Is Your Cluttered Home Making You Sad?
As someone who has struggled with various degrees of depression and anxiety for the majority of my life, I can tell you firsthand that often it’s a compilation of little changes that makes a huge difference in how you feel. A quiet breakfast with a good book or a slow walk in the park can turn your whole day around. But there’s another magic recipe that can help you tiptoe your way out of a difficult time in your life - organizing your space.
In my 10+ years as a professional organizer, the emotional benefits of getting organized have proven themselves time and time again. Let’s take a look at why your clutter might be getting in the way of your happiness and well being, and what you can do to implement some positive changes in your life.
Why Clutter Brings You Down
If your home is messier than you’d like it to be, you’re not alone. In our busy lives it’s so easy to accumulate stuff. Clothes, papers, toys, kitchen gadgets, the list goes on and on. But if every surface of your home is full of too many things, there’s no space for you to think clearly. From a practical standpoint, it’s probably difficult to find what you need when you need it. That means you’re wasting precious energy and time searching for your keys or your phone changer.
On an emotional level, living with clutter is exhausting too. Being surrounded by so much stuff often comes with feelings of guilt and shame. Guilt for not being able to keep things tidy, shame over spending money on things you aren’t using or you don’t want. Not being able to see or find what you have often leads to buying multiples of things or letting food expire.
So what’s the solution? You might feel like you’re buried under a pile of your stuff, with no time or energy or information on how to solve the problem. Before we talk logistics though, let’s look at how good the act of organizing can feel, and how it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as you might think.
The Emotional & Physical Benefits of Getting Organized
Here’s the good news. Yes, you’ll definitely feel great once your home is organized, but the act of organizing is actually therapeutic itself.
Sitting down to look at and touch every item in your space gets you out of your head and into your body (which is invaluable when you’re feeling depressed and anxious). Sorting and tidying is also a task that builds momentum as you work. So, once you get started it’s much easier than you think to keep going. It’s also rewarding to see immediate progress. Unlike other things in your life that take more time (like getting in shape or changing your diet), organizing is immediate. As the pile of trash or donations grows, you can see tangible evidence of your amazing work.
One tip is to always take a before photo of the space you’re working on. Our brains can be tricky and you might not remember how far you’ve come unless you can look back and see what it looked like before.
Once your space is organized, your head will feel clearer than it has in a long time. Not only can you see your surfaces and find what you need, but you aren’t holding on to the mental energy it takes to keep track of all of your extra stuff anymore. You aren’t wasting energy trying to remember if you have something you need - you either already know, or you can look quickly to see and then move on with your day.
There’s also the benefit of weeding out items that aren’t serving you anymore. There’s so much joy (at least for me!) in letting go of things I don’t want anymore: clothes that don’t make me feel good about myself, relics of past relationships or jobs that didn’t make me happy. What you’re left with is the items that you really love and use. Once there’s more empty space in your home, you can see and enjoy your favorite vase on display or notice the framed picture of that amazing trip you took in college. Imagine walking into your wardrobe and knowing that everything in there looks good on you and fits well. In my opinion, that’s true freedom. You’re no longer weighed down by indecision and all of this stuff that you haven’t figured out what to do with. You have done the work, you have made the decisions, and what you are left with is a beautiful, happy home that supports you and your wellbeing.
So, Where To Start?
If you’re excited to get started, just start! Pick a space that feels good, and start small. Maybe it’s your jewelry box or your makeup drawer. Set aside enough time to take everything out, go through each item one by one, and decide what you love and use and what you’re ready to part with. Then put everything back in a way where it’s easy to see what you have and access what you need.
If you’re like, “I’ve tried that, I need more help!” don’t worry, we have your back.
First of all, we have an online course! It is comprised of seven lessons that each have worksheets, resources, journal entries, and professional videos. In the course, I personally walk you though every single step of getting organized, and there are lots of shopping lists and donation resources to help you too. If you want to see a little more about what the course looks and feels like, here’s a video we made for you.
If you need a little more hands-on help, we’d love to come over! We currently work in the Los Angeles area (and occasionally travel), so please reach out and we can chat about how we can help.
Lastly, follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest. We’re always posting tips and inspo, and we love questions so don’t hesitate to reach out and ask.
Sending you lots of love on your organizing journey, we’re here for you and are excited to see how tidying your home transforms your life for the better.
P.S. I’d like to note, that while organizing can have immense emotional benefit, it’s no substitute for professional help. I personally see a therapist and take medication for my depression and anxiety, so please seek help if you need it.
