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Image by TOMOKO UJI
Writer's pictureVictoria Shilongo

The Importance of a Clean and Organized Living Space: Declutter for a Clear Mind and a Pure Heart


A messy, terrible, disgusting, cluttered bedroom.

Have you ever walked into a messy room and instantly felt overwhelmed, dense, unclean energy, like the walls were closing in? Now, imagine living in that clutter every single day. It’s easy to overlook, but the state of your living space has a powerful impact on your mind, emotions, and even your spiritual life.


Now what if the mess in your home is more than just a physical clutter? Could it be that your disorganized space is a reflection of the inner chaos? And what if that chaos is holding you back from experiencing peace, joy, and clarity?


Let me tell you this, A cluttered, dirty home looks terrible and disgusting—it can create a breeding ground for negative energy, leading to feelings of depression, anxiety, and a sense of being stuck. It is a simple way to give legal access to demonic entities to oppress you nice nice.


When our homes are in disorder, it’s as if our minds and hearts are too. We may start to feel overwhelmed by the mess, trapped by our surroundings, and disconnected from the peace and presence of God.


I know this all too well. There was a time when I went three months without cleaning my house. The mess piled up, and so did my feelings of sadness and depression. The energy in my home was heavy and dark, and I couldn’t focus or feel at peace. 


One day, I decided to take action. I started by clearing away just one corner, then another, and before I knew it, I had decluttered my entire space. I learned a hard lesson on the importance of a clean and organized living space.

The difference was mind blowing. My mood lifted, my mind felt clearer, and I felt a renewed sense of connection with God. It was like a dark cloud had been lifted from my life.


A clean, orderly, elegant and tranquil bedroom.

Think of life as a huge, open-world video game, where you’re the main character navigating through levels, quests, and challenges. As you progress through life—whether it’s at school, work, or home—you pick up “items” along the way. These items might be physical possessions, emotional baggage, or mental clutter. At first, they seem helpful, like armour or tools you might need for the next challenge. But over time, as you keep accumulating more and more things, you start to feel weighed down.


Imagine walking through life with a backpack that’s overflowing with stuff. In the beginning, you could move quickly, take on challenges with ease, and enjoy the game. But as your backpack fills with things you don’t really need—like old resentments towards your dad for abandoning you, or your mum always comparing you to other girls, the rejection you feel at times, unused possessions in your room that you hoard such as clothes, make-up, and unresolved stress—it becomes harder to move forward. 


You start feeling stuck, sluggish, and overwhelmed. It’s like every step takes more effort, and the joy of the journey is replaced by the burden of your excess baggage.


Decluttering is the moment you pause the game and go into your inventory. You take a good, hard look at everything you’ve been carrying thus far and ask yourself: "Do I really need this? Is this helping me on my journey?" You start to drop the unnecessary items—clothes you haven’t worn in years, emotional burdens you’ve held onto for too long, and distractions that keep you from focusing on what really matters.


As you clear out the clutter, your load becomes lighter. You begin to feel a sense of relief and freedom. Suddenly, it’s easier to see the path ahead. You have more energy to face the next level, more clarity about the mission God has set for you, and you have more space for new opportunities and blessings.


In the game of life, decluttering your space and mind allows you to level up. It removes the obstacles that were slowing you down, it refocuses your energy on what’s truly important, and prepares you for the next big challenge to come. You’re no longer held back by the weight of the past or the distractions of unnecessary possessions. Instead, you move forward with purpose, equipped with only the essentials that help you grow, thrive, and win the game of life.


Just like in a video game, life rewards those who periodically assess what they’re carrying and make space for the new. Every time you declutter—whether it’s your physical environment or your mental and emotional space—you’re resetting your character for success in the next stage of life.

You’re clearing the path for clarity, peace, and growth, and positioning yourself to fulfil your God-given purpose with a clear mind and pure heart. It truly helps you avoid making silly, unnecessary mistakes, remember time is of the essence here.


A young woman in a serene, peaceful living space, engaging in a spiritual practice.

Our bodies and minds are temples of the Holy Spirit, and maintaining a clean space is a reflection of our commitment to God.


Decluttering can be seen as a form of worship and stewardship. By creating an orderly environment, we show respect for the space God has blessed us with and prepare a welcoming place for His presence.

The Deep Connection Between Your Space and Your Spirit


The Spiritual Impact of Clutter: Clutter is more than a physical issue—it’s a spiritual one. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that "God is not a God of disorder but of peace." When our living spaces are chaotic, it can create a barrier to experiencing God’s peace and presence. A cluttered home can lead to a cluttered heart, making it difficult to focus on prayer, meditation, and other spiritual practices. This is our call to orderly worship.


