If you’re not thinking about spring cleaning, it’s time to put it on your radar.
Start by taking a holistic view of your house, room by room, to see where you can edit. Space organization is life organization. Streamlining can absolutely influence less-healthy habits to create more intentional lifestyles. There’s an important connection between mental health and clutter. Stuff affects anxiety, depression, eating habits, focus, productivity, relationships, stress—everything.
Here are some steps to start your process:
Choose Need vs. Want: We need very little. Separating the two is a hard concept, though. Spend some time thinking about what’s important to you, in the physical sense. What you need day-to-day isn’t the same as what you want. Decide to surround yourself with only useful objects. Let go of the rest.
Start Small: Set small, attainable goals. Set a timer for 20 minutes and go to town on “editing,” whether it’s tackling a junk drawer or sorting through a stack of papers on a counter. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in a short period of time. Seeing each project through to completion will give you the confidence you need for the next one.
Add and Subtract: If one comes in, one must come out. If you buy a new sweatshirt, for example, get rid of one or two. If you buy a new dress, get rid of one. Now. Don’t wait until your closet or drawers are stuffed. The idea of editing later becomes daunting.
Conscious Buying: Becoming a more conscious buyer goes a long way toward reducing your clutter. It’s a choice to “add to cart.” Next day delivery is certainly enticing, but I encourage you to be careful to not overbuy. Focus on household necessities before gadgets and gizmos. Toilet paper, garbage bags and shampoo take precedence over anything social media sneakily tries to convince you to buy.
Create a Routine: It’s much easier to keep up than to catch up, so establish a routine to edit your spaces on a regular basis. Grab a laundry basket and make the rounds—maybe once a week—tossing in anything that needs a home. As you sort through off-season clothing, get rid of anything you didn’t wear. Check food labels and toss out expired products from your pantry before heading to the grocery store. Recycle newspapers and magazines that haven’t been read. Once you find a rhythm that works for you, editing will become less of a challenge and more of a source of pride.
Brooke Milton is the founder of edit + design, a boutique interior design firm specializing in whole home organization and custom woodworking. She’s been proudly serving the North Shore since 2010. Learn more at editanddesign.com and @editanddesignco on Instagram.
There’s an important connection between mental health and clutter. Stuff affects anxiety, depression, eating habits, focus, productivity, relationships, stress—everything.