Address the Stress – Don’t Let Your Clutter Make You Fat!
- Do you have a cupboard or closet that you keep shoving things into and then closing the doors?
- Do you have clothes in your closet that you haven’t even worn in years?
- Does the clutter in your home or office cause you stress?
- Is mail piling up waiting to be addressed?
Wellbeing isn’t just about eating the right food or cleansing, but aligning your inner and outer worlds for your healthiest and happiest life. Cleansing isn’t just for your body. It is also for your mind and spirit. One thing that can really drag us down is clutter. Have you ever considered how your physical environment affects your mindset, mood, or even your resolve to eat healthfully?
Spring cleaning may be a cliché, but it’s a great time of year to get rid of old junk, whether it’s toxic buildup in the body or in the home. Removing unneeded and unwanted things from your home or office is not a new concept, but its health benefits have become increasingly recognized. After decluttering, people typically experience less stress and anxiety, more inner peace and self-confidence, stronger decision-making skills and improved health habits, like better sleep.
Why do we clean in the spring? As it turns out, the idea has roots in quite a few different cultural customs. In China, the new year falls in the spring and is a time to deep clean their homes to remove any bad luck or misfortune that may have accumulated in preparation for the New Year. Before Jewish Passover the house is cleaned, top to bottom, to ensure that not a crumb of leavened bread is left in the home. As the weather warms up and we begin to emerge from that winter hibernation mindset, we get the itch to tidy up around the house and let the sunshine in.
Here are a couple of reasons to embrace this:
- Decreased stress: Clutter can increase stress by distracting us and overwhelming our senses with extraneous stimuli – toppling piles and unsightly messes as well as associated smells and noises. Piles of papers can indicate that work is endless and that even when we finish what we are working on there is more to be done. Most Americans list home organization and cleanliness among their top five stressors. Women specifically have shown to have chronically elevated cortisol, a stress hormone associated with excess belly fat, if they perceive their homes as cluttered.
- Improved mood: A disorganized space is associated with less physical activity, while better organization has been associated with choosing to eat healthier foods, increased physical activity and increased happiness.
- Newfound energy: Removing clutter from your physical space helps you free up space in your mind and frees up energy. You’ll be able to focus on the things that actually matter, without low grade stress constantly nagging from the back of your mind. Think of all the time you’ve wasted thinking something along the lines of: “I really need to tidy that up.” Aren’t there things you’d rather be doing with that time and energy?
Break it down into what will be most helpful to tackle first, even if it’s just one messy drawer that you hate looking into each day. Don’t tell yourself “I need to clean out my entire closet.” What bothers or nags at you the most? If it’s the messiness on the floor or your cluttered makeup counter – start there. Don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees. In terms of the big picture, tackling small projects is how you’ll get to your main goal. Start small, and your successes will start to add up.
Short on time or don’t feel like you can do it on your own?
- Use Taskrabbit to find someone to help you with a job that hangs over your head. Did you know that Rebecca pays $25 every two weeks to have someone put away her wash? What a deal!
- Or try hiring a professional organizer to help you get started and establish a solid system.
- Commit an hour or 2 to a drawer or area that’s been on your mind.
Tip from a Professional Organizer & Stylist:
Carrie LaShell from Such Savvy Style recommends turning hangers around backwards at the beginning of the year and then turning it to hang normally when you wear the item. At the end of the year or season, if it is still backwards then it is time to donate it.
Want more great tips like these? Want to change your life for the better? Check out one our amazing Cambiati One on One Classes here!
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