Home 9 Uncategorized 9 Spring Cleaning for Your Wellbeing: How Decluttering Creates Room for a More Fulfilling Life

Spring Cleaning for Your Wellbeing: How Decluttering Creates Room for a More Fulfilling Life

Mar 6, 2025 | Uncategorized

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 spaceand 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.

From coffee to soda to energy drinks, caffeine is a part of daily life for many of us. And while it is naturally occurring, overconsumption can cause health problems such as increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, anxiety, headaches, and insomnia. For this blog, we sat down with Susie Roberts, a Registered Dietitian to discuss all things caffeine—why it’s such a big part of our lives, how much of it is in the food items many people enjoy regularly, and how much is too much. We’ll also talk about current trends and tips on how to boost your energy naturally so you can stop relying on caffeine to keep you energized throughout the day.

Q: Just this morning, I heard someone say “I’m not caffeinated enough for this day!” It really is such a big part of our daily lives. Why do you think that is?
A: It’s not surprising at all to hear that! About 90% of American adults consume caffeine daily. People are looking for ways to boost their energy and increase alertness and caffeine is readily available and socially acceptable.

Q: So, what exactly is caffeine, and how does it work?
A: Caffeine is a natural stimulant that affects the central nervous system. After consumption, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the brain, where it blocks the effects of adenosine—a chemical that promotes sleep. This interference helps you feel more alert and awake.

Caffeine typically reaches your brain within 15 minutes, peaks in the bloodstream at 30 to 120 minutes, and has a half-life of 3 to 7 hours.

Q: Everyone knows that coffee and many soft drinks contain caffeine. But where else can it be found? If we are consuming these beverages and other items, how can we know the amount of caffeine we are getting?
A: Energy drinks have become very popular—especially among young adults. These contain not only caffeine, but may also have added sugars, so it’s a double whammy. Chocolate and many varieties of tea also contain caffeine. You may also want to check out any nutrition supplements or medications you are taking. And, many people may not realize it, but even decaf coffee contains a certain amount of caffeine.

How Much Caffeine Am I Really Getting

Q: How much is too much when it comes to caffeine?
A: For most healthy adults, the FDA says up to 400 mg per day is safe. That’s about 4 cups of coffee. But you need to remember, that’s based on an 8 oz cup. Many people order an extra-large coffee, so you need to be aware of exactly how much you are taking in. Each individual reacts differently to caffeine based on their genetics, medications, and sleep habits.

How Much Is Too Much? Make Sure You Know Your Limits.

Q: What are the current trends in caffeine consumption?
A: As I mentioned before, energy drinks are increasing in popularity. They haven’t taken over coffee in the top spot, but Americans spent $19.2 billion on them in 2023 and that’s expected to rise to $33 billion by 2030. Coffee remains at the top, accounting for 69% of total caffeine intake, an increase of 15% in the last decade. And while the number of tea drinkers has dropped by 50%, those who drink it are consuming more.

Current Caffeine Consumption Trends.

Q: How can I be more aware about the amount of caffeine I’m getting?
A: Mindful consumption of caffeine is being intentional about what, when, and how much you consume. Track your intake and pay attention to any potential unwanted side effects like jitters or difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep. Are you sleeping 6-8 hours a night and waking refreshed? If not, consider a “hard stop” 10 hours before your bedtime. Remember, that cup of coffee you had at 8 am can potentially still be in your system at 5 pm, so it’s important to time it right. And finally, if you decide you want to reduce your caffeine consumption, do it slowly to minimize any withdrawal symptoms such as headaches.

Be Mindful of Your Caffeine Consumption.

Q: Sometimes though, you need extra energy when you hit that afternoon slump. Can you suggest any alternative ways to get that boost and avoid turning to caffeine?
A: There are a few simple ways you can get that energy boost. First, make sure you are hydrated. Water supports joint health, oxygen delivery, temperature regulation, skin health, and more. You also want to move—even a short walk or stretch break can help. Make sure your meals are balanced with a protein and complex carbs. And most importantly, rest and recover. Sometimes rest—not more coffee—is what your body needs.

How Can I Boost My Energy Naturally.

Q: So, what are your final thoughts on caffeine?
A:  Caffeine can be part of a healthy lifestyle and may even offer some health benefits—but it’s all about balance and awareness. If you’re reaching for that third cup of coffee at 3 pm, pause and ask: Am I actually tired, hungry, or just in a habit? And then give one of the things we talked about a try, to get that energy boost naturally and see if that caffeine craving goes away.

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