The external environment has a big influence on our mental health. Having a disorganized and messy place could make you feel overwhelmed and anxious, while having well-organized space makes you feel in control, safe, and calm. A cluttered home can create a negative impact on our mental health as the human brain can only process certain information from the external environment. The sight, the sound, the smell, and all other sensations might be competing for our attention, so the brain might be challenged to take in all the information at once.
Dr. Esslin Terrighena, a psychologist at Mind Balance in Central, said a cluttered home had been linked to depression. The reason behind this is that a cluttered space makes us feel frustrated by how it invades our home and we tend to think we don't know where to start - leading to feeling overwhelmed and helpless. We may also have the feeling of guilt for accumulating many items, and feels irritated when we cannot find the things we are looking for.
A 2010 study, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, also confirmed the strong link between depression and clutter. David Tolin, who conducted the study and a psychologist who specializes in hoarding, said hoarding participants had higher levels of depression compared to participants with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as the control participants.
Later on, a study conducted by UCLA's Center of Everyday Lives and Families (CELF), further revealed that women were found to have elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol (associated with depressive and anxious symptoms) when they are surrounded by many physical objects in their home. The finding was different for men as they were not as emotionally bothered by mess and clutter.
Meanwhile, Sharon Lam, founder of Home Therapy Hong Kong, has some tips for decluttering. She said sorting through papers, clothes, and books first, and then followed by things that have sentimental value. But, remember only to keep the ones that can make you happy and align with your current lifestyle. Folding and storing clothes vertically might also be helpful because it can make you save more space and makes it easier to find things you are looking for.
For accessories, store them in drawers with dividers; while coats, formal wear, and suits must be hanging up. For documents, only keep the important ones (contracts and birth certificates) and store them in a single folder and then label them. When it comes to the kitchen, get rid of the duplicated and expired items, clear the counter, and group the items or ingredient and store in drawers or containers, according to the South China Morning Post.
Caroline Basham, the founder, and director of Caroline B Personal Management, also said that it's important to get the right furniture in your home. She suggested that it's sometimes better to buy a bed with storage below or to install a 50cm deep raised floor to organize what you own.
