Declutter your home – How Decluttering my Home Helped me Focus Better in my Business
I looked around and thought: Where can I place this pair of shoes, no room at all! My Wardrobe was bursting with stuff, in fact, when I looked around my whole bedroom was a holy mess…I had a mental movie of the rest of my home and noticed the stuffiness. The Stuff… It seemed that as soon as I delivered a boot-load to the charity shop, whatever space I’d created was almost immediately replaced with more stuff. I needed to not only release some stuff, I needed to Declutter my home if I was to avoid the claustrophobia I could feel coming on.
Are you facing the same dilemma?
Today, allow me to help you out before you get anxiety, and/or depressed and your career, life or business suffers.
So, did you know that Cleaning makes you feel lighter, less stressed, and accomplished? Neither did I 😉
Well I used to think it was woo-woo stuff, all this connecting cleaning with success… Don’t get me wrong, I am essentially a tidy person… Yet, I also seem to be a hoarder.
Till I couldn’t fit any piece of clothing in my wardrobe and guess what was happening at work…Lack of focus, which lead to feeling overwhelmed as the days went by with my tasks undone or half done…And then I would eat for England which of course wasn’t great for my body… Hello size 16 for a 5ft 2 woman! 🙁
Weird as it sounds, tidying and decluttering your space can get you back into your driving seat. So you can feel more in control of your life.
Tidying and decluttering can get you back into your Life driving seat.
The idea is to drum it into your brain that: “I am putting things in order.”
You see, the physical act of cleaning always gets me sweaty and I find that a real bonus. “Two birds, one stone! Yeah
That is so good for heart energy…When I hit my work station, I find that I have such clarity and energy, I usually smash through the tasks I set and any challenges that would have floored me before.
So, today allow me to share 3 tips to decluttering your life and smashing your life goals. Double whammy, it feels just as good as going for a walk outside.
First I am no expert on all things Mental health or fitness. BUT, I am a stickler for doing my research and due diligence and Trying things out before I share. So…
I did some research as well on the benefits of decluttering and tidying my home and space
[Related: Social media Anxiety – How to Avoid it]
Clearing up your mess is a powerful stress buster and empowers you big time.
What Does Research Say about Decluttering and Anxiety?
Well, I have learnt that clearing up my mess is a powerful stress buster and empowers you big time.
And by the way Science has shown that mess may actually affect your mental well-being. Mess and clutter create stress that has three major biological and neurological effects on humans:
- It Affects your cortisol levels,
- Increases your pain threshold and
- Impacts on your Creativity and ability to focus on any single task.
🙁
Mind you, clutter isn’t just physical…Ohh no.
- Are you always on social media so every 2 secs a notification ping goes off your phone?
- Then you are exposed to Digital clutter and Mess. And you absolutely must consider avoiding Social media Anxiety.
- Also, if you have tasks that must be dome ala to-do lists, and you are constantly thinking about them, Yet Not taking action? Yup clutter…
- Maybe you hear a ping every few minutes from your pc, so your ability to fully focus on a task and enter creative flow or process is being hammered all day…You are in a “Mental Mess” too.
All the above things have the exact same effect on your brain as physical mess aka clutter!
And we want you firing from all barrels, delivering results in your career and/or business, enjoying life and having fun yes, yes? Good…
Talking of business, if you that really wish to get productive, I created a Toolkit that can help you to Not only declutter but also Get Productive right here.
You’ll Get Better Results, and even Get That Promotion if that’s what you desire!
So,Why Declutter your home?
Well remember I talked about research? Well, according to scientific research, our brains can only focus on 1% of all the stuff we are exposed to.
Also clutter causes us to eat all the wrong foods as we focus on the wrong things too…Again proven by research. Indeed, Florida State University researchers found a connection between obesity and hoarding.
Yes, your brain LOVES Order. It is a super machine a wonder of creation, and like a computer, it loves specific direction. To many clicks and orders and it freezes, or even crashes…We wanna avoid that for sure.
Well let’s tackle that mess in 3 steps I learnt from a decluttering expert called Marie Mondo. And I now use to keep my home and business Organized, and running smoothly.
