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Have you ever known people who declutter to relieve stress, or do you sometimes do it yourself without really knowing why it works? Decluttering and organizing to reduce stress are popular activities to cope with emotional difficulties, and in this two-part series, I propose some explanations for why they are so effective.

In Part 1, I talked about the following:

1. Reducing the amount of stuff in your life can literally feel like unburdening yourself.
2. You are letting go of the past.
3. You feel like you are opening space for positive possibilities.

Here are a few more reasons why organizing stress relief is so effective.

4. Movement can help curb emotion.

Do you ever notice when you are stressed out, anxious or angry, it can help to engage in some kind of repetitive movement, like walking, rocking yourself, or so on? These behaviors are extra pronounced in many people on the autistic spectrum, but they are common among neurotypical people as well.

I once read an explanation where someone said that at any one time, the body and mind seem to be balancing three main circuits of activity: thinking, emotion, and movement. When your emotions overwhelm you, it is hard to think rationally. Engaging in a simple, repetitive movement can help turn down the emotional volume by forcibly engaging a circuit you can control, almost like a physical version of a mantra. Your mind then clears so you can think again.

Cleaning, decluttering and organizing are very movement-based activities, and can involve a lot of repetition. I think they therefore can function much like walking, pacing or stimming for calming down emotions.

5. You give your mind something to focus on.

Decluttering and organizing demand thought and attention, but not too much thought and attention. They can distract you from your problems without being so overwhelming as to be inaccessible when you are emotionally distraught. In other words, they help you stop thinking about your anxiety, which in turn may reduce it.

6. You remind yourself of what is important in your life.

A lot of people focus on the aspect of letting go and throwing things away while decluttering, but you may find yourself just as focused on what you are keeping. You may give time, attention and care to neglected objects that have a deep significance to you. This can put you back in touch with parts of yourself that are vital to reconnect with.

7. You exercise your creativity.

Finally, with organizing in particular, you will need to come up with elegant storage solutions which are both aesthetically appealing and functional. That means that you will be working your imagination and tapping into your innovative potential. This not only can be a great feeling on its own, but may help you come up with solutions to the problems which are plaguing you.

You now have a better understanding of the psychological benefits of decluttering and organizing. Next time you are feeling stressed out, try having a clear out. You may find it very therapeutic!