Spring always brings such a sense of excitement as the days start to brighten up a bit and we start to feel the warmth of the sun again.

It marks a time in nature for renewal, so it is also a great time for renewal in and around the home with some good old fashion cleaning and organizing.

The benefits of decluttering the spaces we live in can have such a positive impact on both our mental and physical health which studies have

managed to prove.

Two key benefits that have really stood out for me when I have read various articles on this subject are the following:

Reducing anxiety – being surrounded by clutter can cause too much stimulation for the brain to deal with. It can make you feel overwhelmed

and can increase stress levels.

Clearing clutter increases productivity and creativity – Having a tidy and well organized home can help increase your productivity. Your mind is not

distracted with the chaos of clutter and so you feel happier and more content and so this helps to boost your creativity.

I feel this way with our current home office situation. The space is small and at the moment there are folders and books all over every surface of desk area, I have tubs of samples for my interior work piled up and there are post-it notes with scribbles of “to dos’ and ‘ideas’ all over the wall. It is chaotic and I simply struggle to even work in the space at times. It is one of those areas I am struggling with getting organized or at least starting the process to clean up. Some days I find myself walking into the office with the goal to get some serious work done but I simply just walk back out again. I end up working in a different part of the home because I mentally cannot cope in that space. So this Spring it is one of my goals to get in there and tackle that space to achieve not only a recognizable change but also something I can maintain ongoing.

Simple acts of renewal around the home can be the decluttering and re-organising of one cupboard, or one area of a room at a time, so that the task feels a little less daunting. Not only are the practical benefits rewarding but also how it makes you feel.

Studies have proven that the process of cleaning and particularly decluttering the home has a positive effect on our well being. It goes hand in hand with making ones home restful and restorative, a place to escape from our hectic lives and feel content.

One fantastic article I came across which has really inspired me is this one by Carolyn Steber, ‘6 Benefits to decluttering your life, according to science’.

Please see link below:

https://www.bustle.com/articles/136499-6-benefits-of-decluttering-your-life-according-to-science