Tidy home, tidy mind – is it true that clutter causes burnout?

A fellow interior designer and author, Alexandra Stoddard, once said: “The home is the center of your soul; it’s a total reflection of your inner life”. 

So what does your space say about you?

We can all be guilty of making a mess. When life is fast-paced and demanding, we take shortcuts: shoes get tossed by the front door, bills and letters pile up on the hallway table. 

And on weekends, there are 100 or more other things we’d rather do than tackle mounds of papers or sort out the kitchen cupboards.

But actually, finding ways to tidy and organize your space is a form of self-care — something we could all do with a little more of right now.

Mess = stress. Here’s why…

Tackling a week-long build up of clothes on your “chairdrobe” might feel like a daunting, and unwelcome, task. But you should be aware of the side-effects of putting it off, too.

It’s one thing to go easy on yourself during difficult times (like, the whole of 2020 for example). But the mess and clutter in your home could be adding to your anxiety and discomfort — not making it more manageable.  

Untidy spaces create feelings of guilt: “I should be more organized, what’s wrong with me?”. Mess can also cause embarrassment should anyone drop by unannounced.

Clutter can even inhibit your creativity and productivity — an important consideration if you’re working from home. A happy, healthy home has a sense of flow. And clutter simply stops that flow in its tracks. 

If you’ve ever been late for an appointment because you couldn’t find your car keys, only to find them hidden under a stack of discarded mail…then you’ll know what we mean. 

So how do we regain control over clutter, and set our peace of mind free?

5 minutes to a clutter-free house and mind

Let’s get you organized! 

It only takes 5 minutes to get started. And making a solid start is much more important than conquering everything on day one. 

Give yourself small tasks and joyously tick them off when you’ve completed them.

Start small

Pick a shelf, your bedside table, or somewhere else that clutter tends to gather. Clear away all the non-essentials. Ask yourself if you really need things out on display. Could you store your stationery in a drawer rather than scattered across your desk?

By focusing on just one clutter-filled place, you’ll soon see (and feel!) the difference. Then pick another small area to sort out. And so on.

Trust us, if you decide to pull all your books off the bookshelf at once, you’ll give up before you’ve even got started. Take things one shelf at a time.

Buy beautiful storage

Treat yourself to some new storage. Not shelving or display storage but boxes, drawers and other spaces to organize your stuff away. Invest in colorful, patterned boxes, containers and trays. No one said sorting out couldn’t be stylish!

Donate unloved clothing

Got five minutes to spare on a Saturday morning? Head to your closet and pull out some clothes that you haven’t worn in...well...you can’t even remember the last time you wore that.

If they’re seasonal (and you’re really sure you’ll wear them next season), store them in a new beautiful storage box. Get rid of everything else. 

Do this repeatedly until you’re only holding on to the clothes you love.

Team up

There’s strength in numbers, so make sure your roommates or other half is on your side. 

Let them know that clutter is getting you down and tell them what they can do to help. No-one likes to be moaned at. But by setting a few household goals for a clutter-free life, you’re far more likely to stick it out. 

Sometimes it’s not all on us! And sharing the responsibility for a simple, clean and uncluttered home should be a team effort.

Designate

This one is particularly true for work-from-homers, but papers find their ways into the home in many other ways, too. Bills, paychecks, newspapers and magazines — it soon adds up!

Create designated spaces for paperwork: just like you would in your email inbox. Keep all paperwork that requires some action, or needs further organizing, in one place. And only store magazines and newspapers if you have a genuine reason for doing so — like you’re planning a renovation or collecting ideas for your wedding.

Revisit this system every few weeks: throw away what’s no longer needed and reprioritize your “inbox”. That’s a tidy home and a tidy mind in action!

Still feeling overwhelmed?

Months, or even years, of clutter and collections can seem like an impossible task to tackle. So don’t worry if you don’t know where to start. Being organized is a way of life and huge changes might be what's needed. Don’t forget, change = growth.

The good news is, a few interior design tweaks may be all you need. Functional storage might help you on your path to organized righteousness.

If you’d like expert support and recommendations, get in touch with the team at Titanium Space and let’s book your free consultation today.