4 Reasons to Declutter in 2023

2022 was such a big year and we can be forgiven for not quite being on top of our usual cleaning regime. However, I have also noticed a significant build-up of kid’s toys, paperwork, clothes, and other ‘stuff’.  And now I’ve piled the Christmas gifts on the heap and I’m feeling a tad claustrophobic.  

So, why do we accumulate so many possessions?

·       Many of our possessions have sentimental value, like family antiques or childhood mementos

·       We may feel guilty about letting things go – see above point on family antiques!

·       We find comfort in possessions.  There are many reasons for this, and all are valid.

·       It’s an expression of creativity and freedom.  This is often described as a reason for a teenage bedroom mess!

·       Lack of time. We’re so busy we don’t have time to do the proper clear out

·       An over developed sense of attachment with our possessions.  There are many psychological reasons why this could cause difficulty in letting things go, and all are legitimate.   

Of course, whether this is actually a problem or not differs from person to person. Varied levels of clutter are ok for different people.   So, when should we start to worry about our volume of possessions?  

1.      Procrastination problems

There is a huge link between having clutter and experiencing procrastination.  If you work from home, or experience any anxiety around procrastination now, then it may help to reduce some clutter.   

2.      Difficulty Focusing

What make complete sense to me is that clutter can be distracting, making it hard to focus on important tasks.  This is because our brains can only focus on a set amount of data at a time.

If you have teens at home with lots of homework or you’re trying to get though Tax time, your space may need a clear out so your brain has room to move.

3.      You want to decrease stress and anxiety in your life

Decluttering could help!  We love our homes to be safe havens, a place of relaxation and rest.  However, science suggests that clutter can make it hard to chill out. One study focusing on women, reported that an increase in clutter in their homes led the women to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol compared to women who had less clutter. 

4.      Trouble controlling impulses with food

Here’s some help after our end of year food binges! Some research suggests that it can be more difficult to control our impulses around unhealthy eating habits, when our mental health as well as our environment is stressful or cluttered.  One study found that a cluttered environment, combined with an "out-of-control mind-set" triggered participants to engage in unhealthy eating behaviours. 

 So, start now! Pick the easiest category of item you want to declutter and just start with one small thing (like socks).  I have a few more tricks and tips up my sleeve, so give me a buzz for more info!