What do clutter, spring cleaning, and mental wellbeing have in common? As the days grow warmer and longer, many of us feel renewed energy to clear out winter’s remnants, organize the closets, and tidy the garage in an annual ritual that can do wonders for both body and mind: spring cleaning.

And there’s wisdom in this time-tested routine. Studies demonstrate that your surroundings can influence your state of mind and sense of wellbeing. Clutter doesn’t just crowd your home—it can crowd your thoughts, too—heightening stress levels, derailing focus, and causing procrastination.

By taking steps to clear the chaos, you could see benefits that stretch far beyond a neater bedroom and last longer than the fleeting seasons.

Cluttered space, cluttered mind

A disorganized environment can trigger a sense of mental chaos. When you glance around and see unpaid bills, empty snack bags, or scattered mementos, your attention ping-pongs between all these tasks vying for your energy. This visual overload forces the brain to work overtime, making it difficult to concentrate on what matters most.

Distractions & Focus:

Clutter bombards the mind with irrelevant information, limiting its ability to focus on a single task. You may be working from home when you might spot an unpaid bill and decide to handle it—only to be reminded of the grocery list when you notice an empty chip bag, and so on.

Time & Energy Drain:

Searching for your keys in a messy drawer or constantly moving items to clear a workspace wastes time and energy. These minor annoyances add up. A cluttered space requires more physical and mental effort to complete your to-dos, fueling procrastination and delaying important tasks.

Increased Stress:

Piles of clutter are visual reminders of unfinished business—causing guilt, shame, or anxiety. One study even found that women who viewed their homes as cluttered experienced higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Strained Relationships & Lower Life Satisfaction:

Feeling embarrassed about a messy environment can lead to fewer social visits and lower self-esteem. Persistent clutter may create tension or strain with others in the household. Among older adults, clutter has been linked to decreased life satisfaction, underscoring the broader impact of disorganization.

What counts as clutter?

Clutter isn’t limited to piles of old mail or overflowing closets. It can also be digital—such as bloated inboxes, countless browser tabs, or disorganized files and digital photos. Accumulated items that are unused, disorderly, or causing stress are considered clutter.

Out with the old: how a tidy space boosts your wellbeing

Improved Focus:

A streamlined environment frees your attention, helping you think more clearly and remain on task. Fewer visual and mental distractions can reduce decision fatigue and create a calmer workspace.

Reduced Stress, Greater Control:

When you know exactly where items are and why they’re there, everyday routines become more manageable. You’ll find what you need faster, feel more in control, and experience a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Emotional Clarity:

Decluttering invites you to reflect on what’s truly important. By paring down possessions, you create room—physically and mentally—for the relationships, experiences, and interests that matter most.

Streamlined Life:

In an increasingly consumer-driven world, pushing back against “stuff” can bring renewed focus and calm. Setting up an organized system for your space and belongings helps life run more smoothly, leaving you more flexible when unforeseen changes arise like a change in relationship or living situation.

More Time & Energy:

No more digging through drawers to find your phone charger or keys. Less time and energy spent reorganizing and hunting for misplaced items frees you to invest in the people and activities you love.

Confidence & Savings:

Inviting friends over becomes less stressful when you’re proud of your surroundings. Plus, an organized home or workspace helps you avoid buying duplicates of items you already own.

Is clutter holding you back?

7 simple steps to transform your space—and mindset

1. Identify Your Stress Points:

Ask yourself if your clutter causes you anxiety, irritation, or disrupts your daily flow. Acknowledge the emotional and practical toll it might be taking on your life.

2. Sort Your Items:

Create three piles—keep, donate, and toss. Consider adding a “maybe” pile for objects you’re unsure about, but plan a date to revisit it. Begin with the easiest items, such as expired products or broken objects.

3. Tidy Your Digital World:

Delete unneeded files, unsubscribe from irrelevant email lists, and organize important documents into labeled folders. Closing unused browser tabs can also bring immediate mental relief.

4. Prioritize Frequent-Use Items:

Keep the things you use most often in easily accessible places. This step alone can save valuable minutes and reduce frustration.

5. Break It Down:

Decluttering an entire home or workspace is a marathon, not a sprint. Recognize the cognitive, physical, and emotional labor it requires. Schedule manageable blocks of time—maybe an hour a day—to tackle specific areas.

6. Give Yourself Grace:

It’s natural to feel attached to items that evoke treasured memories. Instead of feeling shame about how much you’ve accumulated, try to find joy in the process of sorting through each object and appreciating the role it once played. As Marie Kondo reminds us, expressing gratitude for the value these items once provided can help you let go more easily.

7. Celebrate Small Wins:

Notice how freeing it feels to clear a surface or find what you need without a frantic search. Let these positive emotions and appreciation for your efforts motivate you to continue.

Say goodbye to distractions with spring cleaning that transforms your wellbeing

Clutter can weigh you down—physically, mentally, and emotionally. By bringing order to your environment, you nurture a sense of calm and create space for the things that truly matter. Whether it’s opening the door to more creativity, better relationships, or simply an easier morning routine, decluttering is about reclaiming your life—one drawer, folder, or closet at a time.