While we aren't scientists, we are experts in organization, and we can tell you from experience that there is nothing more soothing, calming, and relaxing than a beautiful, well organized, clutter-free space.
It has been proven that when things are a mess at home, it's likely that things are a mess in other areas of your life as well. When your home isn't organized, neither are you.
Coming home to a cluttered space has a profound effect on your mood and self-esteem, and it makes it hard to relax both physically and mentally. Plus, the stress of knowing you need to clean up and the resulting guilt because you haven't is a constant cycle that can be overwhelming, frustrating, and overall draining.
According to a study done by Current Psychology in 2016, “Clutter leads to a significant decrease in satisfaction with life among older adults. Their findings suggest that general procrastination tendencies may enable a lifelong pattern of responses to one’s environment that become increasingly maladaptive throughout their life.”
Clutter is also known to increase cortisol levels, which is the body’s fight or flight response to stress. This can lead to higher levels of depression, increased anxiety, and challenges in the ability to make decisions and stay focused. In a study done by Cornell University in 2016, they found that stress that is produced by clutter can also ignite various avoidance strategies, such as eating junk food, oversleeping, and binge-watching TV.
None of these feelings should be felt in your home, but once things begin piling up, the task starts to become more and more paralyzing.
Here are a few reasons why clutter ignites stress and why you should consider finding more efficient ways to keep your space clean and organized.
Your Time is Not Well Spent
When things are a mess, it's hard to tell where anything is. You might find yourself running late frequently, never remembering where you put important items, and spending extra time searching through the chaos. Things can get swallowed up by the clutter, which only results in you spending extra time locating the things you need.
You Spend More Money
Financial woes are the root of many stresses and are only amplified when things are a mess – out of sight out of mind. Bills are easily lost, you forget you have certain items, you overbuy, you stock up on things you already have, you replace things you think you've lost, deadlines get missed causing you interest and late fees, the list goes on.
Having Guests Over Is A Hassle
Your home should be a place you want to show off and socialize in, but instead, when it's unorganized, there is nothing to be proud of. It's common to feel embarrassed about the mess, which either results in a fair amount of guilt or not socializing at all.
Your Space isn't Efficiently Utilized
The workflow of your home and various rooms rely on your organization and the function of each space. When rooms are messy and cluttered, things don't flow as they should. You end up stepping over objects, pushing stuff aside, and not using the space as it was intended.
It Inhibits Creativity
Most people are creative in some way or another, and they very often draw inspiration from their surroundings. Nothing is inspiring about clutter and mess, and the stress it ignites is a sure way to put a damper on any creative ideas you might have.
What messes stress you out the most in your home? Share it with us in the comments below!
If you're looking to get your home organized, get rid of the mess and clutter, and reduce your endless amounts of stuff, we would be happy to help. Introducing new custom cabinets, shelving, or hooks can making organizing fun, give the space a complete refresh, and make you fall in love with your home all over again!