Marie Kondo has changed the lives of so many lazy people in terms of their usually messy homes, thanks to her Netflix show “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” and her best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” The idea has taken over the world and it’s amazing how a single person can start a ripple effect. However, that’s not all the lifestyle expert has come to bless us with – apparently, organizing one’s kitchen could greatly help us lose weight, according to a study.
Decluttering has a lot of advantages, especially in our mental health. Have you ever Marie Kondo-ed your closet and feel genuinely happy afterward? Who wouldn’t be glad that you now know where to find your socks, have a space for new clothes, or to see less trash. Somehow you’ll feel lighter, as if you’ve just lessened the burden on your shoulders, which equates to lesser stress. Plus, there’s this comfort coming home from a hard day’s work to a beautifully clean and neat space.
Weight Gain and Messy Kitchen
As per a study, organizing has a really good effect not just on your mental health, but on your physical health as well. A 2016 study titled “Clutter, Chaos, and Overconsumption: The Role of Mind-Set in Stressful and Chaotic Food Environments” found that there is a link between a disorganized kitchen and snacking behavior – that is, a messy kitchen could affect one’s mindset. Not surprisingly, stressed-out participants who were placed in a messy kitchen ate more than those who were situated in a clean area.
Unsplash | It turns out that a messy kitchen has a connection with how much food we consume
Basically, a disorganized kitchen can oftentimes lead to overeating. And you know what overconsumption means – weight gain. So if you’re wondering why you’ve been adding a few pounds, then try cleaning your kitchen, you’ll be surprised to know the wonders of an organized cooking nook.
On Mental Health
Meanwhile, even before the Japanese consultant even came to light, experts have already said that decluttering is a good way to de-stress. The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals’ president, Ellen Delap, said that at the start of the process, one can already feel hope that there will be a change once the task is done. They will also feel in control, thereby lowering the stress levels, the official added.
Unsplash | Organizing your house is a good way to lower your stress levels
Clarity is what you can get when you have an organized space, which makes sense because you won’t have to think of unnecessary stuff anymore. This only brings more time for you to think about the things that really matter and what you really want to stay in your life. “The Minimalist Home” author Joshua Becker was spring cleaning when his neighbor gave him an idea to become minimalist because a lot of things were taking over his life.
On Finance
Along with the benefits of mental and physical health, it is also advantageous for our wallets. Delap explained that most times we spend on things we already have because we couldn’t remember that we already have one. For example, you’ve always been buying sugar every time you shop because you feel you don’t have anymore, but it turns out that you have packs at home. So, you can let go of duplicate things and sell them, in turn, you’ll save moolah.
Why Do People Clutter?
If all the mess makes us more stressed, then why do we do this? First, we often assign a sentimental value to the things given to us by important people in our lives or those who had passed away, which is why we can’t let things go. Second, we may feel too overwhelmed with the transitions in our lives – like a new baby, getting a new job, moving to a new house – that take too much time to even deal with other stuff like cleaning our house.
Unsplash | We tend to overlook other matters because we become overwhelmed with transitions in our lives
Online shopping also plays a role in cluttering because sometimes we buy things that aren’t necessary. Or sometimes, we buy replacement things only to find out that these were just tucked away in the garage.