My roommate Emma is one of the loveliest people I know. She’s also one of the busiest, and one of the messiest.
I’m always running from one thing to the next, and I never have time to clean up my clothes,” Emma said. “It gets to the point where it’s kind of stressful to be in my room, because I’m constantly surrounded by things I haven’t done.
Feeling stressed when surrounded by stuff is really common-- in fact, research has shown that clutter is linked to increased levels of cortisol in the body, a hormone that’s related to stress. Over time, having more stress can lead to health complications, like making it harder to fight off colds or digest food. Long-term stress exposure can also increase the risk of serious health conditions, like diabetes and heart disease.
Along with stress, clutter is linked to procrastination, feelings of guilt, and trouble sleeping. Decreased focus is another significant way clutter can make you feel bad-- our brains are very sensitive to visual information, and seeing things that aren’t related to the task at hand can be cognitively and emotionally distracting.
On the flip side, a clean space has been linked to improved physical health, an increased sense of control over life, and perceived well-being. Not to mention that it’s easier to find things!
Armed with this knowledge, we decided to run our own experiment, to see if cleaning Emma’s room would really improve her state of mind.
After a few hours and quite a few podcast episodes, it was done. Emma’s bed was made neatly, all of her clean clothes were folded and put away, and her closet was organized according to Marie Kondo’s method. The assorted knick knacks that took up precious counter space had been grouped into cute cups and containers, and small things that weren’t used very often were stored under Emma’s bed.
Emma’s room felt bigger, brighter, and more beautiful. Not only that, I felt way more energetic inside! No pillows on the floor, no loose wires, all the dirty and clean clothes separated nicely. Emma was much happier too.
I really love that everything has a place!” Emma said. “Picking out what I want to wear in the morning is fun now that my clothes are arranged so beautifully.
Emma has actually started knitting in her bed at night before she goes to sleep, now that she actually wants to spend time in her room. She finally feels like it’s somewhere she can relax. Even her cat is hanging out in her room more!
If Emma could declutter, you can too. Clearing your space can really help clear your mind, so you can truly relax and unwind. But Emma couldn’t have done it alone, and you shouldn’t have to. Fellow is here to help you.
Often in the process of cleaning up, you’ll realize you have more stuff than you actually need. Sometimes it’s stuff that’s still valuable, and it doesn’t make sense to get rid of it. Fellow allows you to store these precious items outside your tidy space, so you can minimize distractions. Unlike other storage services, Fellow will bring you the item the second you want it, at the push of a button! Clear your clutter with Fellow.
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