Baycrest

Spring into cleaning I t's time once again for the annual spring cleaning, when we look for ways to refresh and declutter our homes. The yearly cleaning ritual can be rewarding and important for our state of mind. In a clean space we feel calm, focused and able to concentrate. Order feels good – with less mental stimuli to distract us, we feel peace of mind and serenity. On the other hand, clutter overloads our senses and saps our mental energy. A disorganized environment takes our attention away from what's important. Clutter makes it difficult to focus, leaving us tired and feeling stressed. When it comes to decluttering, many of us find it overwhelming and a challenge to know where to start. For seniors in particular, the task can be especially difficult as belongings may have accumulated over many years. "It is normal to have a certain amount of clutter, and it is not uncommon for older adults to hang onto their belongings," says Nira Rittenberg, occupational therapist at Baycrest Health Sciences. "A cherished object may be one that elicits vivid memories of personal experiences and the emotions that occurred with them. For some seniors, getting rid of a treasured object may be experienced as losing the memory of the actual event." There could also be a resistance to decluttering as it often relates to closing chapters in our lives. If you have elderly parents, you may recognize that it's time for them to downsize and move into a smaller home. You might wish to speak with a parent about this transitional time in life and discuss their various options. But what is the right approach? "People often declutter when preparing for a move, but downsizing is an emotional and complicated topic," says Rittenberg. "While it may be an important and necessary conversation, book a time to have a talk with your parent when you can deal with those issues separately." For some people, it can be a practical issue and they may need assistance facing this overwhelming chore. We all know what it is like to tackle a big project no matter what age we are, but it can be especially strenuous and challenging for older adults. "...individuals have trouble admitting they have too much stuff..." 10 BrainMatters SPRING 2017 TIPS TO HELP DECLUTTER AND GAIN PEACE OF MIND • Break large, overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. • Divide your space into distinct zones and work through these areas one at a time. • Sort everything into categories, such as keep, sell, give away or trash/recycle. • For belongings that you keep, group like-items together, and label your boxes to help you stay organized and find what you need at a later date. • Designate a place for each item you keep, and return them to their places each time they are used. • Sell unwanted items at a garage sale or donate them to a charity.

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