Minimalism for Mental Health: 7 Simple Ways Decluttering Reduces Anxiety

This post is all about minimalism for mental health, and the real mental health benefits of minimalism.

Before I started on my minimalist living journey, I always felt a nagging feeling.

This feeling was deep in my bones, instinctual, if you will.

I thought that by simply focusing on cleaning and organizing, the itch would be scratched and all would be wonderful.

But, spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

Despite the countless organizational bins I invested in, everything still just felt like too much.

And then I had an epiphany.

The best way I can put it is, I realized that I was carrying around a heavy weight that could only be lightened by getting rid of things I didn’t use, or things that didn’t bring me joy.

Let me also preface this by saying, It’s been an ongoing adventure for me, and my journey hasn’t been completely linear.

I still get the urge to do some serious retail therapy, and moments when I admittedly feel like buying that one thing will miraculously make me feel so much better and fix all my problems.

But, as time goes on, I continue to come back to my minimalist core and realization that the only true calm I feel is when I am living a minimalist lifestyle and holding on to less stuff.

Along with the satisfaction and gratification I get, comes a peace of mind and mental shift.

So, let’s get into the actual perks of minimalism for mental health that I, along with many other minimalists, have experienced.

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1. Minimalism Creates Space in Your Life to Focus on What You Love

Living a minimalist lifestyle means having more time to do what you love.

You don’t actually realize how much time is taken up by shopping for things you don’t really need and cleaning cluttered surfaces.

Instead of spending my spare time shopping, which I used to do a lot, I have had more time to embark on new hobbies (like this blog!)

If you are a clean freak like me and prioritize a clean home, decluttering will inevitably cut your cleaning time in half.

The simple truth is: the less stuff you have, the less stuff there is to clean.

This goes for all things that collect dust such as furniture pieces, decor pieces, clothes, etc.

Freeing up your time and utilizing that extra time to do things you enjoy doing reduces anxiety immensely.

2. Decluttering for More Storage Space Supports Better Mental Health

Many people who stress about not having enough space are actually the people who just have too much stuff.

By decluttering and living a more minimalist lifestyle, you will start to notice how much more space you have, and thus be happier with where you’re at.

Even after an initial purge, you might notice that you have cleaned out a certain drawer to the point where you can condense and merge items from elsewhere.

This can be especially helpful if you live in a small home or apartment, or a space that just doesn’t have a lot of storage.

BTW, this post outlines exactly how I used minimalism to make my studio apartment feel bigger.

The less stuff you have, the less things you have to find ways to store.

Not to mention, most of the stuff people put in storage, they really don’t use in the first place (with a few exceptions).

So, declutter and watch how much less you stress about having enough room in your home.

3. Minimalism Reduces Financial Stress and Boosts Mental Health

Many people convert to minimalism for the simple fact that it will save them a lot of money.

But what happens after you save the money and actually start to harvest the wealth is where the magic happens.

The more money you save through living minimally, the more wealth you have, and the more you will (hopefully) begin to transition to an abundance mindset.

This means you will start to shift focus from a scarcity mindset to the belief that there are sufficient resources, and overall lead a more fulfilling life.

While money isn’t a fix-all for your problems, it definitely makes things easier.

Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, the harsh reality is that wealthy people don’t have to worry about a lot of the burdens people who are just getting by have to deal with.

The additional money saved by living minimally will help to offset this.

With all that being said, the thousands of dollars in a year I save from a minimalism lifestyle alone is enough reason in itself to make me just a little happier!

4. Reduce Decision Fatigue Through Minimalism For Better Mental Health

One of the greatest perks of minimalism that I have personally experienced is the reduction in decision fatigue.

Things as simple as picking out an outfit or decorating a furniture piece in my home led to me freezing and procrastinating.

Something I’ve noticed in myself, and many others too, is that when presented with a bunch of options, I get extremely overwhelmed.

To the point where when I go out to eat at a restaurant, I can’t stand when the menu has more than one page of food choices.

It’s so much harder to narrow down what you actually want when you are presented with, or surrounded by, a whole lot of everything all at once.

I used to feel the same way when I opened up my closet that was exploding with clothes.

Ironically enough, studies show that people who have more clothes, typically reach for their go-to items on a more regular basis than people who have less stuff altogether, because they are (either consciously or subconsciously) trying to avoid the decision fatigue.

Why not eliminate that altogether and curate a capsule wardrobe that encapsulates your signature style and doesn’t require you to stress daily about what you’re going to wear?

For help finding your signature style, be sure to check out this post.

We live in a world with enough decisions, why not reduce some of the ones you can control?

5. Decluttering Your Physical Space Supports Better Mental Health

There have been a ton of studies conducted over the years and they all point to the same conclusion.

A clutter free environment lessens mental clutter.

When your environment is packed full of stuff, for many people, it tranlates to an internal feeling of “busy” and unease.

In comparison, a clean, clutter-free space has a calming effect.

A lot of times in a minimalist home, you will find that they just seem lighter and brighter.

While this can obviously depend on the color of the walls, a lot of times it is because more wall is visible and you can actually see the light colored walls.

The walls aren’t crowded with frames or covered by furniture pieces.

Just simple, open spaces that feel uninterrupted, not busy, and therefore peaceful.

6. Minimalism Improves Focus and Productivity

Have you ever tried to focus on a single task when everything around you is a mess?

It’s pretty much impossible for me.

There’s a scientific reason for this and it basically comes down to cognitive neuroscience and environmental psychology.

But, in short, when your surroundings have physical clutter, the clutter competes for your attention.

By keeping your space clean and minimal, your reduce the visual noise and environmental stimulation, making it is easier to concentrate and be productive.

7. Minimalism and Mental Health: The Powerful Realization That Changes Everything

Minimalism has completely changed the way I view so many aspects of my life.

Relationships, friendships, fitness, diet, and even spiritual beliefs.

I truly do feel like less is more in every sense, and quality over quantity is what’s important.

I am proud to be happy with less, and my minimalist lifestyle has consequently given me a feeling of enlightening.

In a world of chaos and overconsumption, it’s an achievement to learn to be satisfied with less.

As cheesy as it sounds, most people think they just need more stuff to be happy, but I know that true happiness actually comes from within.

So, give it a try for yourself and experience the instant benefits of minimalism for mental health.

Check out my Amazon Storefront with all my favorite minimalist home finds.

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How to Become a Minimalist – The Insanely EASY Guide to Declutter Your Life