Reduce Stress By Decluttering Your Apartment

Having a cluttered home can be an overwhelming experience for many of us, especially if we also live in an apartment. It can lead to constant cleaning and never-ending chores that just don’t seem to last long enough for them to feel worth it.

In fact, clutter and mess have been linked to feelings of anxiety and stress, especially when our mental states are just as cluttered as our physical surroundings. There’s nothing worse than stressing over massive life issues and still having to dig through a pile of dishes for a coffee cup.

And that’s the heart of it all, really, because getting stressed over clutter can sometimes be a symptom of greater stressors in our lives, and unlike many things in our lives we have little control over, clutter is something we can face head-on and conquer.

Here are some reasons why clutter can stress us out, plus some tips on how to clear that clutter away for good!

Reduce mess stress by decluttering your apartment

Why does clutter make us anxious?

What we should all start with is the fact that clutter is going to look different for everyone. You are the one deciding whether your apartment is too messy for your liking, or whether the crowded floors and walls are getting a little too unbearable. 

For most of us, though, we would probably define clutter as any object that either doesn't have a permanent place in our home or, if it does have a place, it is one that’s not making its way there. Piles of paperwork that haven’t been filed, kitchen gadgets that can’t fit in drawers, children’s toys that can never seem to stay packed away or even sentimental items that we can’t bear to get rid of can all contribute to clutter.

There are a few reasons why clutter can affect us in such strong ways. First, when we are overstimulated by sights, sounds and smells constantly, then our minds are spending a large amount of time processing information that, in the grand scheme of things, aren’t that important. This, in turn, keeps us from focusing on what we do need to be focusing on, and it can keep us from feeling like we have the space to be creative and productive because we are so overwhelmed by the many small, insignificant things around us.

Clutter can also remind us of all the work we need to still do, which can stir up feelings of exhaustion, guilt, embarrassment or resentment. We might feel like we can’t entertain guests with a messy living room, or that we are getting behind on work because there are still a hundred toys to pack away. We may feel overwhelmed by not knowing how long it will take to clean everything up, or we might even feel like we aren’t able to meet our own expectations.

Whatever the reasons or the results, if clutter makes you stressed, then clearing the clutter is a surefire way to vastly improve your mental health. And yes, it’s easier said than done, but this is a problem that you can fix, and it’s one that we can help out with, too.

How to start decluttering an apartment

Give everything a place

Whether it’s paperwork, cleaning products, kitchen gadgets or family photos, everything in your home should have a place. Try to avoid storing things on top of tables or desks, as that doesn’t do anything to remove excess visual stimuli from your environment. Use storage boxes, closet organizers or filing systems to create those spaces if you need to, and they will come in handy when you inevitably need to look for something specific later on. 

Create a stuff pile

It can be overwhelming to tackle an entire room’s worth of clutter in one go, so create a stuff pile for everything you need a little extra time for sorting out. That way, you can put away as much as you can, then dive into the much smaller and more manageable pile when you are ready. Keep doing this until the stuff pile is gone, then repeat as needed!

Find ways to enjoy it

Cleaning isn’t meant to be an enlightening experience, so don’t feel like you just have to grit your teeth and bear it through to the end. Catch up on your favorite podcast, have a glass of wine, listen to the Harry Potter audiobooks for the umpteenth time or call your mom and catch up. Try to avoid having a movie or television on in the background, though, as you’ll find it much harder to concentrate if you have both visual and audible stimuli fighting for your attention on the big screen. 

Create physical space

Sometimes, rearranging a little is just what you need to give your apartment a little breath of fresh air. Take a look around at your decorations, artwork, accents and accessories and experiment with moving them around or giving them a break altogether, as it’s amazing how much more open a room feels with a few less picture frames, a completely clear coffee table, fewer accent pillows or even one or two less art pieces. Keep the décor in a designated “extra storage” box or drawer so that you know exactly where the pieces are if you want them back.

Personally, I’ve found that being able to see more of my floors and walls makes my apartment feel less crowded, and I’d rather have less to clean than have a dozen semi-useless items taking up space.

Keep doors and drawers closed

Little things like closing cupboards and drawers can make a huge difference in the overall clutter and chaos of a home. This can apply to laundry baskets, bedroom closets, bathroom doors, shower curtains and more, so take advantage of hiding things behind closed doors if they are already in their designated place.

Go easy on yourself

You’re trying to de-stress, remember? Take it slow if you need to, and take it one room or one closet at a time. Allow yourself to part with items you don’t need or want, and give yourself permission to hold onto the things that have meaning and joy. Have conversations with members of your household, if you have to, because having clear expectations and requests can give you the support you need to sustain a long-term, stress-free living experience. 

So, if you’re feeling like your cluttered space is stressing you out, try these tips to get you started on a more organized and relaxed apartment life. 

Good luck!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/silviarita