Declutter for Your Health
Do you have too much stuff? Are your closets full to bursting? Just how many “junk drawers” do you have? Is every flat surface covered with disorganized papers and things you have nowhere else to put? While some say that a messy room inspires creativity, it actually causes more harm than good to both your physical and mental health.
Mess = Stress
When you have to do a full house search for your keys before work, it sets the tone for your whole day. Studies have shown that women who see their homes as cluttered have higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, than those who feel their homes are organized.
The longer you leave your mess around, the more difficult it is for you to decide what to throw out. Living with piles of things that you “eventually want to sort” can lead to feeling overwhelmed and unhappy.
Having a cluttered home is especially difficult for those with ADHD. The mess around them makes it harder to focus. If you don’t know where to start cleaning, ask for help. Organize your surroundings so that you have a functional, uncluttered space.
Physical Effects of Clutter
It’s hard to keep up with dust if your home is cluttered. Allergies to dust mites or pet dander can exacerbate symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, and wheezing.
Regardless of what kind of clutter you have, there is an increased risk for slips and falls in the home. You can trip over boxes or bump into overstuffed shelves and send items toppling to the floor.
People who take surrounding themselves with junk to the extreme are hoarders. Hoarders, in addition to air quality problems and other issues, are more likely to gain weight and suffer from insomnia.
Reduce Clutter
If you choose to use the KonMari Method™ from Marie Kondo, grab your copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and commit yourself to the task. Imagine your ideal lifestyle, follow Kondo’s order for tidying, and ask yourself if each item sparks joy. There’s a lot more to her method, and millions of people swear by it.
Going to do it your own way? For your best results, work with one room at a time. Sort your items into three categories: keep, donate, trash. Rent a dumpster for the junk, bag or tag donations, and put the things you are keeping away in a neat, organized manner. This may mean getting containers to store items or closet racks to make your storage more effective.
When you decide to clear out the clutter, call Oaks Dumpster Rental at 866-649-6257. We’ll drop off a roll-off dumpster and haul away your junk so you don’t have to worry about it!