Hey you,
I just wanted to address something that is true and something we cannot really deny. The place we live does effect how we feel. It can effect us in a good or a bad way. I wish it weren't true, but it is. That is why I want to talk about it! We are not doomed to be stuck in a space that makes us feel terrible. We can fix it!
There is a reason why I named my blog Happy Space Organizing. I truly believe our home can and should be our happy space. It should create a sense of calm and comfort. The reason why I created this blog, is so I can help people to get there. It isn't necessarily easy but when we consider the cost - how we feel in a place we spend most of our time - it is worth it. I want to be clear, it is not the factor that will make us happy or unhappy. It can be a resting place or a place that escalates stress.
You know how people tell you to meditate; to picture you are lying down on a beach or somewhere that creates a perfect calm and comfort. A place where anxiety seems to melt away. I want you to imagine a world where your own home created much of the same feelings. What does it look like? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? I would like you to take a minute to picture it and maybe write it down. Draw a picture. This could be your goal that you work towards. Don't forget it because it is absolutely not out of reach for you.
It is true that no amount of organizing, cleaning, or decluttering can illuminate the stress of every day living. Things happen at home bad and good. It won't take away from the kids fighting or any of the stressors that are just factors of life. It can, however, contribute to those feelings. It should be your sanctuary.
Going back to that mental image in your head about feeling calm about your surroundings, I want to talk a bit more about that.
That mental image probably doesn't have piles of dishes and stacks of papers everywhere. It probably doesn't have storage filled to the max capacity. It probably doesn't have things out all over the place not put away. Why? Those things stay with us and effect our mental health. They are like little to do lists that we carry with us in our minds. There might be things we walk past every day and subconsciously, we know it is something we should do. All of the things we own in our place, take up space in our mind. It might be that dress we bought that never fit us that we feel a ping of guilt every time we walk by it. It may be a gift from a friend that we know we will never use that is just sitting there collecting dust. Maybe it is a pile of papers that we never ended up sorting through. Maybe we feel guilty for wasting money, talent, or something else. If these things are adding up, we can feel total anxiety just being in our home. It can totally bring up our stress levels through the roof. There is a reason that people describe feeling lighter once this is done. It is like those little lists in our brains melt away. We aren't triggered with stress every time we see our environment.
Which Image promotes peace? One has a a nice view and has a much larger workspace. Yet, you probably couldn't really focus in it. It doesn't matter the size of your home or what you have; it matters more how you use and care for it!
Now I want to address how the process of getting your home organized can effect your mood. For some people, it can be incredibly therapeutic. For others, it can bring up terrible terrible feelings. Feelings such as worthlessness, feeling like a failure, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed, etc. It often depends on the approach. I have tackled the topic of the successful mindset on a post here so I am not go into all the details as it is quite a comprehensive article but I am a firm believer in doing it in very small steps. Focus on one small task at a time and complete it. If you are prone to negative feelings, ripping apart your kitchen and leaving it like that for an entire week is only going to contribute to those negative feelings. It is much better to go through your cups, take some to the thrift store, and pat yourself on the back. Honestly. Focusing on small wins will help you see yourself as a more successful person and reap the rewards faster. It forces us to give up the perfectionism approach of all or nothing.
Once you let go of all the access clutter and start to organize don't forget about the peaceful picture you had in your mind. You get to create it. I don't necessarily believe in only keeping things that bring you joy. I wouldn't say toilet paper exactly brings me joy but I'd rather keep it. I would say that as a whole, your home can bring you joy. Think about what you like. What is your your style. Think about colors you love. I bet without 100 items on a shelf, your favorite ones will really shine. So start with a room that will bring you the most joy. Your bedroom is a great place to make a sanctuary you deserve!
In addition to the article about mindset, I do have many other articles that are all geared towards your success in home organization! Feel free to look through them and read any that really seem to speak to you. I have a post about how organizing reduces stress, I have overcoming obstacles, I have one about perfectionism. I want to make this as easy and to be as helpful as I possibly can so that you can have success in this journey.
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