#1. Instead of Rooms, Deal with The Mess in Categories:
I have a ton of books and they used to be everywhere. Now I know exactly where to get my books. Coz I gave them a home. So I sorted my mess by these categories:
- Books,
- Clothes,
- Shoes,
- Paperwork, aka files,
- Utensils
- Miscellaneous
I gathered all things in one spot and sorted. If you go Room by room, well you will like I did, get distracted by sentimental stuff and not get the job done. Stick to the plan. I will share with you in a bit what to do with all the stuff yo have sorted and dont need anymore.
#2. Arrange your stuff in Neat Rows in your Storage;
Like cupboards, wardrobes, draws etc. This gives you a semblance of organisation and a birds eye view of everything you need so you can access it faster and avoid messing stuff up again. Also you will have released a lot of things you dont really use… Less is MORE in this case.
I learnt to fold my clothes like books or roll them like a towel. Try it, folding your clothes like a row of books, I even do that for my undies lol #TMI :p
I use draw or closet organizers. If you are in UK you can get some in B&M, Home Bargains, Wilkos or B&Q.
This will also help you save money. You won’t buy the same thing again coz you can’t find the other one. Or forgot you had it. Everything is well laid out so you can see it.
Gratefully Give away what you no longer need.
#3. Give away what you no longer need, those sentimental items
This is what you do with that stuff you know you dont need, haven’t worn i ages, doesn’t fit anymore or is so 19th century you Would feel ancient wearing it. Well someone actually needs them. And would be so grateful to have them.
This also encourages you to be grateful for what you have and the memories you got…Gratitude opens doors for us in life and for entrepreneurs…its a major accelerator of success.
As you give it away, say thank you to the Grace and the ITEM for having given you the memories or been useful in your life in whatever form.
It also stops the guilt you may feel when you give away say those baby booties for your now 16-year-old. And which they will not be using on their child anyway.
Now you have a clutter free home and the good abundance and freedom energy flows more freely in and around your home. This in turn allows abundance to find the space to take root in your home….
What does The Act of Decluttering Do for You?
Tune in to this Podcast to understand WHY.
Give away what you no longer need, those sentimental items
And if you enjoyed my Tips, then go ahead and Declutter your Home. This will help you to re-align you with Focus, reduce stress and bring you your desired results. Do Share on Facebook… And
See, Do, and Be more!
Julie Syl Kalungi
 | Email: admin[at]pkjulesworld.com Looking to Collaborate with us? Check out our Media Kit where we Help People Everyday. Want to chat about something else then Contact us for a chat! |
Hi – thanks for your post. I use a similar method when moving. I take 1 room a week and pack it up and clean it that way on moving day all I have to do is wipe down surfaces, run the vaccuum and mop the floors. It works out pretty slick =D Found ya on Blogger’s Pit Stop. =D
Heya Tina,
So good to see you from the Pit Stop. Glad we love to Declutter 😉 It helps clear ones mind too 🙂
I think this is a great idea for decluttering your house! Junk removal can be hard for some people, and decluttering can start with a single item.
Exactly, step by step
I always declutter things at home. I’m not a hoarder that’s why I have control over things that I buy and store at home. Thanks for sharing this to inspire your readers on keeping and disposing of stuff.
I usually say “if the home is not cleaned, the tge mind isn’t cleaned either. Clean home put you in a better mood to think
You’re exactly right there
Clutter stresses me out. I wouldn’t be able to live in a house where I constantly saw things that didn’t have a place or were useless.
love these guide! every single one of them is important. Thanks so much for sharing
You’re very welcome
Decluttering helps my state of mind. I can’t deal with seeing a messy room. It does my head in.
Awesome advice on why decluttering is important for our general well being and great step by step instructions on how to do it. I will try the deal with the mess in categories.
Cluttered place is a cluttered mind. Go for it
Really awesome tips, I get so overwhelmed with how to declutter because it seems overwhelming especially with 4 kids
You can do it!
I’ve been cleaning out our house and giving away all of our old baby clothes and items.
I always find it easier to relax with a home with less clutter.
A mess will derail your thought process and leave your mind feeling as cluttered as your surroundings. I like the idea of organizing /breaking down the mess into categories! I’m going to suggest this to my husband for our storage room.
I hope that goes well for you!
