5 Powerful Reasons to Declutter Your Life

25 Feb 2015 | By Elana Goldberg

From helping others to sharpening your concentration, getting rid of excess stuff can do a world of good.

We’ve all got clutter. It might be at home or at work, in your car or in your handbag – either way, it’s there and you’ve probably been meaning to sort it out for some time now. Your reasons for decluttering could vary – you might feel more comfortable entertaining if your house was more organized, need space for a new project, or maybe you’re sure that an important document is in the trunk of your car, but you just can’t seem to find it. The benefits of decluttering are actually far more profound – did you know that getting your stuff organized can actually do good for your body, your mind, and the world at large? This might just be the extra boost you’ve been looking for. Read on and get ready to declutter.

1. DECLUTTERING PROMOTES RELAXATION

Research in recent years has found that stress levels at home are at their highest when dealing with belongings. In other words, the less time you spend dealing with your stuff, the more relaxed you will be. A little bit of effort now can set you up to be calmer in years to come.

Less stuff equals more relaxation (Leszek Glasner / Shutterstock.com)

2. DECLUTTERING CAN HELP OTHERS

Cleaning up your stuff doesn’t need to be a “throwing out” process – your unwanted or unneeded objects can be very useful for people in need. This fantastic list of 101 places your clutter can do good is a great place to start, with in-depth sections on general goods, clothing, children’s items, electronics, books, musical instruments, eyeglasses and more.

Don’t need it? Donate it (Makistock /Shutterstock.com)

3. DECLUTTERING STIMULATES CREATIVITY

Along with calming the mind, minimizing excess clutter in your life has been found to stimulate creativity – so you can make something beautiful as a result of tidying up your environment.

Declutter to unleash your creative side (Anna Kraynova / Shutterstock.com)

4. DECLUTTERING PURIFIES THE AIR AROUND YOU

Guess what’s clinging to your clutter? Yep, dust – directly affecting the quality of the air you breathe. This means that time spent on some spring (or winter, or summer) cleaning literally purifies the air you breath – good for your mind and your body.

Decluttering purifies the air (Tanyastock / Shutterstock.com)

5. DECLUTTERING SHARPENS YOUR MIND

Research from Princeton University has found that decluttering your work and living spaces helps your brain focus. Put simply, the research found that clutter competes for your attention. In turn, organized environments lead to a sharp, productive and concentrated mind.

Clear up your work space to clear up your mind (fizkes / Shutterstock.com)

SEE MY ALL ARTICLES

FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ELANA GOLDBERG

As well as managing Goodnet.org, Elana writes happy headlines with a particular focus on yoga, meditation, and family matters. She has a background in online journalism and web content.

SEE MY ALL ARTICLES