Less is More:
How Clutter is Connected to Mental Health
How much is too much? There’ s the physical clutter that we see and the mental clutter that we don’ t see. As a society, we have been conditioned to believe that we need things, stuff to be accepted and happy. Have you ever stopped to think how having a lot of stuff is negatively affecting your mental health?
By Regina Knox
Clutter is a visual distraction which overloads your senses and creates CHAOS in you mind. The space you inhibit is a reflection of what is going on cognitively. Your physical environment does impact how you feel about yourself. Sometimes the presence of clutter can act as a buffer / comfort to make you feel safe, giving you a reason to not properly deal with your emotions and issues. Feelings such as anxiety, stress, the loss of sleep and the inability to focus are interconnected to having some kind of clutter.
The digital clutter that you consume can be just as detrimental to your mental health as the physical. The multiple electronic devices; phones, tablets, laptops, wrist phones you possess can be irritating. So being overwhelmed is a common emotion when you begin the process of clearing clutter from your environment. Simplicity and function is key to achieving a healthier mental state when there is an overabundance of stuff.
When you reduce or declutter your belongings, your mind and behavior shifts. Psychologically you begin to have a sense of peace and contentment. This is because your mind is not over stimulated thinking about all of the stuff you have. Less is more as you begin to gain clarity of your surroundings and focus on what is truly important. More time can be thus being spent on cultivating your relationships when there’ s not clutter. Your finances will definitely increase because you are not purchasing unnecessary items. And the thought of more restful sleep is appealing since you’ re not worrying about how to maintain your possessions. Now with less stuff, there’ s an increase in your productivity and more time for completing those planned projects. But with clearing away clutter comes the bonus of physical activity, moving your body more which in turn can lead be an overall healthier lifestyle.
Clutter can wreak havoc on your mental health, if you let it. Having more is not just about things, it’ s about having more freedom to enjoy living a Healthy life. So, when your environment is well, you are well physically and mentally.
32