How Clutter Affects Us
If the kitchen is one of the messiest rooms in your house, that clutter could be causing you to snack more. A study published in the journal Environment and Behavior found that people in cluttered, chaotic kitchens consumed twice as many calories as those in neat, tidy kitchens. While the mess is partly to blame, mindset also plays a role. People who feel chaotic and out of control – which a messy environment can exacerbate – have the tendency to eat more food, especially junk food, than those who feel in control. A study published in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry found that people with high acquisitive behaviors – in other words, people who like to shop or get things for free – experience lower quality of life, and lower work functioning, than those who don’t exhibit such behaviors. As you might imagine, people who exhibit these behaviors have more cluttered homes than those who don’t. Another study, published in the International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, found a strong correlation between hoarding and acquisitive behavior and stress. Generally, the more objects in your home, the greater the levels of stress you experience.How Decluttering Can Save You Money
A clean, organized kitchen can save you money in several ways. First, you might find that you snack less on junk food and make healthier choices in a tidy kitchen. The healthier you eat, the fewer medical expenses you’re likely to have, which can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. You’ll also find that you have more energy, and might even have a more positive outlook, when you eat healthy on a consistent basis. A cluttered kitchen can also cause you to waste money on unnecessary purchases. If you can’t find a particular kitchen tool or appliance, you might end up buying one to replace it when, in truth, the original is buried somewhere in the mess. Once you declutter and organize your kitchen, you’ll want it to stay that way, which means you’ll probably steer clear of cluttering it up with new purchases from stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and TJ Maxx that sell an endless variety of single-purpose kitchen tools you don’t need. Cleaning and organizing your kitchen could also be the impetus you need to cook more at home. There are plenty of ways to eat healthy on a budget, but cooking at home is one of the best. Cooking with kids is also a great way to build their confidence in the kitchen and get them started on the path to healthy eating. Last, a simplified kitchen is a cleaner kitchen. When you have to move mountains of clutter to wipe off the countertops, you clean less often. As a result, the kitchen can become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, increasing the likelihood that you and your family will get sick. A clean, organized kitchen might just keep you out of the doctor’s office.
How to Declutter & Simplify Your Kitchen
Take a look at your kitchen. It’s probably where you and your family dump mail, backpacks, and briefcases. The countertops may be crammed with appliances, fruit that still needs to be eaten, and electronics that need to be charged. The kitchen gets crammed with stuff, and this can make decluttering and organizing the space feel like a huge task. But, I promise, it’s so worth the effort. So, put on your favorite music, and let’s get going.Step 1: Set a Timer
Unless you’re really driven, decluttering your kitchen probably can’t happen in one afternoon. It’s best to work in half-hour increments. Breaking up the task over several days will help keep your energy up and prevent decision fatigue, which can quickly set in when you’re sorting through a large number of items. Before you begin, gather several boxes to store items to donate, items to sell, and items to relocate. You’ll also need some garbage and recycling bags to sort the rest for disposal. Set your timer for 30 minutes and focus intently while the clock is ticking. Can you go longer? Of course. But if you look at your kitchen and feel overwhelmed by how much there is to do, start with 30 minutes.Step 2: Focus On One Area at a Time
It’s easy to start randomly opening cabinets and grabbing stuff, but this will quickly create even more chaos and clutter. A better strategy is to start with one drawer or one cabinet. Go through each item in there and decide whether it should stay or go. If it will stay in the kitchen, is this the best place for it? Keep going until you’ve processed every single item in that drawer or cabinet. Again, try to resist the urge to “graze” your way through the kitchen, decluttering at random. It’s easy to get discouraged fast if you do this.Step 3: Question Each Item You Pick Up
As you go through the items in your kitchen, ask yourself the following questions.- Do I use this? Not “Will I use this someday?”, but “Do I use this now?” We all have appliances we’d like to use, but often, our real life doesn’t match our dream life. Those tools and appliances you’re holding on to for “someday” are likely only taking up space and adding clutter to your kitchen. Let them go to someone else who will use them, and make more room for the life you’re living right now.
- How many do I have? We often accumulate “extras” of certain things, especially wooden spoons, mixing bowls, coffee cups, plastic food containers, and baking sheets. How many of these do you use on a regular basis? Keep your favorites and donate the rest.
- Would I buy this today? Our decorating styles, and cooking styles, change over time. Look at each item and ask yourself, “Would I buy this today?” If the answer is no, sell or donate it.
