When you think about where you live, work, or do other activities, do you think about how much clutter or mess is in those spaces? Do you dread seeing a pile of papers on your desk? Do you cringe thinking about a particular room or closet in your house that is just hiding a big pile of stuff? Do you avoid going to places that seem too crowded with things? On the flip side, do you enjoy spaces that feel really open? Do you love seeing drawers, desks, or closets that are organized?
While you may not spend a lot of time thinking about such things, clutter and mess in our environments can have an impact on our moods. I feel like I am a classic example of this, even though I am not always great at organizing and making it better. But, when I am in cluttered spaces it typically will make me more anxious, frustrated, and unpleasant. It feels like the clutter is in control, and sometimes it can even be a safety concern. Usually, I would prefer to be away from the clutter, but that isn’t always possible.
So, if I think about it for people dealing with depression in some way, clutter can add to an already stressful situation, and people may not even be aware of it. But, if you do take the time to consider it, is it possible that doing even a little organizing might help make people feel a little better? I’m not talking about doing huge projects, but going through a drawer here or a pile there. Easier said than done I’m sure, but what is important is to understand how clutter in the environment can affect our moods. Even doing just a little bit of organizing can be a simple way to improve how people are responding to their surroundings.