And Now, a Man's Perspective On Organization

De-cluttering and the Effects of Anxiety

By Sam Marquit, author and chief editor of http://fmarquitv.tumblr.com. Connect with Sam @fmarquitv.  Sam Marquit is a entrepreneur, home improvement specialist, and part time blogger. Fee free to visit Sam's blog, and don't forget to connect with him @fmarquitv

Life can often be stressful on the inside regardless of how idyllic it may seem on the inside. As a resident of East Hampton, I'm fortunate enough to be able to enjoy living in one of the most beautiful and tranquil parts of Long Island in particular and New York in general. However, as a homeowner, I've experienced my fair share of anxiety and stress related to the ups and downs of daily life. I've recently come to discover that a significant part of why I've had this stress may be related to the clutter in my home. As a result of this discovery, this is a collection of my thoughts about how and why de-cluttering my home helped lead me to lower levels of anxiety as well as a more peaceful lifestyle.

Perhaps the first reason why organizing my home led me to a less anxious state of mind was because with a organized home, I could see order around me, which might have encouraged order in my mind. I'd heard of the saying "cleanliness is next to godliness", but I'd never applied it to my life before I noticed how much more stressed about everything I seemed to get when my house was a mess. Conversely, once I picked up a few things and could see things like clean carpets, clear tables, and made beds, it seemed to change the way I looked at the world. It was as if I began to feel that if I could clean my home, I could clean up my life.

A second reason de-cluttering brought me freedom from anxiety and a more peaceful life was because I found myself spending less time keeping track of my things, which somehow made it easier to keep track of all the other elements of my day-to-day life. This reminded me of the adage that "the things you own end up owning you". Once I started getting rid of things I didn't need around the house, I felt so much lighter and capable in my everyday life. I felt I finally had the mental space to concentrate on the things in my mind since the things in my home were fewer.

A third reason why I'd recommend re-organizing to any homeowner, whether they live in rented Long Island apartments or the rural outskirts of Kentucky, is because a de-cluttered house made me feel less weighted down by my possessions. At the same time, I also experienced that sense of freedom, potential, and possibility that many people only experience in their homes or apartments during the first few days after moving in.

With so much extra space in my home, it seemed as if I'd somehow managed to turn back the clock and was living in my home for the first time again. It almost reminded me of living in a hotel, except I still had the comfort and familiarity of my neighbors and the most important artifacts from my life. However, without the clutter, I found myself having more time to enjoy the things that really mattered to me, such as my hobbies and interests.

So if you’re somebody who’s highly organized, this shouldn’t be a problem. For those of us that constantly lose things or simply don’t care about the presentation of their home, it’s about time you start changing your life! You’d be surprised at what a little spring cleaning can do for the heart and soul.