Time to declutter your home and your mind
Donating to charity shops creates better mental health
A CHARITY is urging people to boost their mental health by decluttering their lives.
It claims that hoarding possessions can contribute to feelings of being disorganised which can unsettle the mind.
The mental health charity Turn2me has now issued advice on ways to avoid falling into a trap of amassing possessions at home and at work.
One former hoarder said: “It’s pointless to have stuff for the sake of having stuff. I threw out bags and bags of clothes that I no longer wore. It felt great.”
A spokesperson for Turn2me said: “Decluttering can improve your mental health.
“Clutter is defined as an overabundance of possessions that collectively create chaotic and disorderly living spaces.
“A cluttered environment can lead to a cluttered mind.
“Studies have shown that excess clutter in our surroundings and hoarding can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety.”
Experts claim that mental health is affected by clutter because it can negatively impact our view of ourselves.
Studies have identified several impacts, including memory impediment, bad eating habits, inconsistent moods, reduced impulse control, and increased stress levels.
Turn2me chief Fiona O’malley said: “Hoarding at home and in the office can negatively impact our mood and stress levels.
“Studies also show that severe hoarding can result in an inability to perform necessary household functions, health problems due to unsanitary conditions and social isolation.
“By decluttering your home and donating items you no longer need, you create a sense of order and clarity in your surroundings.
“This, in turn, can help alleviate stress and promote a more peaceful state of mind.”
Turn2me has published three reasons why decluttering and donating to charity shops can improve your mental health.
These are tied to empathy, climate anxiety, and fostering a calm environment.
The Turn2me spokesperson said: “Decluttering and donating to charity shops creates empathy.
“Donating clothes, old furniture, and other items to charity allows you to connect with your community and demonstrate empathy towards others.
“Knowing that your contributions can make a positive impact on someone else’s life can evoke feelings of satisfaction and purpose. Engaging in acts of kindness has been shown to boost happiness and overall well-being.
“Decluttering also reduces climate anxiety. Fast fashion is a huge contributor to the climate crisis, which exacerbates our climate anxiety.
“When we buy secondhand and give away items we no longer use that others can benefit from, we’re reducing our engagement with fast fashion.
“Decluttering creates a calm environment. Clean and organised living spaces can have a profound effect on our mental state.
“When your home is clutter-free and well-organised, it becomes a sanctuary.
“It can be a place where you can unwind, relax and recharge.
“By donating items that you no longer use, you free up space for things that truly bring you joy, creating a more serene, minimalist and tranquil environment.
“Spas, libraries, wellbeing spaces are all minimalist, they don’t have clutter – and that is for a reason.
“The less clutter we have, the greater the sense of calm we have in our environment.”
International studies on the matter cite well-being and happiness as positive outcomes of decluttering, whilst hoarding has been ascribed to lives becoming overwhelmed.
These formed the basis of findings that were presented in the Journal of Environmental Psychology by study co-author Catherine Roster.
Professor Roster said: “Clutter can lower feelings of well-being, happiness, and the safety and security that a person derives from being in their personal spaces.”
Harvard Medical School psychologist Natalie Dattilo said: “Our homes may be messy and cluttered because we actually feel overwhelmed and unorganised mentally.”