A cluttered room can negatively impact our physical and mental health, resulting in higher levels of anxiety, stress, and sleeplessness. Research suggests that sleeplessness and extreme levels of bedroom clutter are directly correlated. While decluttering your sleeping environment does not entirely offer a solution to these problems, this simple habit can go a long way towards improving your sleeping pattern and general wellbeing. This article discusses how to take responsible steps to eliminate the clutter in your bedroom and organize your way to a better night’s sleep.
Common Causes of Sleeplessness
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
People suffering from sleeplessness find it difficult to fall asleep or to some extent wake up multiple times throughout the night. There are many possible reasons for sleep deprivation, which may include the following;
• Irregular Sleep Habits
Irregular patterns in your sleeping habits can make it extremely difficult to fall asleep. Such habits might include: taking part in stimulating activities before bedtime, excessive naps, and irregular bedtime schedules, all of which may adversely affect your sleep cycle. Being on screens before bedtimes, such as your phone, TV set, computer, and video games can also impact your sleep.
• Living Space
Lifestyle and living space have also been found to impact people’s ability to sleep and have been linked to conditions such as insomnia. For example, using your bed and bedroom for other activities besides sleeping, such as work, can trigger sleeplessness. Piling your bedroom with personal items like clothes, jewelry, electronics without organizing your space creates a cluttered environment, which can also impact your sleep.
• Stress and Anxiety
For the majority of people, anxiety and stress are the biggest factors affecting sleeplessness. Concerns that can range from family, health, and relationships to career and finances can keep your mind active throughout the night, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep.
How Decluttering your Bedroom Can Help You Sleep Better
If your sleeping environment is tidy and organized it can promote tranquillity and peacefulness, leading to a night of better sleep. Some additional benefits of decluttering your bedroom include the following;
Stress and Anxiety Relief
A cluttered room overwhelms an already overloaded mind in several ways. For example, you are likely to leave your items lying around your room when you can’t find somewhere to place them. This registers in your brain as a task to be completed, which eventually leaves your mind cluttered. Also, trying to look for items from a pile of other things can be quite stressful, especially when you need to locate things in a hurry. Bedroom decluttering involves putting every item in its rightful place and discarding unused items.
Creates a Happy and Restful Environment
Researchers have found out that a decluttered and clean room improves one’s happiness and mood. A messy room, on the other hand, is the last place you want to wake up to and the last place you want to come to after work. More studies reveal that people who spend time in an organized bedroom get more restful sleep than those sleeping in a cluttered room. In addition to having a restful environment, cleaning is generally a relaxing activity that will give you a sense of fulfillment.
Provides a Streamlined Morning Routine
With clothes and accessories set up in an organized way, you do not have to spend much time deciding on your next day’s outfit. This way, you can sleep longer and feel rested come morning. Again, it is easier to clean and tidy an organized bedroom. Your morning routine should not be cluttered with unnecessary tasks, such as looking for essentials in a pile of unused items. Decluttering can elevate your mood, creating a calm, happy start to your day.
Keeps Your Brain Calm before Bedtime
Too much activity and brain stimulation before bedtime can make it extremely difficult for you to fall asleep. Decluttering your bedroom, therefore, helps you eliminate items like unused electronics and piled-up clothes that keep your mind active before bed. As a result, you can remain calm and less stressed for better sleep.
Reduces Allergens
For individuals suffering from different forms of allergies, allergens can be a big problem for their sleep. Allergy symptoms and nasal congestion caused by allergens can interfere with one’s sleep directly. Decluttering your bedroom lessens such allergens as dust, pollen, pet hair, and mold, making it safer for a good rest.
Tips on How to Declutter Your Bedroom
There are plenty of ways to get on top of your bedroom clutter. Ideally, you will need to keep items in the right places, remove unnecessary objects from your bedroom and create a restful environment. Here are some key tips on how to declutter your bedroom.
1. Organise Your Clothing
Clothes are supposedly the largest set of items stored in any person’s bedroom. Therefore, keeping and setting up your wears in an organized manner is your first step to having a decluttered bedroom. You can dedicate a wall for your clothes and have a wardrobe or standing rack. Reserving each space for specific wear will also help you in having a tidy room.
2. Keep Tech Devices Off Your Room
In an era where technology is competing for our attention, it is more likely that almost everyone has some tech devices stored up in their sleeping rooms. However, using these devices before bedtime will only keep your brain more active, resulting in sleeplessness. Find another space or room in your house where your tech devices can be moved to. If you have to retain your smartphone, ensure that you don’t use it before bedtime.
3. Remove Unnecessary Items
If you have items that you do not really need in your bedroom, then you might want to remove or recycle them. You’d be surprised at the things you can recycle. Alternatively, you can sell second-hand items on sites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay or donate them to a charity. If you have items, like furniture, that you don’t want to get rid of permanently, then you might want to consider a removal and storage service that will remove excess items and store them safely for the short or long term.
About the author:
Patryk Panczuk runs a removals and storage company called Removals & Storage Experts based in London. He is passionate about helping people make a new house a home and to do away with the stress of moving.
