Summer Cleaning and Mental Health: Why Decluttering is Good for you
Summer is in the air! We're starting to have warmer days and dandelions are breaking through the earth and bumblebees are buzzing around in the sunny sky. The days are stretching out, and the sunshine feels warmer on our faces. Ah, summer! It’s always been a season of both ending and beginning (with school break and fresh working walks). To set yourself up for success this summer, now could be a good time to do a little de-cluttering and deep cleaning.
For many of us, the arrival of summer sparks the desire to pull out the patio cushions, tidying up the back yard, and inside as well. It's a perfect opportunity to declutter and part ways with things we no longer need, refreshing your home by getting everything neat and orderly. More than just a tidy-up, cleaning can also have surprising benefits for your mental health. Indeed, there’s a real link between a good clean-up and feeling mentally refreshed.
Question: Is there really a cleaning/mental health connection?
Answer: Yes! Cleaning out the literal and proverbial closet has more benefits than just having a tidied up living space.
There IS a positive link between decluttering and mental health, and in the blog below, we’ll explore some of the benefits that cleaning,and decluttering can have on your mental wellbeing. We’ll also look at how your environment/physical space in general can impact your psychological health.
Clearing Out Clutter Cuts Down On Stress
Not only does a tidy home feel great, but the physical activity involved in cleaning—like moving, bending, scrubbing, dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming—also helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. When stress impacts the brain, it can affect our whole body, but thankfully, cleaning gets us moving and produces endorphins. This not only lowers stress levels but also improves sleep and boosts our overall mood. So, a clean house can truly lead to a happier you!
Understanding Why Clutter Happens
If you struggle with constant clutter or have issues with hoarding, you may already be aware that this isn’t just an accumulation of objects; excessive clutter can also represent unresolved emotional issues. The psychology behind hoarding and clutter accumulation is complex, and can involve aspects of attachment, fear, trauma and a need for control.
For many of us, the items we keep can feel like a safety net, holding a deep significance that makes parting with them challenging. Holding on to these possessions, however, can also reflect and reinforce old habits and stress, which can contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression These feelings can make it even harder to part with items that are no longer useful, creating a cycle of hoarding.
The Benefits of Decluttering for Mental Health
If you are able to work on decluttering, taking a little time each day to reduce the amount in your home or other living areas, it can have great benefits. Below are just some of the ways decluttering can improve your wellbeing.
Reduced Anxiety and Stress: Clutter is a reminder of disorganization and can make you feel overwhelmed. Cleaning and organizing your space can significantly reduce stress levels, leading to a more relaxed, peaceful head space and frame of mind. An orderly space can provide a sense of control and accomplishment, which lowers anxiety.
Enhanced Mood and Self-Esteem: A tidy environment does more than just enhances your home's aesthetics, it also boosts your mood and self-confidence. Living in a clean, less cluttered home can help make you feel more productive and positive about your surroundings and yourself (and you’re more likely to have guests and to socialize). You’ll appreciate easily finding and even displaying the items that are most important and sentimental to you.
Improved Focus and Productivity: Decluttering can dramatically improve your ability to concentrate. Without the distraction of excess stimuli from a cluttered environment, your mind can focus more efficiently on the tasks at hand, boosting productivity and mental clarity.
Simple and Effective Decluttering Tips
Although there are many different ways to declutter, we like a moderate approach. Making small sustainable changes can help build consistent routines, slowly decrease stress and it doesn’t rely on big bursts of energy or motivation.
Starting Small: Room-by-Room Approach
The thought of decluttering an entire home can be daunting. Break it down into manageable tasks by tackling one room or area of a room at a time. This approach helps prevent burnout and provides tangible evidence of progress.
Mindful Discarding: Keeping What Truly Matters
When decluttering, try to be mindful about what to keep and what to let go. Ask yourself whether each item is useful, necessary, or holds a memory that cannot be replicated by simply photographing the item. If the answer is ‘no’, it might be time to part with it.
Organizational Systems for Sustained Tidiness
Implementing systems can help maintain tidiness over time. This could be as simple as having designated places for commonly used items or setting up a simple filing system for paperwork to prevent future accumulation. Imagine the time you’ll. save when you’re easily able to find the things you need the most!
Overcoming Emotional Hurdles in Decluttering
Letting go of possessions can be hard and emotionally challenging at times. When you feel attached to items for sentimental reasons or hold onto something out of fear of waste, a belief that it ‘might be useful one day or because you spent a lot of money - it can feel really hard to just throw them out or donate them.
Talking about your feelings with a therapist can help you to rethink your emotional attachment to possessions, as well as giving support for other mental health concerns like depression, anxiety and perfectionism. With the right support, you can learn to recognize what possessions of yours really matter, and what items can be discarded.
The process of therapy for hoarding may also involve moving away from family patterns and past beliefs that contribute to the clutter in your home. With time you may be able to embrace decluttering as a way to open up new opportunities and help you move towards the life you desire.
The Role of Mental Health Support in Hoarding And Clutter
If you’re worried you’ve moved from having clutter, towards hoarding, you may want to speak with a therapist who has experience and/or training with supporting the mental health needs of hoarders.
Getting professional help from a therapist can bring about a new perspective and better tools and strategies to manage the decluttering process more effectively, addressing both the physical and emotional challenges. At ThriveWell Counselling, we have trained and experienced therapists who can provide supportive, welcoming care for you if you’re concerned about the level of clutter in your life. The therapists who offer support are: Victoria Bowman, Emily Greenop and Dana Kamin and we have a low cost option with our Counsellors-in-Training who specialize in hoarding / clutter support provided at a reduced fee.
Embracing Decluttering as a Path to Mental Wellness
Decluttering is more than just a cleaning task; it can be a tool for improving your overall well-being. The benefits of a tidy environment extend from reduced stress to improved productivity, which can impact your psychological health.
With summer now here, consider taking this opportunity to declutter not just your home but also your mind.
Overwhelmed by Clutter and Life in General? ThriveWell Is Here
Contact ThriveWell Counselling for mental health support specifically for hoarding and clutter. Begin your journey towards a clearer space and a clearer mind today.