Being confined, isolated and unable to perform our usual daily interactions due to the current pandemic can cause a lot of stress in our lives. Depression and anxiety can get the better of us and can often make everything feel much, much worse.
It’s normal to feel unmotivated, lethargic, sad and anxious during times of such uncertainty, especially when things have been so far out of our control. The most important thing we must remember, however, is to focus on what we can control, as this is a great way to counteract those anxious feelings and give us a sense of accomplishment and peace.
Rather than feeling like a prison, our homes are supposed to be a sanctuary; our own personal space and comfort zone. Our home is where we share our lives with our loved ones and where all those beautiful memories are made.
Each room in your home evokes a feeling and an atmosphere that’s specific to you, so given that we’re spending more time than ever at home, there’s no time like the present to create or revamp the ambience we desire.
If it is calm and clarity that you crave in your home, then decluttering and organisation will get you there.
A 2010 study of social psychology concluded that women who described their living spaces as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who described their homes as “restful.” The study also found that women with cluttered homes expressed higher levels of the stress hormone ‘cortisol.’
Now the idea of cleaning may not sound all that inspiring, but having a good declutter and tidy-up is actually a remarkable mood lifter. It’s a great way to decrease those negative feelings such as stress and anxiety and it fills our minds with a sense of calm, satisfaction, and clarity. Not only that, but it’s a great way to get in some exercise, and you’ll have a beautifully clean and clutter-free home to enjoy afterwards! Win-win!
So why not give cleaning a try and feel the rush of ‘happy hormones’? With our simple step-by-step guide, you’ll be feeling better in no time:
To make this feel like less of an overwhelming task, break one area down at a time and tackle each space individually. Arm yourself with your favourite music or podcast to keep you motivated, and go!
Empty every cupboard, shelf, nook and cranny and sort the contents into three piles – one to discard, one to donate and one to keep.
Donating unwanted possessions can also boost your good endorphins, as you know that by doing so you’re helping others in need. Don’t forget to recycle as much as you possibly can to avoid contributing to landfill.
For some sustainable decluttering tips, check out this blog we prepared earlier.
Once all of the storage areas are empty and unwanted clutter is out of the way, give everything a good clean.
A convenient and gentle cleaner like Tri Nature’s eco-friendly Supre Multi-purpose Cleaner will make short work of any dirt build-up or grime on your surfaces, and its natural plant-based formula makes it safer for use around your pets and small children too.
Be sure to refresh any old moisture absorbers or pest deterrents while you’re there.
For that extra level of peace of mind, you can also disinfect your surfaces as you clean. For this task, you can’t go wrong with Tri Nature’s range of Sanazone or Sphagnum Moss Disinfectants, which are available in handy Express sizes or more economical bulk refills.
If you’re after a range of different cleaning products and would also like to make a positive impact on the environment, Tri Nature offers a range of convenient cleaning and personal care Starter sets.
Maintaining regular cleaning will help boost your sense of overall well-being and can help you feel more productive too, especially if you’re currently unable to work.
Now that everything is clean and you’ve finished decluttering your life, it’s time to return everything in your ‘keep’ pile back where it belongs.
Try to create a logical and well-organised storage system, utilising tubs and labels where required. Doing so will help make things easier to find and also help remind the kids where to put things when they’ve finished using them.
Now for the fun part. Since you’ve put all that effort into cleaning and decluttering, why not take the opportunity to re-create your living space as well? You don’t even have to buy any new items!
Reposition your furniture, create new combinations of décor by swapping around items from other rooms and bring in some new greenery from outside.
Decorating your space can give you a huge boost of positive energy and make you feel renewed and rejuvenated, so use your imagination to create the space of your dreams!
Feeling uninspired? No problem! A quick search for ideas on Pinterest or Instagram will help inspire you and get your creative juices flowing.
Instead of throwing away old items, try finding new creative ways to re-purpose them. You might be surprised by what you come up with.
The ambience we create in our homes has an effect on everyone who lives within it. Enjoy the refreshed aura of your new space and also the functionality of any new spaces you may have created; a new workspace, a ‘chill-out’ zone, etc.
When I’ve finished cleaning my own home, I like to pop Tri Nature’s Stress-Free Essential Oil Blend into my Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser, sit down with a good book and totally relax.
When you’re out and about, keep public health in mind and remember to wear a face mask and maintain physical distancing. Stay safe and well.
