Do you ever feel consumed by chaos and clutter—like you’re drowning in your own disarray?
As it turns out, you’re not the only one.
In fact, according to a survey, 44 percent of Kiwis admitted to being too busy to clean and often live in what they describe as a "pigsty", resulting in partners arguing and kids getting the blame. Furthermore, 75 percent of women and 57 percent of men said a messy home could cause a higher likelihood of feeling miserable.
With so many people coming clean about their clutter being out of control, it’s time for us to declutter our lives and take command.
Read on to learn 7 tips for keeping organised this year that will mop up the mess and sweep away your stress.
Decluttering Tips: How to Declutter Your Home, Life, Mind, and More...
1. Develop a “Less is More” Mentality
Oftentimes, in the world that we live in, it’s easy to go through life with the mentality that you can never have too much—that more is always better.
However, this is not always true. When it comes to staying organised, whether that applies to your home, your social life, or your mental state, the mentality of “less is more” can save you from so much of the stress and chaos piling up and cluttering your life.
Take a moment to evaluate all of the excess in your life. Is your cupboard starting to feel crowded from all of the clothing that you don’t wear? Are you mentally overwhelmed? Do you feel like you have been so busy lately that you don’t have time to take a breath?
It’s time to let go of all of that clutter. Start thinking about the physical things, thoughts, people, and events that you dedicate time to and ask yourself whether they serve a purpose in your life.
Are you really going to use that extra chair that’s been sitting in storage collecting dust for 10 years? Should you allow pointless or destructive negative thoughts to consume valuable space in your mind? Would you rather have more time to spend with your children or have dinner with your toxic neighbour out of politeness twice a week?
When we eliminate the useless and harmful aspects of our lives and make space and time for only the things that serve a purpose, make us happy, or improve our lives, staying organised becomes a much simpler task to handle.
2. Organise Your Living Space—Start Small
You know what they say. A cluttered house is a cluttered mind.
While those stacks of papers littering the shelves might not look all that menacing, whether we want to admit it or not, our environment really does have a significant impact on our mental health.
In fact, research reveals that people whose surroundings are messy or disorganised are more likely to struggle with the following issues:
- Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol
- Allergies from agents such as dirt, dust, mold, and pet dander
- Lower levels of productivity
- Higher risk of slipping and falling
- Memory impairment
- Increased safety hazards within the home
- Insomnia
- Trouble focusing
- Weight gain from binge eating or stress eating
- Embarrassment and isolation
- Depression and/or anxiety disorders
- A lower overall satisfaction in life
Don’t put off cleaning any longer, as your mess and stress will just continue to grow the longer that you wait.
If you feel overwhelmed, start small. Do the dirty dishes that are piling up in the sink. Wipe down the crusty counters of your kitchen. Throw that musty pile of laundry into the washing machine. Donate the extra pairs of shoes you don’t wear to charity. Organise your files and documents. Take out the trash bags that have been blocking the door.
You don’t have to do everything at once. If you take a little time out of your schedule every day to tidy up, you will be able to see and feel the progress that you’re making.
Remember that several small steps can lead to big change.
3. Dig Through Your Digital Clutter—Stay Organised by Going Electronic
In this day and age, clutter isn’t just limited to a wardrobe or a bits and bobs drawer. Now there is such a thing as digital disorganisation.
Whether this looks like 1,000 spam emails in your inbox, 200 unopened text messages, or an abundance of apps you never use scattered across your phone screen, it’s time to start digging through your digital clutter.
Go through your texts, photos, documents, notes, emails, and apps, and delete what you no longer need or use. This will clear up some space on your electronic device, providing you with more memory and storage room for the important stuff.
When utilised effectively, going electronic can actually serve as a helpful tool in staying organised. For example, opting for electronic bills that you pay online, rather than receiving physical copies in the mail, can help you cut back on the clutter in your home.
Take advantage of modern technology. There are plenty of ways you can organise your digital documents and records in your device, whether it be using the aid of an app, creating electronic folders to sort your files, or typing notes on the spot such as grocery or to-do lists so you don’t forget later.
4. Create Healthy Routines and Stick to Them
Humans are naturally creatures of habit, from the go-to snack we always reach for when we’re hungry, to the time of the day that we begin to get sleepy and hit the sack.
This is why is it vital that you aim for routine and consistency, as this structure in your life can help you stay on top of organisation and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
For example, if you struggle with organisation of physical items and maintaining a neat and tidy home, develop the habit of setting aside just a few minutes to clean every day. You can even assign certain chores to certain days, if you prefer: Mopping Mondays, Trash Tuesdays, Washing Wednesdays, Toilet Thursdays, etc.
If you struggle with staying on top of your schedule or time management, at the beginning of each week, make it a point to go over your calendar and prepare appropriately for the week to come.
Finally, if you struggle with mental organisation, set aside time to process your thoughts and feelings. This could look like writing in your journal at the end of every day or talking it out with a therapist once a week.
Whatever it is you struggle with, developing healthy habits and patterns sets you up for success in the future and prevents you from falling behind or back into your old ways.
5. Keep Track of Your Calendar and Schedule
It is easy to get disorganised when you can’t keep track of your own schedule.
Life can be unpredictable, and unexpected events can spring up. This is why it is so important that you are constantly updating your calendar and schedule.
Whether you prefer to keep a physical calendar and pencil in your commitments or utilise the digital calendar on your cell phone, having a document to keep track of everything you have to do makes it easier to plan, frees your mind from the pressure of trying to remember it all, and ensures that you are not overloading yourself with too much.
6. Spend Your Time Wisely—Know When to Say “No”
Every second of your time ticking away is precious, so remember to treat it as such.
In order to stay organised and manage your time effectively, it is essential that you know when to say “no.” Although saying “no” may feel hard sometimes or seem harsh, it is a protective measure that prevents us from overloading ourselves.
When we say yes to too many things, it is easy to become stressed and overwhelmed, as our time and energy is spread too thin. This can cause our lives to become more disorganised and stressful, resulting in more disappointment from others and frustration towards ourselves from forgetfulness or falling through on these commitments.
Furthermore, too much stress in your life can not only have a negative impact on your social life, but can also be detrimental to your mental and physical health as well.
Remember that not every person or event is necessarily worth your time and energy, so choose wisely.
7. Clear Your Mind—Manage your Mental Health
Your mind is the home where you will always live, and just like physical clutter piles up, so can your thoughts and feelings.
When our minds are messy, the lens through which we look at life can morph even the most orderly of worlds into one massive mess. After all, what good does it do you to have it all together on the outside if you’re still in shambles on the inside?
Clear the clutter from your mind. Don’t shove your mental baggage into storage to collect dust. It’s time to get it out.
Whether this means taking some time to yourself to healthily process your emotions, getting your feelings out on paper, or seeking professional help, you and your mental health are well worth taking care of.
Remember that you are a person with value and purpose in this world, and there are always people out there that love and care about you.
There are people out there that can help you—You don’t have to go through this alone.
If you believe you or your loved one might suffer from a hoarding disorder, click here for resources.
