Let’s face it - to some extent, untidiness is a part of life. A home that is genuinely lived in and filled with memories will inevitably always have an aspect of mess and that’s okay. With every pair of shoes kicked off at the door and every mug of tea left on the side, there is a reminder that your home is filled with love. So, when do those misplaced items turn from a charming “lived-in” quirk to hair-pulling chaos?
If you’ve found yourself lately standing in the middle of your home, looking around at the ceiling-high piles of sporting equipment from many short-lived sporadic hobbies wondering to yourself how you got here, then it may be time to consider decluttering not just for your home but for your mental health as well.
The Psychological Benefits of Cleaning Your Home
For anyone who has experienced the relief (and smugness) that comes after completing a full house clean, you’ll know that there are direct mental benefits to having an organised space. More than just a chance to feel superior, however, research has indicated that when we declutter a space, the sense of accomplishment combined with the finished result of a cleaner home can help reduce stress and improve focus, along with also reducing feelings of anxiety and depression (Psychology Today).
Declutter Your Home Checklist
If you are trying to create a more peaceful living environment by organising your space but don’t know where to begin, then this simple checklist will have your home and your mind decluttered in no time:
- Start Small
The first and most important part of the decluttering checklist is to take baby steps to avoid getting overwhelmed and giving up. Choose one area or category to tackle first and work your way around the room bit by bit. This might mean starting with your desk, wardrobe, or kitchen counter and taking a section at a time. Small victories build momentum and confidence, improving your mental well-being as you go.
2. Use the Four-Box Method
Rather than frantically throwing items everywhere when decluttering, make sure to follow the four-box method. Label boxes as ‘Keep’, ‘Donate’, ‘Store’, and ‘Discard’ and begin to separate your belongings into these piles. Create these four piles in every room that you declutter to ensure consistency throughout your cleaning process. For any items you want to store also consider whether you will be using internal or external storage solutions. This simple system helps make decisive choices about each item you encounter and you can physically see the process unfolding.
3. Ask Quality Questions
During the process of decluttering, it can be easy to get distracted by revisiting memories of old items you’d forgotten about. Whilst a little reminiscing of your first kiss to the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing won’t hurt anyone, spending too long dwelling over each item will inevitably slow down the process and make it much harder to complete. So, for each item, make sure you are asking the important questions to keep the ball rolling. Consider: When was the last time I used this? Does it serve a purpose? Will I use it again? These questions help cut through emotional attachments and make rational decisions.
Professional Storage Solutions
While decluttering is essential, some items hold too much practical or sentimental value to just be discarded. Whilst this may be forcing you to hold up space in your home with these belongings, they don't necessarily need to be with you to be kept safe. This is where professional storage solutions come into play.
Making the Most of Professional Storage
Modern storage facilities offer various options to suit different needs meaning that your items can be kept safe and secure without taking up valuable space in your home. Some of the benefits of using managed storage are:
- 24/7 Security means that items are being carefully monitored at all times
- Flexible sizing options let you scale up or down as your needs change
- Mobile storage allows for pick up and drop off of items so that you don’t need to lift a finger
- A storage calculator can estimate exactly how much storage you will need to avoid overpaying for excess space
Professional storage can be particularly valuable whilst decluttering as it can provide a buffer zone between keeping and discarding, allowing you to make more thoughtful decisions about your possessions over time. More importantly it can offer peace of mind by knowing those items that hold significant sentimental value will be kept in the best conditions possible.
A Knock-on Effect
Once you have created a ‘declutter your home checklist’ and organised your belongings to all their rightful places of storage or a donation centre, your home should begin to feel a little more structured. With this you should also find that your mind can relax and begin to focus on other tasks at hand, ultimately boosting productivity throughout the rest of the week (USU). Perhaps most importantly, sharing a peaceful, organised space can even lead to improved relationships, as irritability decreases and bickering over mess is put to rest.
Remember that decluttering is not about achieving perfection because quite frankly it doesn’t exist. Alternatively, it's about creating a space that supports your mental wellbeing and lifestyle. So, start small, be consistent, and celebrate your progress along the way. Whether you choose to donate, discard, or utilise professional storage solutions, each step toward organisation is a step toward improved mental health.
