Given the many things that burden us in our daily lives, it should come as no surprise that one of the biggest trends in home decor these days is a growing movement called minimalism or minimalist living.
It's those constant pings and notifications that cause distractions and can literally change the chemicals in our brain. Well, lesser known fact, living and working in a messy environment also changes the chemicals in our brain. Specifically, our hormones, like cortisol (that fight or flight, life saving one) is set-off. Unless we regularly practice ways to reduce this, it builds and build, causing more and more harm.
There are many different ways to live with less stress, living with less mess is my top priority and goal for my clients. By no means do you need to practice minimalism, throw out all of your things, nor do you need to buy anything to achieve this state of "less mess" for lack of a better phrasing. Some background on the theory behind minimalism: Usually associated with minimizing one's own possessions to lead a simpler and more purposeful lifestyle.
In practical application, this just means, keep what serves you, don't hold onto something that you don't need, out of guilt, or because you spent a lot of money on it. Keep what, as Marie Kondo would say, "sparks joy". The daily part of maintaining an organized space should only take 5-10 minutes per day in each room. Taking time off to organize your space saves you time and allows you to work more efficiently. It will also help you become more productive and stop you muddling through the day with unimportant distractions.
You deserve to have an organized space because it makes your life easier, more productive, and stress-free. You could consider investing in shelves, partitions, boxes, and bins that help keep things organized and tidy while maintaining the "less is more" philosophy. From a fiscal and environmental perspective, by only investing is quality belongings, you can grow your wealth and support the environment by not having to keep up with quick fashion trends, for example.
So how do you apply this less is more philosophy to your life? When you go through your stuff, focus on eliminating things you don't use, things that don't bring joy, or meaning to your life. Evaluate your stuff to see if something has become a burden or an unwanted distraction in your life and if so, why. Numerous other studies have also found that clutter increases stress, reduces productivity, and makes switching off more difficult. Start with a timer and 30 minutes, choose one space (or even drawer) and dive deep into its contents. Want to tackle your whole house but need more support? Want to learn more about the psychological barriers to letting things go?
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