Struggling with chaos in your life? Tidy up areas in your home and you'll immediately see and feel the difference
Most of us will have experienced times when it feels like we are losing control - both of our surroundings and our mental faculties. As unpleasant as this may be, it is normal to sometimes feel overwhelmed by life. That said, there are some simple tips you can follow to help restore your balance.
Did you know that, for instance, that tidying up your surroundings can have a positive impact on your mental well-being? If the answer is no, now is the time to explore this concept. And spending just 10 minutes tidying up can be all you need!
1. Fridge and freezer
Faced with mess and chaos, you may ask: "Where do I begin?". Well, the answer could be in the fridge! The fridge is one of the spaces where chaos reigns supreme: open packages, fruit rotting in the corners, half-empty jars and products that have expired - all this disorder impacts our mental state. Taking just a few minutes to sort out the fridge (and freezer) will go a long way to soothing your mind.
Try it - we are sure this chore will make you feel more positive about things afterwards.
2. Drawers and closets
The idea is not to sort out all the mess in the house in one go - indeed, attempting this could cause you even more stress. Tackle this "tidying up" chores systematically, perhaps, for example, sorting out one room per day until you are done.
Have you dealth with the fridge and freezer yet (as described above)? Well, (on another day), turn to the drawers and closets in the home. If the thought of getting dressed stresses you out, and opening your closets feels stepping into a tornado, it's time deal with this.
Proceed with the tidying up/sorting out calmly and without feeling pressured. Do one drawer at a time in a systematic way, and you will be amazed at how good it will make you feel when done.
3. Photos and emails
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Does tidying up even just one corner of the house make you feel anxious and depressed? OK, then don't (for now) touch anything in the house, but delete what you don't need from your phone. Sometimes, just by doing an activity like this is good for your "mental cleansing" (and for your IT gadgets too!).
Delete any photos you no longer want or need (ie. the ones you already have identical copies of). Check your email inbox too: delete all messages you don't want or no longer need.
Remember, getting rid of things can be as effectively cathartic as tidying things up.
4. The car and rubbish bags
Perhaps you've made a bit of progress by now, but as soon as you set foot out of the front door and get into the car, anxiety attacks you again. Well, you can deal with this! Travelling around in a messy, even smelly, car can have a negative effect on your state of being. And it doesn't take much time to sort of a car and have it looking, and smelling, clean and fragrant again.
A clean car will make you feel better, that's for sure. And make sure you keep a rubbish bag in the vehicle to stop clutter from developing again. Rather than discarding rubbish on the seats and floors of the car, use the rubbish bag as a way to keep your car (and mind!) in top condition.
5. The desk and documents
When do you experience feelings of restlessness and discomfort the most? Is it when you sit down at your desk to work? Then, you need to deal with this. A chaotic mess can quickly form on a working desk, but tidying it up only takes a moment.
Set aside 10 minutes to sort things out on the desk. Once done, step away from the desk for a while before sitting back down. You will feel much better now, sitting down to an orderly desk.
As you can see, it doesn't take much to restore order to your environment - and this will have a very positive impact on your mental well-being. Are you ready to give this advice a try?
