The world can be a stressful place. Making your home a refuge from chaos and clutter can reduce stress while making it easier to find your keys, cellphone and essential papers when you need them. It can also improve your health by helping you keep your home clean and free of items that could cause you to trip and fall.

Clear Your Clutter
This spring, take a weekend to put away, discard, recycle, donate or sell things that are getting in your way. To tackle your mess on your own, these questions can help you decide whether to keep, discard or donate something:
- When was the last time I used it?
- Do I still like it?
- Does it work or need repair?
- Do I have others like this? If so, how many do I need?

While you’re at it this spring, take some time at work to declutter your work area. Tidy spaces have been shown to help us feel more relaxed. Experts have also found that they enhance our ability to pay attention to what matters.

Set Priorities
After your space is clutter-free, spring clean your calendar too. Planning can seem like a luxury, but those who swear by it say it’s not — and it doesn’t have to involve fancy calendars or apps (though they can help).

One of the simplest ways to start planning is to sit quietly for 10 minutes first thing in the morning (or the night before) and identify your most important goal. You get a clear picture of what you need to do — and gain the satisfaction of accomplishment once you’ve completed it.

Clear Your Mind
When your home and workspace are neater and you’ve achieved your day’s goal, take a break. Even a five-minute walk helps to brush away mental cobwebs. You’ll come back to work refreshed and ready to dive into your next task.

Taking steps to clear your clutter is well worth your time and effort.

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