Ever walked into your home and felt a weight on your chest? That was my everyday reality. The piles of clothes, half-opened boxes, and crowded furniture filled the rooms and weighed heavily on my mind. Each glance at the clutter reminded me of what I had not faced, and the tension stayed with me long after I left the house.
I later learned that clutter is not just about appearance. It seeps into your wellbeing, raising stress hormones and tightening the body with anxiety. For me, it became the backdrop of every anxious thought, making it harder to rest or feel at ease.
Change did not happen overnight. I started small — clearing a drawer, folding laundry, giving away what I no longer needed. Each step gave me a little more space to breathe and a sense of calm I had been missing.
If you have been feeling the same, you are not alone. What helped me may also help you. Here are the steps that guided me out of the fog of clutter and into a calmer, steadier space.
The Psychological Weight of Clutter
Let’s first understand how clutter impacts our mind and the weight it adds to our life. Clutter wasn’t just inconvenient; it was a constant drain. Every time I walked into my home, it was like my brain was overloaded, trying to figure out where to start. But what really hit me was how much guilt I felt. I knew I wasn’t keeping up and that just made everything worse.
And it turns out, I wasn’t imagining it. Studies show that clutter can raise your cortisol levels, leading to increased stress and making it harder to focus. It messes with your sleep, and even something as small as a pile of clothes can become a mental block. I was living with the stress of it all and didn’t realise how bad it had become.
How I dealt with it: If you feel overwhelmed by clutter, try this: pause for a moment, breathe in deeply for four seconds, hold for four, and then exhale for four. It’s a simple reset before you dive in. Start clearing a small area, it can be a pile of clothes, a laundry basket or a drawer.
When Clutter Feels Like a Mountain
Once I got through the first pile, it seemed like I could take on the entire home. But when I entered my living room, all I could see was broken furniture, boxes stacked up, and things I’d been meaning to get rid of for months. It wasn’t just a messy room. It was a reminder of how out of control I felt. I knew I couldn’t tackle it on my own. The piles seemed insurmountable.
This is when I called a friend to help me tackle the mess. We piled up the things we wanted to throw and donate in separate bags and piles and cleared the room slowly. At one point it felt like I’d never be able to break free and that’s when the anxiety really hit hard.
How I dealt with it: I realised part of my anxiety came from knowing I couldn’t actually clear the bigger stuff on my own – the wardrobes, broken chairs, boxes stacked taller than me. Booking a skip through Proskips turned that mountain into something manageable, and once it was gone, I felt like I could breathe again.
The Turning Point – Finding a Practical Solution
Once I managed to donate the items to the charity shop and toss everything else in the skip, then came the herculean task of organising everything. I realised, I didn’t have to do it all on my own. My friends helped me as much as they could but now I needed some long-term practical solutions.
I looked at some organising videos on my phone and thought I could do the same. I started with some baskets and labels to keep things organised. But this was harder than I thought it would be, it was difficult to decide what to let go and what to keep. I reverted to my trusty – things that spark joy checklist and continued with the decluttering. Eventually I figured out that the goal wasn’t to make shelves look perfect but keeping things clean, manageable and organised.
Pro TIp: If you too are struggling with anxiety a good therapist can help you process it and provide effective coping strategies. But when it comes to clutter, you can either tackle it yourself like I did, with the help of friends, skips and some organisation inspo or you can take the professional route and hire a professional organiser.
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A Clearer Mind
Once the heavy clutter was gone, I felt this immediate sense of relief. It wasn’t just about having a tidier space, it was about feeling lighter, both mentally and emotionally. I could breathe easier, and the anxiety that once felt so consuming started to fade.
For the first time in ages, I felt like I had control over my space. The sense of calm that came with clearing the clutter was something I hadn’t realised I was missing.
Try this: After decluttering, take a few minutes to meditate or just sit quietly. Giving yourself a mental break is key to maintaining the clarity you’ve created.
Keeping It Tidy
The real change wasn’t just that one big clean-up. It was learning how to keep it that way. I started doing quick 10-minute tidy-ups every day. It’s nothing major, but it helps keep the clutter from coming back.
I’ve also learned to contain it before it gets out of control. I’ve learned to be proactive instead of letting the mess pile up until it becomes a problem.
How I kept it tidy: A 10-minute tidy-up can go a long way. Set a timer and spend just a few minutes each day keeping things in check.
Practical Tips for Tackling Clutter and Anxiety
- Start Small: Don’t try to do everything at once. Start with one small area, it could be a drawer, a shelf, a counter. It will be easier to organise in small areas.
- Get Help if You Need It: When the clutter becomes too overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for help. A therapist, a friend or a professional can help you manage it all.
- Create a Plan: Once the big items are gone, the smaller things will seem easier to tackle. Sort, dispose, organise – these three steps can help you get back on track.
- Celebrate the small wins: Take a moment to celebrate each win, no matter how small. Every task you complete is a step towards less anxiety.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, clearing the clutter wasn’t just about tidying up. It was about clearing my mind and making space for peace. Once I took that first step and let go of the physical clutter, I felt the mental weight lift. And the best part? I don’t have to go through the cycle of stress and mess again.
For more practical tips to make your home and mind feel lighter, check out the Milk and Honey lifestyle blog.