I’m not crazy! I tell my husband that clutter and a mess gives me anxiety and it’s actually a thing! Thanks for the pro tips here!
I do decluttering every two months and check for items that I no longer use. I either put it up for sale, or donate it to a charity. It not only frees up space, but it makes me feel good that someone will make good use of those pre-loved items.
Oh i need to get on this like immediately. My house is a mess and in desperate need to declutter. Thanks a lot for the awesome tips.
I need to declutter my home but then I think I like all of this stuff! haha
Just do it Ashli!
Decluttering one’s space is definitely useful for mental health. I definitely do this at least twice a year and donate or sell gently used items to a consignment shop. And I always do mine in categories too.
I was so happy to have had completely decluttered my home before we decided to sell. It was so easy because of that
That sounds like a great idea, Very efficient. I hope you take it on into your new home 😀
I;ll be honest with you, Im a bit of a hoarder!! I need to learn to declutter and just let go of the things we don’t need!
It gets to the point where decluttering is a must. We just like to hang on to stuff. Found you on Bloggers Pit Stop Link Party
Decluttering makes SUCH a big difference. After I read Marie Kondo’s book, I found ways to really get things organized and it saves me so much time and makes my home a much more relaxed space.
That sounds amazing Whitney, Thanks for reading !! 😀
I declutter on every sunday and I must say it always feels great.
I know that decluttering can have the freeing feeling when you get near the end. The hard part is dealing with the stress in the beginning as you begin to get rid of things from your life. But I think as the inertia sets in, decluttering gets easier.
I started decluttering intentionally this year and it has made me more organized.
I have been working on decluttering this year and I can’t believe how good it makes me feel! Having less STUFF to take care of any worry about it so freeing!
It really is therapeutic Isn’t it Hailey 😀 !!
I always find it so much easier to focus when my home is free of clutter.
It always is Better To have a clean home Tammie !! 😀
I am so excited to declutter my old stuff. I and my husband are planning now on how we can be minimalist.
That sounds like it will be a big change, I hope it goes well for you Helen 😀
I am now starting with my spring cleaning task and I almost declutter half of our stuff Lol. It makes me feel relax now I can how clean and minimalist my home is.
I am a very busy mom and whenever I am planning to declutter it ends up nothing haha. I am really eager to have my spring cleaning goal.
Oh, I need this. love these tips! every single one of them is important. Thanks so much for sharing
I can see how decluttering can help everyone focus more to meet their goals. When my desk is a mess, can’t get a thing finished. It just stresses me to no end.
Nice post, declutter is so good for our mind and body. It just helps us focus on more important things
I love decluttering and organizing. So much so that my friends will call me to their home to organize their stuff.
One of my goals this year has been to declutter and I am LOVING it. The less junk I have around the house, the better it feels. I can totally see how clutter relates to anxiety too. Messy house, messy mind!
You are very right Hailey, clutter can really affect your mood :/
I have actually just finished cleaning and decluttering my home today. And it feel so good to be in a minimalist decorated apartment, where everything it at its place.
Wow, these are awesome tips. Our condo unit is not that big but it seriously needs some declutterring and organizing.
Declutter whenever you get a chance or it will just get worse 🙂
Great post, we have started doing this and feel so much better for it
I am now reading the Marie Kondo method of decluttering and I couldn’t agree more with you both. It does make feel better!
Clutter causes so much anxiety & stress to me. It is so important to declutter your home every 3 to 6 months. I am going to tune in to the Podcast and listen to your views.
Thank you so much for reading Mayuri, I hope you love the podcasts 😀
I love the idea. Decluttering makes one more organized and focus….I complete agree with your thoughts here. It is important to keep yourself sorted and focus is important.
IT really is a big factor in focus and concentration 😀
I agree with this post. When you have a clean environment then that rubs off in a good way. It is always because it messes with your mind. Your mind has a different perception to look at when you are in a clean environment.
you are so right Nathan, Thanks for sharing 😀
Oh yes. I am all for decluttering my stuff and the whole house and give the ones that don’t spark joy. It’s hard to think and do at first but it is such a relief after.
i totally agree with this! i have to have a clutter free house for me to be productive. more organization=more productivity.
