire de-cluttering process can get really overwhelming, so here's why you need to tune in to the episode today to find out some effective ways to de-cluttering, take help, and remember that you don't have to do it all alone!