Spring Cleaning Part 1 - Your Spaces

 

It's nearly spring! Learn why cleaning up your workspace is so important for your mental health.

(Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/3/18/spring-cleaning-part-1-your-spaces)

As things get sunnier and warmer, it is the perfect time to clear that clutter and re-organize your workspace, be that your desk or living room couch! Even more importantly, cleaning and organizing are two great ways to boost your mental health in ways you may not have realized.  

Here are some ways that decluttering your workspace can benefit you: 

Save yourself some time. Having an organized workstation allows you to quickly find documents and materials more efficiently when needed. This saves you extra time and stress when you find yourself in a hurry. 

It can help you de-stress. Having extra things in your space, especially non-essential items, can cause you to become distracted. Being distracted can easily lead to you feel overwhelmed, which can leave you stressed and anxious. Having a clean and structured workspace can help take your mind off any distractions and keep you focused. 

Make a better impression. One of the worst feelings is not being able to find something when you need it. What’s worse is when you can’t find what you need when your manager is standing over you or you have to leave a Zoom call to search for something. Avoid making unfavorable impressions by being organized, so the next time your boss needs that quarterly report, you’ll have it in a snap. 

It can help you eat better. According to a study from the Psychological Science journal, individuals who work in a ‘neat space’ for at least 10 minutes are more prone to choosing to eat an apple over chocolate. Having a cluttered space causes more stress, which can result in your body craving comfort foods as a coping mechanism.  

Take a few moments today to clean out your space, so you can feel less cluttered and more relaxed!