The holidays are over, 2018 has come to a close, and, I don’t know about you, but I am ready to organize and refresh my home for the new year. Have you ever heard the term, “the state of your bed is the state of your head?” Or how about the idea that a cluttered environment equates to a cluttered mind? I am a total believer that having an organized environment equates to a happier, healthier, more productive home. Not to say that my home is always organized or even that I always make the bed in the morning, but I can assure you that the days that I am (and do), my super woman powers are in full force!
One of my favorite ways to kick off the new year is to declutter! After packing away the Christmas decorations (check out some awesome Christmas storage solutions below), I get rid of things that no longer serve my highest good: old clothes, shoes, makeup, etc.
My husband and I recently got rid of a TON of old clothes–some that we have been packing around for 15 years or more (sigh!). It was a really amazing way to spend the last day of 2018, and it felt so good to wake up on the first day of 2019 with a slimmed down, organized closet! SIDE NOTE: Does it mean we are officially old since we got excited about organizing our closet to ring in the new year??
Did you know that decluttering can actually reduce anxiety?!
Yes, you heard that right. If you are anything like me, you love ANYTHING that helps reduce anxiety. As a Type-A, anxiety-prone, OCD (not the cute, quirky kind!) human, I am ALWAYS looking for ways to reduce my anxiety. According to Psychology Today, cluttered spaces overstimulate the mind, bombarding the brain with a surplus of sensory information. This can cause you to be irritable and it actually increases stress levels. By reducing the unnecessary items that are cluttering up your home, you can reduce cortisol levels, which translates to a happier, healthier you! Read on for other ways that decluttering can TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE!!
Improved sleep
Having a clean and organized home allows your brain to relax, which equates to deep, restful sleep. Our reptilian brain (the part of our brain that is traced all the way back to prehistoric times) is constantly scanning for danger and that includes while you are sleeping. While sleep greatly reduces mental processes, external stimuli such as a messy room can disrupt your sleep and make it harder to reach REM sleep. For this reason, it is so important that your bedroom is your sanctuary. Save work, laundry, and other projects for a different space and consider an oasis makeover such as this boho bedroom bliss look I created to invest in your personal oasis and your sleep.
Increase creativity
Is it just me or is it extremely difficult to be creative when you are distracted? Personally, I do my best work when I am in a quiet space with no distractions. When the space I am working in is cluttered, I have a hard time focusing on my priority task because my mind is constantly drifting to the pile of clothes in the corner or the stack of useless junk that has piled up on my desk. If you work from home like me, I encourage you to organize your work space and treat yourself to all the pretty things that will keep your space tidy and your creative juices flowing!
Reduce Allergens
If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that I am always looking for ways to reduce toxins and remove negative energy. One great way is through adding plants to your space (to read more about this, check out my power of plants in the home article here.) As an e-designer and stay-at-home-mom, I spend a LOT of time in my house. For this reason, it is important that my home is clean and organized (as best as it can be with three dogs, a teenager, an almost teenager, a six-month old, and a husband!). Decluttering and getting rid of things that you no longer need or use allows you to deep-clean those corners where pesky dusk mites like to lurk. It also shifts the energy in your space, which can be incredibly refreshing and inspiring. Give it a try!
Not convinced? Try decluttering for yourself and let me know if it shifts the energy in your home for the better!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links to products that I recommend so that I can continue sending out design inspiration and positive energy. Thanks for the support and love. Namaste!
