Declutter to increase focus, improve mental health
Clutter, which are accumulated physical items that people tend to keep around instead of disposing though they provide no inherent value to one’s life, could have a negative impact on one’s focus and wellbeing. The practice of removing these unnecessary interfering items, called decluttering, provides practical benefits to both personal and professional environments.
Benefits of a clutter-free environment
1. Improved focus
Evidence suggests that when multiple visual stimuli are competing for your attention, you have a harder time narrowing your focus to only one of them. That means the clutter in your life is making you unfocused. You’ll have a harder time staying on task at work, and you won’t be as “present” in your home life, either. Decluttering brings better focus back to your world.
2. Emotional relief
Depending on the types of items you’re removing from your life, decluttering could serve as a kind of catharsis, or releasing of pent-up emotions. For example, if your mother bought you a dress you don’t particularly like, but you’ve kept it for many years anyway, getting rid of it could help you feel more in control and more independent. The act of decluttering is also shown to have a positive effect on your mental state, making you feel accomplished. Try it for yourself, and you’ll likely find the same thing.
3. Extra profit
Decluttering is also an opportunity to make extra profit by selling valuable items you no longer need in your life. Bigger items, like junk cars, can be scrapped for a sizable profit, and smaller items can be sold at a garage sale or something similar for a few extra dollars. You won’t get rich this way, but everybody could use a little extra money in their pockets.
4. Aesthetic appeal
Removing some of the extra clutter in your house and at the office will give you a healthier, more appealing aesthetic. Minimalistic environments are much better to look at than cluttered ones, so you, your family and your guests will feel more relaxed in your home.
Decluttering at home
1. One room at a time
Instead of trying to do your whole house at once, focus on one room at a time. Schedule a day, or even a week, to focus on a single room, and try not to think about the rest of the house until that room is done.
2. Begin with the basics
Start with the easy stuff and start working up to more complex decisions. For example, you can throw away the junk mail and remove some old dishes before deciding whether to keep that old necklace your friend bought you.
3. Apply the “one-year” rule
The popular recommendation states that if you haven’t used or seen an item in the past year, and you haven’t missed it, you don’t need it. Sell it or give it away. Some sources even recommend narrowing this down to the past six months.
4. Set goals and limits
Keep your focus by setting specific goals, such as filling one trash bag of junk every week, or committing to have each room done by a certain day.You can also set limits for what you’re allowed to have at any given time. For example, Project 333 challenges participants to wear only 33 articles of clothing for 3 months.
Decluttering at the office
1. Keep your desk clear
First, try to keep your desk as clear as possible. A few personal items may help you more than they hurt, but don’t overload your desk with pictures, trinkets, and past work. Only keep what’s immediately relevant to you.
2. Sort your email inbox
Your email inbox is likely the most cluttered thing in your professional life, so prioritize it. Keep your inbox clear by organizing your emails into different folders and deleting them once you no longer need them.
3. Use hidden storage
Incorporate drawers and cabinets that allow you to keep items hidden from view. You can also bundle cables under your desk to keep them from distracting you.
4. Maintain your work every day
Don’t let your desk or inbox get cluttered again; maintain your work before going home each evening.
Even a few minutes of sorting and cleaning up each day can help you see the benefits of decluttering in your personal and professional life. Make a small commitment to declutter more consistently, and chances are, the good feelings you get from the process will be motivation enough for you to continue.