The surprising health benefits of decluttering



The advantages of decluttering

Getting rid of things you no longer need or want may have a positive effect on mental health and can also make for a safer environment. It's a sobering fact that every 12 seconds, according to the CDC, someone over age 64 will fall and end up in the emergency room. Decluttering can help keep paths clear and obstacles to a minimum.

A study at Indiana University showed that people with clean houses are healthier than people with messy houses. Regular household chores like vacuuming and washing windows can be great physical activity. A tidy home can also mean we're more likely to invite people over - prompting interactions that can help alleviate feelings of depression and isolation that can accompany aging.

Tips to get started

With these tips, decluttering doesn't need to be a dreaded task:

* Don't judge yourself. It's harder to decide what to do with items that have been in the family for generations than it might be for millennials to decide what to do with items from their college years.

* Take it one room at a time. According to a study by Moen, the most-cluttered areas of a home are the garage, kitchen and home office. The kitchen is a good place to start the decluttering process, because throwing away chipped dishes and expired spices isn't as taxing as wading through boxes of potentially important paperwork or personal items. Take everything out of the fridge and cupboards and spread it all out on a counter or table so it's easy to review. Give shelves a good wipe-down and restock them with the necessities, putting go-to things within easy reach, and donating or storing appliances and dishes that are used less often.




At the end of the day, it's OK to hang on to belongings that are near and dear to you. But for items that don't hold sentimental or functional value, kick-start a decluttering mission today so you can enjoy a tidier, safer home tomorrow.

September 21, 2018

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