What comes to mind when you think of home? Is it a serene, organized space? Or maybe you’ve got that one area (the pantry, the closet, the garage) that you can’t seem to keep clean. While it’s impossible not to have a home filled with everyday life, there’s a scientific benefit to clearing the clutter—it’s good for your health. We spoke with Timmi Blackshear, owner of The Curated Fort, an organization and design firm, to find out more about the relationship between a clean home and a calm mind. “There are a ton of studies that show clutter and chaotic spaces can affect our mental health,” she says. “Our brains create stress hormones, and those unorganized spaces like the junk drawer, the pantry, or overloaded closet might subconsciously be stressing us out.”
Blackshear spent over a decade as a high school teacher and coach and now applies her learned skills to The Curated Fort. “It’s about creating a healthy rhythm and routine, about how we recharge. If we can create new patterns and keep space clean, we can carry those habits into other areas of our lives, and that can translate into less stress and a more peaceful environment.”
The good news is that there are steps you can take right now to start your journey to a cleaner, more calm home. The first thing? Purge, purge, purge. This is probably one of the hardest things to do, which is why Timmi suggests bringing a friend in to help. “It’s the bravest first step,” she says. “Get rid of the stuff you haven’t used for six months up to a year. Have your friend hold up the things you want to ditch because the chances of you tossing something you hold in your own hands go way down.” Blackshear also offers this bit of insight on letting go, “find a non-profit organization you love, one that will excite you about giving things away. You’ll be able to imagine the good someone else will get out of using these items.”
The second step is all about categorization. Deciding what should go where makes it easier to keep the system going. If this isn’t something that comes naturally to you, it might be a good idea to bring in a professional at this point. “If you find the right person, they can truly set up a system that helps you maintain that organization. They’ll help you learn how it works so you can set it up on your own in other areas of your home.”
Lastly, Blackshear suggests thinking about sustainable organization. “Anyone can go to the Container Store and buy a system. I suggest using things you already have or that have meaning to you. It’s a huge aspect of mental health. For example, I put all my K-Cups in an old canister of my grandmother’s. Not only does it help to keep my space clean, but I’m reminded of her every time I use it. It brings joy to a mundane moment.”