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A few extra items may not seem like a big deal, but when you have too many possessions, clutter can negatively impact your mental health and increase your stress levels.

Do you lose the same thing over and over again?  Or maybe it’s taking longer than usual to clean your home. These are common signs that you have too much stuff and it’s important to tackle it before it’s too late.

Have you ever heard the phrase a cluttered home = a cluttered mind?

Letting clutter continue to pile up can lead to high levels of stress, depression, and physical illness.

But First....

What Is Clutter?

Before we talk about the negative effects of clutter, we should go over the definition. So what is clutter?  There are so many ways to describe it.  I often refer to it as items that no longer serve a purpose or things that do not have a home.  Marie Kondo would say items that don’t spark joy.

But here’s another way to think about it - a collection of items that are in one of these buckets:

• Random items in various spaces and in a very disorganized fashion (think drunk drawer)

• A group of similar items you don’t use very often (or don’t use at all), but hold on to

Ways to identify clutter

Take a look at some of the questions below.  :

• Do you own anything that you never use? 

• Do you have items that you no longer need?  Clothes often fall in this category

• Do you have items that you’re keeping “just in case”?

• Do you have more than one of the same item?

• Is it hard to park in your garage?

• Does the thought of having a surprise guest terrify you because of the state your home is in?

If you answer yes to any of the them, you have some clutter in your home

How Clutter Impacts Us

When I started this journey, I was shocked by all of the studies and research that proved the direct ties between stress and clutter. I've personally experienced this at home, but had no idea that it was societal issue. Below are some of the studies I found that share the negative impacts of clutter.

High Levels of Stress - More in Women Than Men

Back in 2001, UCLA’s Center of Everyday Lives of Families (CELF) conducted a 4 year study of home life by observing 32 families. I know that was a long time ago, but keep reading. The results are still shocking….

As part of the study, over 20,000 photos, 47 hours of family narrated home tours, and 1,540 hours of family interactions and interviews were collected. Findings below…Moms often referred to their environment as “very chaotic” and “not fun”. It was a reminder of unaccomplished work.

Researchers also collected saliva samples. They found that cluttered homes were directly linked to increased levels of cortisol (stress hormone) in women.  It literally stresses us out, but men are not as impacted. According to the study, they take pride in their possessions.

Psychology Today Backs This Too

Outside of the study UCLA conducted, Psychology Today also performed one and cited eight reasons why messy rooms lead to higher levels of stress in our bodies. They say clutter overstimulates our minds and sends signals to the brain that our work is not done. It can also create feelings of guilt or anxiety as we get frustrated that we can't quickly locate thins.

Lack Of Focus

Princeton performed a study and reported that a visually disorganized space has neurological effects that's similar to hearing a lot of different noises at the same time.

Cluttered environments limit our ability to focus. That same study also explains that you're likely to become more frustrated, which can negatively impact your decision making skills. You might make decisions differently than your normally clear head might.

You Will Spend More Time Snacking

Who knew there was a link between a cluttered kitchen and overeating? In 2016, Cornell University conducted a study in order to understand the link between chaotic environments and snacking behavior. And to my surprise, they found that women in messy kitchens tended to eat twice as many calories as women in a tidy kitchen. It's actually not that far fetched when you think about it. I am definitely more likely to grab something that I think is going to make me feel better when I'm stressed.

Poor Air Quality and Dusty Environment

WebMD says that clutter increases the risk of asthma and allergies. Per the article, “You may think your house is messy but not dirty. But it’s hard to clean around piles of belongings. Decluttering can prevent pests and reduce dust, mold, and mildew, which may trigger asthma and allergies.” 

Reduced Quality of Sleep

The National Institute of Mental Health says a cluttered environment can lead to difficulty falling asleep. It can also staying asleep, resulting in a reduced quality of sleep. If our bedrooms are cluttered, we have a harder time falling asleep.

So many studies. And they all point to the same thing. Clutter is no good. Constantly losing things, shuffling items around to find something, being late to work - it all ultimately leads to stress and frustration.

If any of this sounds like you, it's time to declutter.

You can do it! Head over to my Instagram for extra tips and motivation.