Think of your connection to God like a Wi-Fi signal. When your space is clear and organized, the signal is strong, and you can connect easily with God—like having full bars of Wi-Fi, where everything flows smoothly. But when your space is cluttered, it’s like interference disrupting the signal. The clutter weakens your connection, making it harder to feel God's presence, like trying to connect to Wi-Fi with poor reception—it’s frustrating, slow, and unreliable.


By clearing the clutter, you strengthen your "spiritual Wi-Fi," allowing you to connect more deeply and easily with God, experiencing His peace and guidance without interference.


Psychological Insights: Studies have shown that cluttered environments can increase stress levels and negatively affect mental health. According to Psychology Today (2023), clutter can overwhelm the brain, making it difficult to process information and focus on tasks. It’s no wonder that when our homes are messy, our minds feel messy too.


Think of your home as a mirror of your inner world. Just as a mirror reflects what it sees, your living space reflects the state of your mind and spirit. When your home is cluttered, it reflects inner chaos. But when it’s clean and orderly, it reflects peace, clarity, and a sense of purpose. ( I promise I am not making all of this up.)


A messy, disorganized living room with so much clutter

The Benefits and Importance of a Clean and Organized Living Space

Mental Clarity: A clean space promotes mental clarity and reduces stress. When you declutter your home, you create an environment that supports focus, creativity, and productivity. You’ll find it easier to think clearly, make decisions with ease, and tackle your daily tasks without procrastination.


Emotional Well-being: A tidy home promotes emotional well-being. It creates a sense of calm and control, helping to take away the feelings of anxiety and depression. When your environment is peaceful, it’s easier to manage your emotions and maintain a positive outlook on life.


Spiritual Growth: A clean home is conducive to spiritual growth. It provides a peaceful atmosphere where you can connect with God, pray, meditate, and study scripture without distractions. When your space is in order, it’s easier to hear God’s voice and feel His presence.


Think of your living space as fertile soil. Just as plants thrive in well-tended soil, your mind, body, and spirit thrive in a well-tended environment. When you remove the weeds of clutter and disorder, you create the perfect conditions for growth, peace, and spiritual fruitfulness.


A clean, well kept orderly living room.


Practical Strategies to Declutter and Maintain a Clean Space

1. Start with a Vision: Before you begin decluttering, take a moment to envision how you want your space to look and feel. This vision will serve as your motivation and guide throughout the process. Imagine walking into a clean, organized home where everything has its place, and you feel calm and at peace.


2. Break It Down: Decluttering can be overwhelming, so start small. Tackle one room or even one corner at a time. Set a timer for 15 minutes and see how much you can accomplish. Breaking the task into manageable steps makes it less daunting and more achievable.


3. The "Keep, Donate, Discard" Method: As you go through your belongings, ask yourself whether each item adds value to your life. If it does, keep it. If it could benefit someone else, donate it and bless someone in need. If it’s no longer useful, throw it away my love. This method helps you make thoughtful decisions about what to keep and what to let go of.


4. Develop Daily Habits: Incorporate small habits into your daily routine to maintain a clean space. Make your bed each morning, do a quick tidy-up before bed, and put things back where they belong after use. Sweep your place everyday, clean the kitchen countertops and never sleep with dishes in the sink. I sometimes get lazy and put the dishes in the fridge, please don’t do like me. These simple habits prevent clutter from accumulating and keep your space in order.


5. Welcome Mindful Living: Be intentional about what you bring into your home. Before purchasing or accepting new items, ask yourself if they truly add value to your life. Focus on quality over quantity and let go of anything that doesn’t serve a purpose. I keep additional things in the store room until I make space for them inside the house. I may have to clear out something first even.


The Concept of Minimalism

1. Freedom from Materialism

  • Liberation from Excess stuff: Minimalism encourages living with fewer possessions, focusing on what truly adds value to your life. This approach reduces the burden of maintaining and organizing numerous items, freeing up time and energy for more meaningful pursuits (The Cleaning Authority).


  • Spiritual Insight: Christ Jesus led a minimalist lifestyle, ready to move and serve at any moment. He taught that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions but in being rich towards God (Luke 12:15 Beware, guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own).


2. Practical Benefits

  • Time Management: Less clutter means less time spent cleaning and organizing, giving you more time for other important activities like being about our father’s business.

  • Ease of Movement: Living with fewer items is like carrying a light backpack on a journey—liberating and freeing, allowing you to focus on your path without unnecessary burdens.


