Take a look around your home. What do you notice? I notice dishes, shoes left out, and oh, what’s that? It’s a bunch of things I keep saying “I don’t know what to do with this or where to put it”. And yet, there they are still sitting around my house; taking up space and stressing me out. The stuff in your home should not be causing you stress! In this blog, we will define decluttering, discuss how decluttering your home can decrease stress, and get insight from three of our team members on their personal decluttering experiences. 

Before we dive in, here are this week’s affirmations: 

The items in our homes are there for a reason. Some items may be sentimental, family heirlooms, things you’ve made, items you love to look at, gifts from others, etc. While there are many reasons you may own an item, those same details are the reasons why we often hold on to things that no longer serve us, or no longer make us happy. And not every item is worth keeping around just because someone gave it to you, or because you spent money on it. This is where decluttering your home and getting rid of things you no longer use or want may be a solution. Simply put, decluttering means removing or get rid of unnecessary items (also known as clutter).

Pause, and think…

We could discuss these all day, but chances are if you said yes to any of those, that item that came to mind has caused you unnecessary stress at some point.  And if you’re anything like me, the stress of constant cleaning, the guilty feeling of seeing those clothes that no longer fit, or the overall frustration with the things in your home has the power to affect other areas of your life. 

Stress can affect your thoughts, decision-making, relationships with others, and overall physical and mental well-being. 

We all know about stress, so let’s discuss how decluttering can decrease that stress using a simple equation:

Less stuff = Less cleaning/less guilt/less money spent (You name it!) = Less stress

The piece in the middle is up to you! This is called your “Why” for decluttering. Why are you going to declutter your home? Why and how do you think it may help you? Will you try donating items you don’t use so you spend less time moving items from room to room which means you will have more time to relax? Will you throw away that fancy gift bag you have been holding onto even though you never use gift bags so it’s not sitting in your closet anymore? Will you give that book on your shelf to a friend so it is no longer collecting dust and causing you to clean more when you dislike having to dust? Everyone’s “Why” is different; what’s yours? 

Here’s my personal take on what decluttering has been like in my life: I consider myself a minimalist who early on realized that the more stuff I had meant the more time I was paying attention to my belongings rather than the things that actually mattered to me. Yet, I was constantly feeling like I had too much stuff in my home that I didn’t know where to put, or had items in closets and boxes that had not been touched in years. I always felt too guilty to throw perfectly good or expensive items away, telling myself “But what if I need it as soon as I throw it away?”. I first learned about “decluttering” through TikTok (Shoutout to Renee Brown who changed my life). I finally worked up enough courage to start decluttering my home, and I have never felt so free and at peace in my home before. Decluttering has also helped me see how much time and money I was spending on things that I thought mattered to me, that actually don’t.  – Jacquelyn Ortega, Health Educator

Here is what Karina Herrera, Prevention Supervisor, had to say about the declutter challenge she participated in. She challenged herself to get rid of one item on the first day of the month, two items on the second day, three items on the third day, and so on. “

The declutter challenge was of great satisfaction. It was approached with much hesitation, as this would mean that I would have to get rid of my belongings, however, after the 5th day, I began to realize how much unused and unwanted stuff I had. After day 5, I could not stop! Whether it was straight to the trash or into a donation box, I was just so motivated to clear things up and feel organized and clean. After completing the challenge I felt accomplished, and a weight lifted off my shoulders. Knowing I had been meaning to clean the house felt like such a task, but the challenge allowed me time and liberty to carefully select what would be cleaned out for the day. I would completely recommend the challenge!”

Here is what Alexis Perez, Prevention supervisor, had to say when asked about her experience with decluttering: “

Decluttering my home this last month has been very motivating to keep a clean space and therapeutic for my mental health. I love organizing things but there were so many times when I would say “I need to organize my garage…” or “I have to clear out this part of the closet…”. Then I would keep putting it off because it felt like so much to take on at once. With this challenge, it helped me to be proactive while taking it one step at a time. As I continued to do it, I actually started finding myself more motivated to do more than I planned for the day. For my mental health, I find I get excited to clear out items or objects I don’t need, and it has helped me see what is important and sentimental versus things to keep just to keep them. I feel better letting go of things I don’t need. Although, I don’t think my dog feels the same way with the toys he doesn’t really play with anymore. Overall, this challenge has helped me approach organization differently and appreciate the things I do have in my home!”

Here’s how YOU can be a Prevention Partner:

Good luck on your journey to minimize your stress by minimizing your home; happy decluttering!