Ever wondered if there鈥檚 any truth to the old saying 鈥渁 tidy house, a tidy mind?鈥� As part of Stress Awareness month, our members share why clutter can lead to chaos, and what you can do to restore the calm.

鈥淐haotic, overwhelmed, agitated, inadequate, and out of control 鈥� just a few of the ways a cluttered environment can make you feel,鈥� says accredited therapist and anxiety expert

Birmingham based therapist says that this is because our brains like to seek out order and patterns, so clutter and disorder can make it hard work for us cognitively to relax and unwind.

Overwhelm

鈥淐lutter can also be a constant reminder of things we haven鈥檛 done yet, and when it builds up it can cause overwhelm,鈥� adds Beth.

But if clutter makes us feel this way, why do we allow it in our homes or at work?

Kamalyn says that for some people clutter is a habit that they don鈥檛 seem to be bothered by, but for others it can a direct reflection of what鈥檚 going on in their mind which could have serious implications to our health.

鈥淔or some people, clutter is just a way of life - they don鈥檛 see anything wrong with it.听 But if you are overwhelmed with your home or work life, and have too much going on, clutter can be a direct reflection of how your mind feels.

鈥淎 cluttered environment adds to the 鈥渂usy-ness鈥� in your head. If you are a tidy and neat person who likes things in order, then a cluttered home will make you feel that things are out of order. This in turns will create stress and overwhelm.鈥�

Different tolerance levels

Beth also notes that we all have different tolerance levels for clutter:

鈥淚t may be that you recognise your space is cluttered but feel relaxed in it. However, if you are finding yourself preoccupied, frustrated and it鈥檚 getting in the way of you doing other things, maybe it鈥檚 time for a bit of a clear-out. Avoiding it makes the problem bigger in your mind and in reality, by beginning to engage with it you can take back control and the problem can begin to diminish.鈥�

鈥淗aving a tidy and uncluttered environment will help you to feel organised, clearer, and more in control therefore helping you to feel calmer,鈥� adds Kamalyn.

Destructive impact听

So is feeling stressed about clutter really a big deal? 听One has shown that women living in cluttered and stressful homes had higher levels of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) and heightened depression symptoms, compared to men who seemed largely unaffected by the state of their home environments.

Beth says that there are certain types of stress that are good for us and can be a source of motivation. But chronic or extreme stress can have a very destructive impact on our bodies, from metabolism, to sleep and our immune system, all parts of us can be damaged by stress.

Serious conditions

鈥淪tress triggers the body鈥檚 fight and flight response which creates feelings of being tense, on edge, overwhelmed, irritation, and frustration. As time goes on, the adrenaline and cortisol released in this fight and flight response will begin to show up in our bodies,鈥� explains Kamalyn.听

鈥淪ymptoms include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, breathlessness, digestion issues, gastrointestinal issues, and suppressed immune system. Constant ongoing stress is the root cause of many serious conditions. This can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, respiratory issues, chronic pain, and mental health disorders such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, or insomnia to name a few.鈥�

Top tips听

So how can you avoid getting stressed over clutter?

1. Create a safe space

Kamalyn states that your home should be your 鈥渟afe space鈥�. A place where you come to relax, recharge, and re-energise.

鈥淚 strongly believe our environment has a big bearing on how we feel. It should be a place that you feel at ease in, not be irritated with. This is important now more than ever - especially since COVID as a lot of people are still working from home. If you are one of these people, then your home needs to be a space that promotes creativity, relaxation, and productivity.鈥�

2. Ask a friend to help

Beth Whiting says that clutter is often an indicator that we have become overly attached to items, making it difficult for us to throw them away. If this is the case, Beth suggests asking a friend to help to de-clutter to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

鈥淗ave them hold up the item and ask if you still need it, rather than touching it yourself!鈥� advises Beth.

3. Stay in touch with your feelings

Kamalyn says that if you feel that your environment is beginning to affect your mood, your stress levels, or your ability to relax then it is time to remove anything that doesn鈥檛 need to be in that environment.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to get rid of it, just put it all out of sight in a different room. Only keep things in that space that you need,鈥� shares Kamalyn.

4. Share how it makes you feel with family members

If other members of the family seem to be causing the clutter, then Kamalyn says it鈥檚 time to speak up:

鈥淐ommunicate to others that you live with how clutter affects your health, wellbeing, and mood. They may not quite understand why the clutter bothers you so having an open and honest conversation will help them understand your point of view.鈥�

5. Bite size chunks

Beth says that if you鈥檝e decided to tackle the cluttered area, it鈥檚 best to look at this as a series of small tasks.

鈥淏reak up an area into sections so it feels less overwhelming, start small and achievable. Take regular breaks too - step outside, move and stretch to help regulate your nervous system.鈥�

6. Buy less stuff

Beth also says that if you鈥檙e taking the steps to remove your clutter, it鈥檚 worth being mindful of what you bring into your home or work environment from now on.

鈥淚f the magazine subscription keeps piling up unopened, cancel it. We accumulate way more than we need and if you know that you have difficulty getting rid of things, try and be more conscious of what you bring into the house.鈥�

7. Find a bigger purpose

Beth adds that it may also help to find a bigger purpose to help motivate your de-cluttering efforts.

鈥淧erhaps there鈥檚 a charity shop you can donate to or a recycling drive, think of the bigger picture of what you could be contributing to by clearing out to bring the focus away from yourself.鈥�

8. Practice compassionate detachment

Therapist says that learning to view our thoughts and feelings with compassionate detachment can be a game-changer in managing our stress levels, especially when coping with the chaos of clutter.

鈥淧ractising compassionate detachment involves observing your thoughts and emotions as if they were clouds passing in the sky鈥攏oticeable, but not defining you,鈥� shares Lorraine.听 鈥淪tart by reminding yourself: I am not my thoughts; I am the observer of my thoughts. This practice can help reduce the intensity of stressful feelings and bring a sense of calm clarity.鈥�听

9. Cultivate curiosity

Lorraine adds that we often experience stress when we're resisting what is happening in our lives, and explains that cultivating a mindset of curiosity can transform our relationship with stressful situations:

鈥淲hen faced with stressful situations, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can this situation help me grow? Approaching stress with curiosity rather than resistance can open up new pathways for coping and understanding, making us more resilient to future stressors.鈥澨�

10. Build a 'Stress-First Aid' Kit

Lorraine also suggests that just as we have first aid kits for physical wounds, creating a 'stress-first aid' kit can be a proactive way to deal with emotional turmoil.

鈥淔ill your kit with items that soothe and comfort you鈥攎aybe a particular scent, a comforting texture, a playlist of calming music, or photos that bring you joy,鈥� says Lorraine. 鈥淲hen you feel stress levels rising, reach for your kit and allow yourself a moment of comfort and grounding.鈥�

To find a registered 香港六合彩精准资料 therapist to help you with stress, please visit

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