We tend to accumulate a lot of things without noticing – and it’s usually far more than what we clear out. This creates clutter in our lives which not only impacts our physical space but also our mental space. Decluttering your home can offer many benefits for your wellbeing.

On a practical level, decluttering can free up space and make cleaning easier. It allows you to get rid of dust and other allergens that may have built up in places you weren’t able to reach before. It also provides an opportunity to organise spaces in a more functional way and rearrange things so they are easier to find.

Clutter can lead to stress and in some cases anxiety. A cluttered space can lead to sensory overload and may cause you to feel anxious and even self-conscious about inviting people into your home. Decluttering can help clear the mind and reduce stress.

Having too much ‘stuff’ can be distracting and cause you to lose focus. Removing the clutter can make it easier to focus and increase your productivity.

Decluttering can help you to let go of things that don’t serve you. Sometimes we keep things we don’t need out of fear or insecurity. For example, you may keep things because you feel anxious about the future and think you might need them, or because you don’t want to disappoint the person who gave it to you. When you remove unnecessary items, you can feel a sense of freedom and enlightenment.

The process of decluttering can help you become more mindful and self-aware. To decide whether to keep or do away with something, you’ll really need to consider what the item means to you such as its purpose and its value to you. This kind of mindful thinking can be applied to other aspects of your life, helping you to make better decisions.