This morning, while I was putting on my makeup, I had a minor crisis. I couldn’t find several cosmetics I hadn’t used for a while, even after rummaging through endless toiletry bags and drawers (as you can imagine, a beauty editor’s bathroom is full of both). While frantically searching, I was reminded there is truth to the idea that chaos spreads. Once you allow clutter in one corner of your home, it kickstarts a downward spiral—and if these organizational challenges aren’t tackled when they are small, they soon become formidable. Essentially, it’s always worth taking those two minutes to put your items away neatly.
In that spirit, we may all want to take a lesson from the Japanese—and more specifically, a practice known as oosouji, a deep cleaning that is traditionally performed at the end of the year. It’s not unlike the practice of spring cleaning in other cultures, but what distinguishes oosouji is that it represents a philosophy that goes beyond just addressing physical clutter. This annual “big clean” is seen as a moment that marks an opportunity for change, and a ritual that serves to separate one year from the next: by letting go of material things to make room for new beginnings and new goals.
In short, oosouji can be understood as a physical manifestation of the “new year, new you” mindset. Yet while in Japan oosouji is traditionally performed at the end of the year, it can be used whenever you are ready for a fresh start. “Changes of seasons or years inspire us to make positive changes in our lives,” explains psychologist Pilar Guerra. “Their arrival represents a new beginning, motivating us to get rid of the old and refresh our environment. It allows us to free up physical and mental space for new experiences and opportunities.”
And although some people who are comfortable with clutter may not recognize the relationship between physical tidiness and mental clarity, the reality is that, as psychologist Laura Palomares explains, “getting rid of what is useless, resolving not to accumulate things needlessly, and adopting the practice of keeping our possessions neat and orderly generate positive feelings of self-control and discipline while improving our performance at various tasks. Having a space that is clear of clutter and with fewer stimuli creates feelings of calm and concentration. Letting go and getting rid of what we don’t need ends up being liberating as it generates feelings of empowerment and mental clarity.”
