1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:05,480 In this video, we'll talk about cluttered home equals cluttered mind, how to reduce the mess. 2 00:00:05,580 --> 00:00:07,800 First, let us take a look at the home. 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,560 A cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind. 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,960 Then we'll examine some ways that you can reduce the mess so you can regain some essential control over 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:16,660 your life. 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,970 The problem of the cluttered home, why do we end up acquiring clutter in our homes? 7 00:00:22,020 --> 00:00:24,070 There are several reasons behind this. 8 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:26,370 Let us look at some of the most common. 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,430 You don't know when it's time to get rid of items in many households. 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:36,000 There's a lot of confusion about when the time has come to sell, donate, shred or throw away items 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,040 when they're no longer used or needed. 12 00:00:38,070 --> 00:00:42,330 You don't have anywhere to store things properly or you just don't know how to store it. 13 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,770 You have no organization routine to follow in the home. 14 00:00:45,780 --> 00:00:49,350 You don't have sufficient storage space or solutions. 15 00:00:49,350 --> 00:00:51,420 You persistently keep common clutter. 16 00:00:51,420 --> 00:00:55,950 Sources around you regularly buy things that you don't need or use. 17 00:00:55,980 --> 00:01:00,910 You lack the ability to let go of items, especially those with some sentimental value. 18 00:01:01,050 --> 00:01:04,660 Many of us can relate to at least one of the above statements. 19 00:01:04,710 --> 00:01:10,240 The key is to identify which are applicable to you so that you can then work on ways of addressing them. 20 00:01:10,260 --> 00:01:13,470 How does a cluttered home lead to a cluttered mind? 21 00:01:13,590 --> 00:01:18,870 Clutter in the home ends up having a negative impact on your mind, your body and your overall health. 22 00:01:19,020 --> 00:01:24,480 There is a direct link between high levels of stress and excess clutter in the home, and this has been 23 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,610 proven in several studies over the past few years. 24 00:01:27,660 --> 00:01:29,070 Why is this the case? 25 00:01:29,220 --> 00:01:34,440 The home is supposed to be an oasis of calm, a peaceful refuge and a comfortable space where you can 26 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,070 unwind and chill out. 27 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:37,140 How can you do that? 28 00:01:37,140 --> 00:01:42,660 If there's disorganization and mess everywhere, clutter in the home impacts negatively on your ability 29 00:01:42,660 --> 00:01:44,380 to concentrate and focus. 30 00:01:44,430 --> 00:01:49,540 There are distractions everywhere, and this causes your mental faculties to become worn down. 31 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:56,370 Frustration is then the inevitable result, which causes stress to build up when you can't focus properly. 32 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,210 Your ability to problem, solve and be creative is also inhibited. 33 00:02:00,270 --> 00:02:05,220 Tests have shown that people who have increased clutter at home also have higher cortisol levels in 34 00:02:05,220 --> 00:02:05,970 their bodies. 35 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,440 Cortisol is a stress hormone that triggers a flight or flight response. 36 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:16,800 When levels of this hormone are high, we cannot truly relax or unwind effectively and we're constantly 37 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,150 in a state of high alert. 38 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:23,970 Meanwhile, those whose homes are tidier, more organized have happier and less stressed lives. 39 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,980 One further problem that clutter can cause in terms of mental health is the feeling of guilt that can 40 00:02:28,980 --> 00:02:30,440 build up over time. 41 00:02:30,450 --> 00:02:35,190 Knowing that you should be keeping your home spotless, but not seeming able to find the motivation 42 00:02:35,190 --> 00:02:39,060 or the time to get the job done can increase anxiety levels. 43 00:02:39,210 --> 00:02:44,090 That makes it even harder to relax or enjoy yourself during your potential downtime. 44 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:49,530 You're constantly thinking about all the many task and chores that are incomplete and that still remain 45 00:02:49,530 --> 00:02:50,220 to be done. 46 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:56,590 The areas to tackle the average home has many areas where clutter can begin to gather and accumulate. 47 00:02:56,640 --> 00:03:01,830 However, there are four key areas that you should look at first when preparing to get organized and 48 00:03:01,830 --> 00:03:03,910 to take back control of your life. 49 00:03:03,930 --> 00:03:06,250 First, take a look at your flaws. 50 00:03:06,390 --> 00:03:09,060 Do you have piles of items in the corner of the room? 51 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,220 Are there furnishings that you simply don't need to take up space in your home? 52 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:18,300 Take another look at your home's footprint, decide how you can use the space more effectively so you 53 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:22,900 can move more easily between rooms and enjoy maximum openness throughout. 54 00:03:22,950 --> 00:03:25,440 Secondly, take a look at your drawers. 55 00:03:25,470 --> 00:03:29,000 Are they full of junk or have they been emptied and sorted recently? 56 00:03:29,130 --> 00:03:34,200 Are there items in there that should really have gone in the trash years ago, even if there's no junk 57 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:34,590 in there? 58 00:03:34,740 --> 00:03:37,440 Have they been tidied and organized thoroughly? 59 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,030 Take a look at your closets. 60 00:03:39,180 --> 00:03:41,010 Do you really wear all those clothes? 61 00:03:41,190 --> 00:03:43,570 Are all those shoes really necessary? 62 00:03:43,620 --> 00:03:45,780 Is there a better way to store those sweaters? 63 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,530 Could you find new storage solutions to maximize the available space in your closet? 64 00:03:50,670 --> 00:03:53,190 Fourthly, take a look at your shelves. 65 00:03:53,370 --> 00:03:58,410 While these may be the last area that you consider organizing, it can be the place in your home where 66 00:03:58,410 --> 00:03:59,760 most clutter appears. 67 00:03:59,820 --> 00:04:04,770 How often have you put a book, a toy or pet, on a shelf and thought you can move it soon, but then 68 00:04:04,770 --> 00:04:06,030 never got around to it? 69 00:04:06,060 --> 00:04:10,530 Do you regularly tidy up the books, CDs or DVDs and your units? 70 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:15,420 It's time to give them a once over to get rid of any items that don't belong on a shelf.