Rearranging a cupboard or room can be as good as a vacation. Okay maybe not, but bear with me…
This started off as a personal experience post, but then I did a bit of digging and found it’s surprisingly common. I mean, I’m a little disappointed I didn’t invent it, but it’s also nice to feel validated and I feel good sharing this simple yet effective stress hack.
Cleaning is good for the soul. (Huh?)
Okay so not cleaning specifically. Well, it might be if you’re Monica from Friends, but in this respect I am talking more about rearranging or reorganising. I am a room changer. When my boyfriend comes home and find the living room different, or the bed facing a new direction his first question is, “Is everything okay?”
This is because when I have a really bad day or my head is particularly cluttered, I tend to rearrange. It honestly works wonders. Once I am done, I feel productive, rested and surprisingly focused. I feel content.
Turns out, it’s nothing new. Many articles on Psychology argue that an impact on your environment—whether an imprint or a removal—lifts your mood, provides concrete satisfaction, and instills a sense of effectiveness. Inner and outer harmony happen when pieces are placed in a way that makes sense for you.
Making sense of it.
It makes sense when you think about feng shui.
“What feng shui decorating means is that you create an environment that has the best energy to support the specific activity, or activities intended for that space.” (Rodika Tchi)
To simplify this, I believe it gives us a sense of control when things seem chaotic. Even something as simple as changing the layout of a room can help you get much-needed perspective.
Recently I bought some pantry jars and spent a few hours tipping all my spices out of random jars and into synchronised ones. I am in love with the result and honestly, after an emotional melt-down at work, it was the therapy I needed.
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*This is not an ad, just thought you might like to know where it came from!
I’m not suggesting there is any real science to back this up, but if you haven’t already got the rearrange in your repertoire of “when I’m stressed” hacks, it might be time to give it a try.