That is so true for me too :D, I need to have CLEAN all around me to be at optimum performance 😀
I love having a declutter. It really does clear the mind.
Debs
You are so right Debs, Declutter the house, Declutter the mind
I’ll be decluttering my home this weekend. All the tips will be very helpful. 😊
I hope it goes well Snehal 😀
Decluttering is very useful but I get lazy when its time to declutter.
I am ALL FOR de-cluttering, however the second we do so, my husband wants something else! LOL!
We just spent a couple of days rearranging the basement, laundry area. We didn’t get rid of anything, we were able to better organize the space we had. When we were done the laundry room had opened up the basement storage area was organized and accessible. It was great to see the impact on everyone in the house, everyone had a much more positive feeling about the space.
that sounds so great, Definitely some good Feng Shui vibes 😀
Another very helpful post, Julie. We will feature this on the next Blogger’s Pit Stop. Well done.
Kathleen
Thanks for the tips. I plan to clean out my closet this weekend, so I can swap out the winter clothes for warm-weather items. Armed with your advice, I will include all my clothes in the decluttering process, wherever they may be stored. I will give some things away with gratitude, and I will put the things I am keeping in a new order. Thank you! I found your post on the Blogger’s Pit Stop.
You ha e reminded me that I need to decliner again. I did it a while ago but ‘stuff’ is creeping back in. I also read Marie Kondos back and love her method of folding.Visiting for the first time from #BloggersPitStop I will be back and will share on SM
https://bestbookishblog.com/
That sounds amazing Jennifer 🙂
Helpful ideas you resent here. One thing I do to keep clutter down is to discard something for everything new I buy . So I buy a new sweater, I get rid of one. For things I will consume, I don’t buy a new one until it is gone- shampoo, deodorant, mayo. ( but not for things I can’t live without, like prescription meds.) That also cuts down on the need for storage.
That sounds fantastic Aletha, Do you take the clothes to a charity shop ?? 😀
I’ve been on a decluttering mission lately. if feels good to have open space and room to breathe!
Hard to work in a space that is cluttered and a mess. Found you on Blogger’s Pit Stop Link Party.
this might be a good idea for me, I have been trying to search for some thins that I can do at home, then I found this.
I think this will be a good idea, I will try this it might improve my business too.
Thank you much for the tips. Being a fashion blogger, i have so many clothes and most of them either dont fit, or I dont like them. So this has given me an idea. BTW, have you watched Marie Kondo in Netflix? Shes also an expert in organizing
I have started watching Marie Kondo, She is a home declutter icon, Thanks for reading Sarah 😀
Man, it is like you are reading my mind with this post. I am just itching to declutter and do a massive spring clean. I truly believe mess can help increase stress and cortisol in your life. Personally, it gives me anxiety. Great tips!
You are so welcome Lindsay 😀
I love the idea of decluttering and getting rid of those things that you really don’t need is one of my favorite because I was given a chance to give and share it to others and sometimes I made money from it.
I love decluttering…well at least the feeling it brings me afterward hahaha. But thinking of doing it can stress me out a little. Thanks for sharing!
Decluttering is good for the body, mind, and spirit. Of course, the real challenge is to not replace what leaves with more stuff.
Decluttering feels soooo good! Just did it when I moved house recently.
It is also a spiritual thing, thats why it feels so good Luci
I love decluttering too.. I actually do it twice a year. It feels so good having to save more space.
Ahhh we do too Geraline and it feels so good looking at the space 🙂
I’ve been decluttering for the past month and love it 🙂 Hardly anything left to declutter now though xd
You have Space, expansiveness, abundant flow, you are in ZEN Maartje 🙂
I really need to declutter… but I have such a hard time doing it. Like, what if I will need this at some point?!?!
Emmerline,
You HAVE everything your NEED anything else is Clutter, its as simple as that.
This might sound weird but i love the idea of decluttering. Just the satisfaction of getting rid of old things and starting fresh makes me so happy.
Aaaah a kindred soul in you Adirana 🙂
I am with you here. I can’t really focus too when something in mind mind is not settled. We just have to do it and feel more relieved about it. Haha!
Great minds DO alike Michael 😉
Anytime I declutter I feel light, accomplished and relieved.
What a way to feel Lydia 🙂