How to Reduce the Clutter and Depression in Your Life
I often talk about the clutter cloud at my workshops and with clients. The clutter cloud can hover over people looking like this: This clutter cloud can lead to depression, the depression can lead to a cluttered home or life, which can lead to depression. It is a vicious cycle.Clutter…- Overstimulates our system (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important.- Draws our attention away from what our focus should be on.- Makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.- Constantly reminds our brains that we still have a huge to-do list.- Causes anxiety because the idea of sorting piles is overwhelming- Creates feelings of guilt and embarrassment, particularly when someone drops by unexpectedly.- Frustrates us by making it hard to find anything we need- keys, bills, chequebook, etc(courtesy of psychologytoday.com)Living in a world where there is an overabundance of household items doesn't help clear the vicious cycle. Studies have also shown (and I have seen it with clients), that women feel more stressed, due to the higher cortisol (stress hormones) levels), when there is more stuff in their home. Men don't seem to be affected by the stuff as much as the women, which leads to the disparity of dealing with the clutter.If you have an overabundance of stuff in your surrounding areas and feel depressed, now is the time to clear that vicious cycle and clutter cloud.
When you wake up in the morning, do your bed - ie: put the pillows in position and lay your duvet out properly. It seems so small and insignificant, but it is a great thing to start off your day. If you have a tidy bed, you start to have a tidy bedroom. Plus when you get back into bed you will feel calmer going into a tidy bed.
Spend 15 minutes every day focusing on a small area in your home to clear the clutter. Set the alarm on your phone and work until the alarm goes. If you do this every day, you will start to see a difference in that area.
Be positive about yourself. When you feel yourself saying negative things about yourself, turn it around and say the opposite out loud.
Leave a box or reusable bag in each room and throw things into it which you no longer use, love or like. When it is full, donate or throw the items away.
Book an appointment with a counsellor or psychotherapist to discuss how you can improve your mental wellbeing. I have met with the team at Lighthouse Arabia in the UAE and see the great work they do for their clients.
Book an appointment with a professional organiser like DeCluttr Me to help you start the process of decluttering.
Dealing with the clutter whilst depressed can feel overwhelming, but taking small steps to clear the clutter and change your mindset will create a ripple effect in your life.Do you want to clear the clutter cloud in your life? If yes, fill in the contact form here and we will be in touch to help you start the process this week.
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