How To Be Happy #17: There's a reason to clean up your room
Where you hang out has an impact on your happiness.
What the environment around you looks like matters.
Obviously, you can’t change your house, your street or your school too much. But you can change something.
Please don’t hate me. I’m going to tell you to clean your room.
There’s research behind this. It actually is a thing. I’m not in a vast, global conspiracy with your parents and the parents of every person who uses this journal. (Or am I? Ha ha ha... No. Jokes. I’m not. Really.)
Here’s the thing. It’s not just cleaning up, although that’s important. It’s actually getting rid of things that you don’t need or want or use any more. Things that don’t need to be part of your life any more.
Simply, decluttering will make you happier.
Having a messy room, full of old bits and pieces and stuff from years ago is a downer. Not clearing out is like hanging on to the past. Do you want to be there? Or do you want to be focusing on what’s important now and planning for the future.
A messy room adds stress and pressure to your brain. Have you ever been on holidays and stayed in a motel room? Whenever I walk into a clear, tidy hotel room with no clutter I feel instantly relaxed and peaceful.
I know your mum probably yells, “Clean your room” at you all the time, (which is very possibly a reason you just don’t want to do it) but give it a go one time. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel.
And you don’t have to throw out all your stuff, especially not if you’re worried about it. Just pack things up in boxes for now (but then get the boxes either in the cupboard or under the bed – you don’t want them to be seen.) You’ll find out what you can live without and what you really want to keep.
While you’re at it, open the windows, let the natural light in your room, and turn off the screens.
A clear, beautiful space, helps with a clear, beautiful, happy life. Give it a try.
What does your room look like? Are you cluttered and messy? Can you work out why? What would you like your ideal room to look like?
Look at your stuff. Do you really need it? Make a list of all the things you have but you don’t need or use. Action: can you clear and clean up one part of your room today?
Want more on how to be happy? Check out the rest of Cecily Paterson's How To Be Happy blog series for more tips and advice. Want more of Cecily's writing? You can grab a free copy of her novel, Invisible here.