There is plenty of research to show how clutter negatively affects your ability to focus. It competes for your attention and makes it difficult to process information. There are also studies showing that dealing with clutter causes spikes in your stress hormones , and it is well known that long term stress is bad for your health. Living in an organised, clutter free home gives you physical space, it makes it easier to find things, it prevents the build up of mess and it allows your brain space to relax and rejuvenate.
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If clutter has got out of control and you are feeling totally overwhelmed, then there are a few steps I would suggest to help you get started on the decluttering journey. Start by getting rid of as much stuff as possible. Start with things that can be thrown away. Grab a box or a bag and just start chucking stuff.
The less stuff you have to deal with the easier it is. As you see things leaving your home it will also give you motivation to continue. If you are feeling overwhelmed, start by tidying up a single main room in your home. Even if it means you need to put things into boxes in another room, start by getting one room sorted and tidy.
How to declutter your home
This then can become your retreat from the chaos. Practical steps for transforming your home from chaos to calm, and work through the checklists that are provided. Ready for a change? Swap boxes for a fresh mix of toys. Sell or donate the extras. Try the same technique with your clothes. Sleep problems keep as many as a third of adults up at night.
Organise Your Home: De-clutter, De-stress
And while experts have long recognized a link between insomnia and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, another link is emerging in research: Hoarding disorder, which affects just 2 to 6 percent of the population, goes far beyond disorganization or a garden-variety tendency to accumulate stuff. It is diagnosed when clutter becomes so debilitating that space becomes unusable and even unsafe. One possible reason for a connection between hoarding and sleep: Lack of sleep inhibits decision-making, namely decisions about acquiring or getting rid of stuff.
For the other 98 percent of people who don't have hoarding disorder, but simply struggle with "too much stuff" syndrome, consider this: Having fewer things means making fewer choices throughout the day. And that may add up to less willpower spent trying to make the right ones. Brush up on your healthy sleep routine. Try winding down with a cup of herbal tea and a good paper book, rather than TV or social media. When you think of taking care of yourself, think of your health, plan fun events with your loved ones, but also have a peaceful and organized living space.
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