Declutter Your Life

In Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, she gives excellent reasons as to why tidying up is so important. She says, “when you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order too.”

Today I’m most concerned about the health benefits and these little bite-sized cleaning breaks will actually create an environment that makes you feel better with minimal effort.
It is simple to retrain your brain to enjoy the cortisol-fighting benefits of cleaning up.
I’m all for more energy, mental peace, and a balanced mood.
If you are not sure where to start, here are 5 simple tasks you can do to make tidying feel less like a giant chore, and more like a relaxing routine.

Make Your Bed

It might sound like an old-timey rule: “Make your bed first thing in the morning”...

But a neat-looking bed can help create a peaceful environment —

And even promote better sleep, with boosted energy levels and better stress management the next day.

It doesn’t need to be a work of art — just tugging the sheets and blankets to the head of the mattress can be enough to help you feel calm.

Fold Rumpled-Up Blankets

I love a plush, cozy blanket — and I’ve been known to leave one bunched up on the sofa, because I know I’ll be back for it.

But wadded-up blankets can actually add “visual clutter” to a room…

Quietly putting your brain on edge, and slowly raising your stress.

So even if you know you’ll be back later… remember to fold blankets —

That way, your brain can relax, and you’re less likely to get “brain fog” when you walk into the room.

Put Away Your Shoes

Sometimes it’s nice to come home, take off your shoes, throw them anywhere, and relax.

But if you’ve ever tripped over a stray shoe... you already know the stress-inducing potential of out-of-place footwear.

So to avoid the frustration and danger of tripping — as well as the cortisol spike that comes with the stress...

Keep your shoes in a designated space every time you come home.

You’ll be surprised by how relaxed your body feels, knowing your shoes are exactly where they need to be.

Vacuum Just 1 Room

If you’re like me, thinking about vacuuming your entire house in one go can feel overwhelming.

That’s why I only ever commit myself to vacuuming one room at a time. (And if I’m feeling ambitious, I might hit the next room over.)

Start with the room you spend the most time in — and as the week goes on, hit the rest of the house one room at a time.

Remember: Even though your floors might not look dirty…

Vacuuming can make any room look brighter, feel cleaner… and in some cases, smell better.

And with those “stress stimulators” out of the way, your body can focus on things like calm digestion and burning calories.

Put Away Paper Clutter

My husband has always made fun of my “piles of papers.” It’s typically from all the committees I work on.

And I know it can be easy to let paper clutter pile up.

But trust me:

Taking a few moments to sort through it and recycle the junk can add a surprising amount of “breathing room” to your kitchen…

Which helps reduce cortisol, and keep your body in tip-top shape.

Even if you just do one of these tasks today, it can make a huge difference in how you feel at home.

Plus, getting your body moving while decluttering is a fantastic way to lower your cortisol levels and “sneakily” improve your overall wellbeing.

So I hope you’ll try these tidying tips today…

Because a clean, comfy home + a healthier, happier you = a MAJOR win-win!