Five proven & good reasons to start reducing the amount of stuff in your home

Excessive clutter in our homes and the chaos it brings is a threat to both our physical and mental health, according to research. A cluttered environment has been shown to increase stress. Reducing the living and working environment, on the other hand, has both health and productivity benefits. In this article, I'll explore five well-researched reasons to start reducing the amount of stuff in your home. The table of contents allows you to click directly to a specific paragraph if you wish.

1. A messy environment has been shown to increase stress

Our physical environment affects is scientifically proven to have a significant impact on our cognitive functioning, emotions and behaviour. A messy, cluttered space has a negative impact, creating stress and anxiety. The physical environment has an impact on our decision-making abilities as well as on our relationships.

In one study researchers found that some of the women had increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol when describing their homes. They felt their homes were messy, with unfinished tasks and too much stuff. When they walked through the door, they immediately noticed the unfinished work and the chaos in the home. These women had higher cortisol levels throughout the day than those who described their homes positively, meaning they experienced more stress. Women who described their homes as more serene had better recovery when at home.

Every second Finn suffers from shame of home. Many also suffer from the stress of clutter, disorder and outright rubbish, often unconsciously - and the link to their own anxiety or procrastination is not clear. People blame themselves: I just can't do it, I can't get it done.

It's not you, it's the era. We live in a society that revolves around constant making and hoarding. Humans as a species are not adapted to this kind of speed and abundance with our ancient brains. Our stress would be reduced if only we had a clearer environment. It would be for the good of our brains.

2. A messy home is a burden on the mind

Others may feel that they don't mind the extra layers of stuff - creativity thrives on clutter, they say (a belief that is partly true, but not a prerequisite for creativity). Such a person may also benefit from a more minimalist environment and a short to-do list: if you can unload all the tasks that are secretly ticking away in the back of your mind and clear your mind, you may be surprised by a new sense of inhibition!

Studies show that our brains love order: constant visual stimulation drains our intellectual energy and makes it harder to concentrate. In the work environment, researchers have also found an increase in productivity when stimuli were reduced.

A calmer environment, for example less stuff, allows the brain to slow down. Brain doesn't have to constantly monitor and prioritise what is seen. The brain is not really capable of multitasking, but rather of focusing on one thing at a time.

3. Large amount of clutter reduces physical health

One interesting aspect of the pile, clutter and accumulation of rubbish is the coping mechanisms that come with a messy home. We are only slowly beginning to understand the complexity of what we are talking about with all this hoarding and managing of stuff.

Researchers found that a messy kitchen tempted them to make worse choices. Those affected by the dirty environment coped with the stress that came with the mess by eating unhealthy snacks. This is an unfortunate chicken-or-egg-comes-first type of problem, because organising your environment would help you make better choices, but a messy environment feeds unhealthy habits. Declutter or snack, therein lies the dilemma.

I believe that awareness of such a thing also gives some of us the energy to resist and take action. A leaner home leads to healthier food choices too.

4. Chaos increases mental health symptoms

A chaotic home weakens our concentration, which can lead to low moods and the creation of false and harmful beliefs: I can't, I can't.

Storage, especially in the bedroom reduces sleep quality, which contributes to lowering the mood. The bad cycle is complete. A crummy home makes us stressed, anxious and depressed. Constant high levels of stress hormones have been shown to contribute to anxiety and depression.

With full table tops and a jungle-like environment, it's hard to concentrate on doing productive activities, whether it's working remotely or at home, not to mention being or relaxing! Concentration wanes, the mind dwells on the unfinished business of yesterday and tomorrow.

5. The cluttered environment causes delays

What if you do manage to declutter, but then the work stops there? I hope this is positive news for all procrastinators: a messy environment actually feeds inertia and causes delay. So again, the fault is not yours. It's the way our brains process all the visual messages, the excessive ones. So procrastination is a healthy reaction to excessive clutter.

While procrastination is natural, it's still worth trying to make the change in small increments. Read my Three concrete tips to prevent piles of stuff in linked article. I will explain there the three principles to help you get rid of piles. The most important thing is to start and you can go for even five minutes a day.

Clearing the home and clearing the table tops is also a tool for reducing ADHD brain strain. This also works well with children, as research has shown that too much visual stimulation also affected the quality of play. You can read more about the toy study in a previous my article.

Above are five good reasons to start reducing the amount of stuff in your home, as research has shown. In the end, these are pretty obvious. Wouldn't everyone want a clutter-free and relaxing home? I think most people do, but time, means or stamina aren't always enough, even if you have the effort and will.

Sometimes, peak years play tricks on you, or people in your home get very ill, making the equation impossible without help. If you feel you can't cope with the chaos in your home alone, it's okay to ask for help. Every second home already causes its occupants to feel ashamed, so the home is not functioning as intended. I organise homes myself in Pirkanmaa, so get in touch and let's talk about what would help you. The survey is free of charge and I give a satisfaction guarantee on my work. You also get a household tax deduction for the work of a professional organiser. Contact me!

A friend, relative or professional organiser can help you get started and act as a coordinator as you work through the chaos of your home piece by piece. Shame is a normal emotion, but it dissipates when you share it with someone. You can read about that from my previous article (What helps when you're ashamed of your home?).

If you need help with your home outside Pirkanmaa, you can find trained professional organisers The Finnish Associate for Professional Organisers website, listed by region.