Spiritual Practice: As you declutter, invite God into the process. Pray for guidance, clarity, and strength as you let go of the physical and emotional clutter in your life. Reflect on Matthew 6:19-21, where Christ Jesus teaches about storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Let this be a reminder to focus on what truly matters which is love, peace, and our connection to God.


Remember how I mentioned going three months without cleaning my house? When I finally decided to take action, the transition was incredible. As I cleared away the clutter, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. My mood improved, my mind felt clearer, and my connection with God was restored. The energy in my home shifted from negative to positive, and I experienced a renewed sense of peace and purpose.


Think of your home as a sanctuary—a sacred space where you can retreat from the world and connect with God. Just as you would care for a place of worship, care for your home with love and reverence knowing that the Holy Spirit of God resides there. Keep it clean, orderly, and filled with positive energy, so it can be a place of refuge and renewal.


Steps to de-cluttering

Tips and Hacks for Maintaining a Clean, Orderly and Peaceful Living Space

  1. The 10-Minute Tidy-Up:

    • Set a timer for 10 minutes at the end of each day and do a quick sweep of your living space. Focus on clearing surfaces, putting away stray items, and giving the room a quick once-over. This daily habit prevents clutter from building up and keeps your space consistently tidy.

  2. Declutter One Drawer at a Time:

    • Instead of overwhelming yourself with large decluttering projects, start small. Pick one drawer, shelf, or corner to declutter each week. This makes the process manageable and encourages you to keep going.

  3. The “One In, One Out” Rule:

    • For every new item you bring into your home, commit to removing one old item. This helps maintain balance and prevents your space from becoming overcrowded with unnecessary things.

  4. Use Baskets and Bins for Quick Clean-Ups:

    • Keep baskets or bins in key areas of your home for quick clean-ups. When you’re in a rush, toss items into the bin to be sorted later. This keeps your space looking neat even when you’re pressed for time.

  5. Create a Cleaning Schedule:

    • Develop a weekly cleaning schedule that breaks down tasks into daily chores. For example, dedicate Mondays to dusting, Tuesdays to vacuuming, Wednesdays to laundry, etc. This prevents cleaning from becoming overwhelming and ensures every part of your home is regularly maintained.

  6. Keep Surfaces Clear:

    • Adopt a minimalist approach to surfaces like countertops, desks, and tables. Keep them as clear as possible, only displaying a few essential or decorative items. This not only makes cleaning easier but also creates a more peaceful, uncluttered atmosphere that is aesthetically pleasing. Have you seen how wealthy people’s homes have less stuff? It is poor people that hoard and have excess stuff they don't need due to a scarcity mindset. (I say this truth with all due humility. let me know what are your thoughts in the comment section)

  7. Incorporate Mindfulness:

    • Turn cleaning into a mindfulness practice. Focus on the task at hand, whether it’s washing dishes, folding laundry, or sweeping the floor. This can be a meditative experience that helps you stay present and appreciate the act of caring for your home.

  8. Aromatherapy for a Fresh Space:

    • Use natural essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, or lemon in your cleaning routine. Add a few drops to your mop water, or use a diffuser to spread calming scents throughout your home. This cleans your space and also uplifts your mood. Double bonus if you ask me.

  9. Decluttering Party:

    • Make decluttering fun by turning it into a social event. Invite a friend or family member over, put on some upbeat music, and tackle a decluttering project together. This makes the process less daunting and more enjoyable.

  10. Gratitude Practice:

    • As you clean, take a moment to express gratitude for the items you’re caring for and the space you’re nurturing.Remember God has made us stewards and He evaluates to see you manage the resources entrusted to you. If you are not grateful, He allows for them to be taken away by the devourer. 

    • Let this shift your mindset from seeing cleaning as a chore to viewing it as an act of love and stewardship.

Bonus Tips

  • Digital Declutter: Don’t forget to declutter your digital space as well. Organize files, delete unnecessary emails, and clean up your phone’s apps and photos. A decluttered digital life contributes to a clearer mind.


I would recommend that you view maintaining a clean and organized living space as more than just a chore, rather that it’s an act of self-care, spiritual discipline, and love. It creates an environment that supports mental clarity, emotional well-being, and spiritual growth.


I encourage you to take a moment today to reflect on your living space. Is it a place of peace and order, or is it filled with clutter and chaos? Choose one area to declutter, and notice how it transforms not just your home, but your mind and spirit as well.


Remember my darling, A clean home is a clear mind, and a clear mind is a pure heart. When you care for your space, you’re caring for yourself and honoring the peace and order that God desires for your life.


 Let your home be a reflection of the inner peace and joy that comes from living in alignment with God’s will.


As always, remain faithful. I love you on high and God loves you even more.

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