Your messy home could be damaging your health. Here’s how to clear the decks for a wellbeing boost
Did you know that your mess could be affecting your health? Here we look at the impact clutter can have on your life, and how to tackle it…
You eat unhealthily
When your kitchen’s jam-packed and has little prep space, it can feel easier to reach for a frozen pizza or ready meal, than to cook something nutritious from scratch.
Tackle it: Juliet Landau-Pope, productivity coach (jlpcoach.com) and author of What’s Your Excuse… For Not Clearing your Clutter? says: ‘Identify what’s holding you back from cooking or eating more healthily. Do you need more space on the counter to chop vegetables? Then declutter it of devices that you rarely use. ‘Or are you struggling to locate healthy foodstuffs in your cabinets? Clear one drawer or shelf at a time. Then reorganise what’s left, so that everything is visible and accessible with labels facing outwards.’
You become stressed
Studies have shown that a messy home can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The trouble is that many of us find it difficult to get rid of things we’re so attached to.
Tackle it: Dr Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago, studies the impact of clutter on emotional wellbeing. He suggests a ‘hands-off approach’. He says: ‘If you’re going to declutter, don’t touch the item. Have somebody else hold it and say: “Do you need this?” Once you touch the item, you are less likely to get rid of it.’
You stop socialising
When your home is a mess, you don’t feel like having people over to yours, and you may feel reluctant to accept invites because you can’t reciprocate. Before you know it, you’re isolating yourself and losing out on a host of health benefits, as research shows that an active social life can boost your brain health and lower your risk of dementia, help ease depression and anxiety, improve immunity and even result in a longer life.
Tackle it: ‘Start by visualising the outcome, such as hosting a group of friends for a home-cooked meal in your kitchen,’ says Juliet. ‘Pick a simple decluttering project that won’t be too demanding and will boost your motivation. The hallway is often a good place to begin because it makes a welcoming impression. Then, work on the dining area. Remember, things don’t have to be perfect. Clearing enough space for people to sit comfortably is all that matters.’
You struggle to lose weight
If you’re trying to lose weight — or keep it off — then holding on to your ‘big’ clothes ‘just in case’, sends out subconscious signals that it’s OK if you put weight on in the future — and leaves the door open for bad eating habits to creep back in.
Tackle it: ‘Take photos of things you no longer wear and then let them go, giving them to friends or charities,’ says Juliet.
You stop sleeping
Your bedroom should be a space for rest and relaxation. A study from St Lawrence University, New York State, found that people who live in cluttered environments took longer to fall asleep and experienced worse quality of sleep than people who weren’t surrounded by ‘stuff’.
Tackle it: ‘Take stock of what really belongs in your bedroom,’ says Juliet. ‘Start with bulky items such as chairs or stools that can become magnets for clutter. Do you really need them? Then review all the books, magazines and papers by your bedside and declutter everything you’re not currently reading.’
You overeat
If your dining area’s a dumping ground, you’re more likely to end up eating in front of the TV — and a US study found that watching the box can make you overeat by 44 per cent. Why? Because it encourages so-called ‘mindless eating’, as the telly distracts you from what you’re tasting and eating, interrupting messages to the brain that tell you when you’re full.
Tackle it: Keep the dining table clear of all bills and paperwork. Make it a rule to deal with mail as soon as it arrives — throw junk mail away immediately and put your paperwork in relevant files, so the clutter doesn’t amass again.
Your allergies are worse
Dust mites, mould and pet hair that collect around clutter can affect allergies and asthma.
Tackle it: Clearing away clutter will mean it’s easier to vacuum and dust and keep spaces clean.