8 Ways Throwing Things Away Will Improve Your Health

POPSUGAR Photography | Mario del Rio
POPSUGAR Photography | Mario del Rio

Cleaning out clutter doesn't just help your home — it can actually improve your health. While it's not necessarily our definition of fun, the benefits of throwing things away exceed just having a cleaner house; in fact, it can mean a clearer, happier mind and body. Here's why getting rid of your junk is good for you.

1. Clearing clutter clears your mind.

Clutter can have a negative impact on your ability to focus and process information. Physically clearing clutter from your life can help you feel clearer mentally as well.

2. It encourages physical activity.

The act of getting rid of things actually requires some solid physical exercise (hauling bags of junk out of your house and running up and down stairs with a vaccum cleaner is no joke). This can release endorphins in your brain that can improve your health and happiness. Additionally, cleaning out junk allows more space in your home, which means more space for you to move around and optimize your physical health.

3. It decreases stress.

Cleaning out items in your home can help you save — or even make — money, requires physical activity, and can help you appreciate what you do end up keeping even more. All of these things contribute to significant stress relief.

4. It increases your overall productivity.

When you get all of the unnecessary items out of your home and life, you spend less time looking for what you need, and your cleaning time actually decreases as well. This means that you're cutting down the time you spend every day doing things you don't necessary love, like searching for your favorite sweater or tidying up your closet. This helps you increase your productivity all around.

5. It motivates you to organize other aspects of your life.

Getting rid of what you don't need helps you declutter your home, but that mentality can carry over into other aspects of your life; it may inspire you to declutter your inbox, your car, or your desk at work.

6. Decluttering can help your allergies.

Throwing out old items and giving your home a thorough cleaning helps remove allergens from your home, which can improve your health, and can clear your head both literally and figuratively.

7. Getting rid of things is therapeutic.

While the initial act of throwing something away that you've been holding on to for years can be a bit daunting, it can actually be really rewarding to turn your home into a place you really want to be, rather than one you want to escape due to too much clutter.

8. It makes you happier.

Getting rid of what you don't need can result in a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which, combined with a decrease in stress, can greatly contribute to your overall happiness.