Spring Cleaning 2019-Style: De-clutter your way to a happier, healthier life

The minimalist de-cluttering movement is hotter than ever, with a variety of methods available to suit seemingly everyone. There’s good reason so many people are jumping on the de-cluttering bandwagon—a cluttered environment can contribute to adverse health effects such as higher cortisol levels (the stress hormone), anxiety and difficulty thinking clearly. When you clear the clutter, you create an environment that can turn those negatives into positives. We’re not talking about traditional spring cleaning—when you move winter coats to the attic and give your home a thorough scrub. We’re talking about taking a critical look around your home and getting rid of what you don’t like, use, or need anymore. Some tips on doing it right:

Know the problem: Hiding everything away in storage bins isn’t going to make you organized, it will just trick you into thinking the clutter problem has been solved, you need to learn to prioritize and discard.

Clear first: Whatever you’re working on de-cluttering—be it clothing, toys, or books—clear out first so that you can see everything that needs sorting. That way, you won’t get stuck rearranging the clutter versus decreasing it.

Sort and label: Make boxes of items you want to throw away, give away, or keep. You can also add an “undecided” box but make sure to still be strict about what goes into that one! Then put away the “keep” items using labels to help you stick to your new plan.

Create a supportive environment: Whether you’re in the laundry room, kitchen, bathroom, or your dressing area, whatever you need (or want to use) should be easy to access. Think of it this way: If you can’t find your gym bag, you’re not going to the gym!