What qualifies as clutter? Can reducing your clutter and having a more organized home help improve your mental health?
Some people say there are two kinds of clutter – that which is associated with the past and that which is associated with the future. “”Memory” clutter is things that reminds us of important things from the past, like old school programs or newspaper clippings. “Someday” clutter refers to items you won’t toss because you feel you might need them someday. “If you have so much stuff it drags you into the past or pulls you into the future, you can’t live in the present,” says one expert. Having less clutter frees up time and energy to improve other areas of your life, including your relationships.
Having too much clutter in our homes can have a negative impact on our mental health, resulting in feelings of tension and uncertainty. Clutter can overstimulate our senses. It is often perceived as unfinished business, so it can continue to weigh on us as we are confronted with piles of it each day. It can hinder our ability to concentrate on the task at hand. According to one cleaning expert, “several studies have found that having clutter in our homes can have a negative impact on our mental health, resulting in feelings of tension and uncertainty” (click here for details).
Besides helping you stay focused in the present, a study in the Personality and Psychology Bulletin showed that women living in a cluttered home had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19934011
Organizing your bedroom can also promote better sleep. By removed digital devices and work-related items from your bedroom, you are creating a more relaxing environment which will help you get a better rest.
How can Renaissance Lifestlyes help you declutter and organize? Donna, the owner of Renaissance Lifestyles, is a Trained Professional Organizer (TPO) and holds a Director-at-Large portfolio on the National Board of Professional Organizers in Canada.
Also, because Donna is a Certified Peer Specialist in mental health and addictions, she is acutely aware of the challenges you might face in confronting your clutter and the potential anxiety you might experience as she helps you declutter and organize. Renaissance therefore takes a very customized approach in dealing with each client, finding strategies and tools that fit your unique situation and lifestyle. “I’d recommend taking things slow and in stages you so that you don’t feel overwhelmed when you begin the de-clutter,” says Donna.
Contact us in Calgary today to begin a new life of less clutter, less stress, and better mental health. Renaissance Lifestyles provides a variety of solutions to give you more time, greater flexibility and less stress in managing your life.