IMPACTS OF CLUTTER ON MENTAL HEALTH

Impacts of Clutter on Mental Health

The following information is excerpted from an article written by Kristen Fuller MD. 

Clutter impacts your physical space in an obvious way; but some people don't realize that clutter can have negative mental health effects, too.

Increased Stress Levels

Ideally, home is a place where we can rest and relax. However, clutter can make it hard to do that. One study found that those who reported more clutter in their homes had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol throughout the day compared to those who had less clutter.

Difficulty Focusing

Clutter can actually be distracting. Our brains can only focus on a limited amount of stimuli at a time. So if you're surrounded by clutter when you're trying to work from home, for example, the clutter can actually make it harder for you to think clearly.

Did you know?

An average room contains over 2,000 visible objects, especially the office or workspace where people tend to spend most of their time.  This can lead to overstimulation and increased anxiety.

Procrastination

Research shows that people with cluttered homes tend to procrastinate on important tasks. You might have to dig through stacks of papers to pay the bills, or maybe you have so many piles of dirty clothes that it feels overwhelming to start the laundry.

Difficulty With Relationships

It's not uncommon for spouses, partners, or even roommates to argue over whether one person's things are taking up too much space. There might be added strain in a relationship if your clutter is an annoyance to the person you're living with.

In addition, if you're not inviting friends over because your home is cluttered, you might feel a sense of social isolation or shame. This might increase your risk of loneliness, which can take a serious toll on both physical and mental health.

Trouble Controlling Impulses

One study found that a cluttered environment combined with an "out-of-control mind-set" triggered participants to engage in unhealthy eating behaviours.

In other words, the research suggests that it can be more difficult to control your impulses when your mental health and your environment are stressful or "chaotic."

Lower Quality of Life

Clutter can easily lead to a nearly constant feeling of frustration as you struggle to complete daily tasks. The time you spend looking for objects you need or attempting to organize your items could be time spent with loved ones, doing some self-care, or even just relaxing.

One study found that clutter, particularly among older adults, decreased overall life satisfaction. Other research has found that helping older adults find ways to tidy up and declutter could help them feel more accomplished and in control.

Decreased Well-Being

The clutter in your environment can even cause you to develop negative feelings about your home. In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, researchers suggest that this is because 'home' is more than just where we live.

Instead, they suggest that home is a constellation of situations, experiences, and meanings. The individual shapes these experiences, but they are also shaped by them.

For this reason, excessive clutter was found to harm subjective well-being.

Let Downsizing Diva Durham help you to destress!  Call us today!