Benefits of decluttering your home while in quarantine
COVID19

Benefits of decluttering your home while in quarantine

14 of May of 2020

The sheltering in place orders have been challenging for most of us in more ways than one. What at first may have seemed like a welcome respite from the usual hustle and bustle of our daily lives has quickly turned sour. The uncertainty and the endless stream of bad news are affecting our mood. This, in turn, is making it really hard to organize our days in productive ways. You do not want to put additional pressure on yourself by trying to make the most of your time in quarantine and having a complete life overhaul. However, certain smaller projects would be very useful and even fun. The benefits of decluttering your home while in quarantine, for example, could be manifold. It is an activity that can be spread out over many days. Plus, you will be able to reap the benefits immediately.

How to go about it?

There are plenty of ways of dealing with clutter in the time of quarantine. One of the basic things you can do is organize your things into three piles – keep, donate, trash. Another useful method is the OHIO method. The letters stand for Only Handle It Once. It means that once your attention is on something, you should find a place for it right away. Watching the Marie Kondo show or simply researching different organizational methods will help you find a way that fits your needs best. The most important part is to give yourself enough time and go slowly from room to room.

A cluttered office table with papers, scissors, crayons, etc. Dealing with clutter in the time of quarantine can be a welcome break from the activities you have already gotten sick of.

Where to go with all the stuff?

In times of crisis especially, people are moved to donate and think about their fellow humans more. This may sound like great news but has actually posed great challenges for organizations that handle these types of donations. The Los Angeles area charities even had to ask the LA residents to stop dropping off things. They urged people to save them for when the pandemic is over and they reopen.

If you have managed to collect some items worthy of donating and you want to get them out of your house, why not consider renting out a storage unit? Companies like allseasonmovers.com will provide you with a safe and clean space for all of your things. You can fill it with things you want to donate as well as items you do not want to say goodbye to but simply do not have the space for.

The benefits of decluttering your home while in quarantine

  • It gives you something to do

Following expert tips on decluttering your home during the coronavirus pandemic will provide you with a low-stakes task you can spread over many days. Whether or not they are working from home, many people are finding it hard to fill the hours in a way that makes them feel good. It could be that binging a TV show or reading a book requires too much of your brainpower at this point. Doing something with your hands that doesn’t require a lot of thinking will come as a welcome break. You can play music or podcasts as you do it and treat it as a relaxing activity.

  • It relieves stress

The main reason why this is one of the best home projects to do if you’re quarantined due to coronavirus is the positive impact it can have on your mental health. Researchers have found a connection between feelings of depression, anxiety, and fatigue, and cluttered, unorganized households. All of the half-finished projects lying around your home could be contributing to any negative feelings you may be experiencing. Your home is supposed to be your safe haven, especially at a time like this. If you are surrounded by endless to-do lists all the time, you probably can’t relax and enjoy yourself. Finally, decluttering and cleaning can require quite the exertion of your body. This might help you get rid of any negative energy.

Feet in slippers resting on a table with a warm beverage, phone, remote control in front of a fireplace. Once you have decluttered your home, you will be able to finally relax.

  • Easy to include your kids

If you have children, you are probably struggling to find a way to fill their days with both fun and usefulness. One of the benefits of decluttering your home while in quarantine is that it gives you the opportunity to do something with your children. No matter how small they are, there is surely a chore or two you can get them to do. It can be something as simple as collecting their toys or even cleaning and decluttering their whole room if they are older. Something like this will give you a project you can do together. You will also have positive, tangible results at the end of the day.

A cluttered desk and chair. Involving your children in decluttering your home can be a great family activity.

  • It will provide a sense of control

As mentioned above, we are living through some very uncertain times. We are constantly getting opposing views of when the quarantine will be over and when, if at all, we will be able to get back to what our lives looked like before this. This sense of being out of control can cause a lot of negative feelings such as fear and anxiety. There isn’t really anything we can do to exert control over the global circumstances besides containing the pandemic by keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. We can, however, still find some small ways to exert control in our own lives. This is one of the definite benefits of decluttering your home while in quarantine. It will give you a sense of control and accomplishment that could be sorely missing from your everyday life.

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