January. New Year. New Month. New opportunities to write a new chapter in our books! New opportunities to stick to those new year’s resolutions that we all make, right? It is also the middle of winter (at least by the date on the calendar) and you may be experiencing cabin fever, the winter blues, or even seasonal affective disorder. Are you running out of things to do with your family? Are the kids “done” with their toys already? Then it is time to declutter!

Decluttering is defined as: “to remove mess or clutter from (a place).” (Source: Dictionary.com) It is different from cleaning, in the sense that you take the time to remove items from your space that may no longer serve a purpose. This can be done in every room of your house, room by room. And the new year is a great time to tackle the entire house, and donate to an organization in need of clothing, kitchen items, decorations, children’s toys, the list goes on and on…

There are mental health benefits to decluttering your space, the primary ones being: reducing stress levels, improving focus, and boosting your mood and sense of self control.

• Reduce stress levels: if you live in a cluttered, messy environment, your stress levels may be higher. Clearing out unwanted items and organizing your space creates a sense of calm and order and can help you feel less anxious.
• Improve your focus and productivity: having too much stuff in an area that you need to focus in can create distractions and have a negative effect on your brain’s ability to concentrate. By decluttering your desk (at home and/or work) you are clearing up brain space to improve your ability to focus and complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
• Boost your mood and self-esteem: decluttering your space gives you a sense of accomplishment and can release that feel-good hormone, dopamine!
• Gives you a sense of self-control: deciding what to keep and what to get rid of allows you to take charge of your environment. This can boost your self-confidence and help you accomplish other tasks in other aspects of your life.
• Improves your relationships: Clutter and a messy environment at home can cause tension among family members. If you all work together to maintain an organized space, you may find yourself communicating better and feel better about having guests over for a night of fun.
• Provides a sense of altruism: by decluttering and creating piles to donate gives provides you with a sense of altruism: having concern for the well-being of others without expecting anything in return. Decluttering and giving your unwanted goods to charity is an altruistic behavior that many people will benefit from. Check out the organizations in your area that need household items or clothing for the members that use their services.

Did you know there are methods of decluttering? Here are a few just to give you an idea of where to start, as decluttering the entire house can feel a bit overwhelming.

• The 12-12-12 method: find 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to put back in their proper place in your house. This takes things to a smaller, more manageable scale.
• The 333 method for clothing: choose 33 items to wear for 3 months (including accessories, outerwear, and shoes). This gives you an idea of what is in your closet, what you enjoy wearing, and what you really don’t like to wear! Dontae some of those “I’ll never wear that again” items to a local charity.
• The 10-10-10 method: focus on 10 items in 10 different spots over 10 days. This is like the 12-12-12 method, allowing you to focus on small areas at a time, lowering your stress level about decluttering everything in sight.

Next time you feel overwhelmed at the amount of stuff in your home or office, don’t fret! Take some of these tips and try them. Get your family involved. Kids can absolutely help with decluttering their bedroom and toys; having them donate to an organization teaches them the importance of service to other and practicing basic human kindness. Once you have finished decluttering, take a moment to notice how your mental health has changed now that you have a clean, organized home to enjoy!