Tidying up is very much in vogue. We’ve seen spring cleaning becoming a business as well as a past time or a chore, as evidenced by the Konmari Method and hit shows like the Home Edit.

Decluttering offers a multitude of benefits. It can be therapeutic and cathartic, allowing us to zero in on the task at hand, clear the mind and be present. There are positives for our physical bodies too; a good clear out can just as easily turn into a strenuous workout.

This week, over on our Journal, read more about our ode to getting organised, and our tips for tidying up.

Why we love tidying up

Our love for tidying up reflects that, fundamentally, we all need to create opportunities to let go.

A more workable daily routine, in which we spend less time on distractions and more effort on getting essential tasks done, can be considered self-care. The amazing news is that optimising our time, treating it as precious, and making room for ourselves is a form of wellness that’s accessible for all.

Decluttering means different things to different people. Small changes can lead to unexpected gains, and big clear outs can revolutionise how we view our lives. But what we like most about tidying up is the chance to prioritise and remind ourselves what’s valuable. The space afforded to us by getting organised can show us how we need to change, the ways in which we should re-orient to live a healthier or better functioning lifestyle and reassess our impact on the world around us.

Tidying up is very personal and relative to the time at our disposal. Now we’ve shared our ode to spring cleaning, here are our hacks that help us transform tidying up into something more than just rearranging the pots and pans (which we love too):

• Out of sight out of mind

A lot of things in our visual field can be disruptive and take their toll on our mental health. The old adage ‘tidy desk, tidy mind’ can be applied everything around us. Making use of cupboard space, albeit using dividers and storage binds, makes more room for us in our surroundings and creates a clearer, calmer environment. It’s much more relaxing when we’re not boxed in by stuff.

• Everything has its place

Knowing where our things are, whether they’re expertly labelled within a broader filing or organisation system, or placed in a specific area or corner, can help with finding items in a rush and as well as creating a sense of control and order that we can revert back to when we’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It might sound slightly mad, but feeling worried or experiencing chaos, and then seeing the order or symmetry in something we’ve previously done or arranged, can be very comforting.

• Stop the clock

When tidying up, we set a time limit so the task doesn’t become daunting and there is a pathway to a specific organisational goal. Decluttering can take as long as we have. If we set boundaries, the ownership makes the exercise of spring cleaning take on a whole new meaning.

• Make meaningful updates

Tidying up is an on-going, perpetual activity. At least it is for the M Life team. To stay on top of things without feeling like organising is all-consuming, targeted and focused updates or upgrades to the way we’ve displayed certain things or even to a whole room or series of rooms, can allow us to continue to retain the things that give us ‘joy’ and reap the (mental and physical) rewards that decluttering can bring. Sounds simple and obvious, but makes all the difference.