How To Declutter Your Space to Clear Your Anxious Mind
Question: Pause and look around your current space. Does it look and feel cluttered or is it more organized?
If it looks and feels cluttered, you are not alone. A survey conducted by the National Association for Professional Organizers in 2015 found that 54 percent of Americans are overwhelmed with clutter and don't know what to do with it.
Second Question: 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!
Clutter and Anxiety
When you struggle with anxiety, the body and brain are revved up on cortisol and adrenaline and the amygdala goes on high alert, constantly scanning your environment for danger. Think of it like a car idling at a red light, where one foot is on the brake and the other foot is gently pressing down the gas pedal - the engine is revving to go somewhere quickly, but it’s not actually going anywhere. Anxiety has the same effect on the body - revving to protect you from danger but there isn’t an actual threat anywhere.
Until there is.
Clutter can be seen as a threat. The more stuff you have piled around you, the more reminders you have of all the things you need to do. The pile of dishes, the documents on your desk, the laundry that needs to be folded and the toys that need to be put away all become distractions. The inner-critic then chimes in to remind you how much you haven’t accomplished, which increases your anxiety even more. And, all the mind-chatter and constant distractions make it hard to process information and focus on what’s important, leaving you with no energy to accomplish anything.
Being around a mess can be a source of chronic stress that leaves us feeling depleted, overwhelmed and quick frankly, unsure of what to do next.
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.
Decluttering Tips & Tricks
I know your anxiety is already hard enough to manage and the idea of decluttering your space probably feels overwhelming. Here are a few creative ways to get started.
Just get started - Set a timer for 5 minutes. Just starting is key to decluttering when you feel overwhelmed. So start small! Although it doesn’t sound like a lot of time, a little bit can go a long way. Especially if you do 5 minutes a day for a week. Set a timer and then give yourself permission to celebrate the wins!
Pick up 5 items and find their forever home. These are those items you use every day but never seem to put away in the same spot. Items like this need a designated location. Pick a good spot and return the items to that spot each time you use them. Do this for all the regular items in your house, 5 items at a time.
Give away one item each day. Over the course of a year, you’ll remove 365 items from your house! When it starts to feel easy to give away one item, increase the number of items per day.
Donate clothes you no longer wear. Each time you get dressed in the morning, take a few moments to also pull out a few clothes you no longer wear. My rule is if it hasn’t been worn in a year, it’s probably not going to be worn again. Do this for a few weeks until your closet is full of the clothes you use! Donate the rest.
Make a plan and schedule it. If you put it on the calendar, you’re more likely to do it! So, schedule a half-day or full-day declutter session. Get trash bags and boxes and encourage family members to set aside time to help as well. The more the merrier. Make it an event and celebrate your wins after the day is done!
Organize as you declutter. Get four boxes and label them trash, relocate, donate and keep. Pick an area to declutter and put every item in that area in one of the four boxes. This will help you see how many items you have and know exactly what to do with them.
Create a “maybe” box. My sweet cousin always says “But I may need that someday!” Enter the maybe box. If you just can’t part with it, and you think you’ll use it someday, put it in the maybe box. Then close up the box and hide it away. Make a note to pull it out in 6-12 month to see if there is anything you really need. If not, donate or trash the box!
Ask for help. If you know decluttering will be difficult for you to do alone, ask a friend or family member for help. Have them help you decide which items to keep, donate or throw away. Sometimes having a trusted guide is all you need to make loads of progress!
There you have it! You now have the knowledge and tools you need to stay motivated and begin the process of organizing your space! You are ready to reduce your anxiety, clear your mind and increase your productivity by creating an environment that gives you joy! There is no rush to get organized - take one step at a time!