We just took down our Christmas cards and decorations (except for a few Epiphany things) and several people commented on what a stilling effect it had.
Our surroundings have a huge impact on us physically, mentally and spiritually. It's well known that cluttered surroundings can cause stress, depression and tiredness. On the flip side, uncluttered surroundings help us sleep better, help us feel more rested and peaceful, help us stress less because we can find things easily, help us think more clearly, feel more alert, and keep us in a more positive mood.
It can be difficult to keep every room in the house clutter free if you have children or live with a very messy person but millions of people testify to the fact that doing what you can where you can to declutter has a hugely positive effect on our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
Spiritually speaking, an uncluttered room helps us avoid distractions and helps us enter into prayer more easily. A lot of people have told me how they pray better when their surroundings are tidy and uncluttered. It helps them quieten down internally somehow. Many people find that clutter and untidyness is a form of 'noise' in a way.
Our surroundings are linked with our spiritual lives in other ways too. What we own and how much we own can say something about our priorities and our relationship with God. Sometimes we can get to a point where we feel we own too much as a Christian so we give a few things away. How we look after our belongings is also a part of our spiritual lives. If we see our possessions as gifts from God with which to glorify God, using them well, taking good care of them and keeping them tidy are all forms of worship.
Is there an area of your home that needs decluttering or tidying? How about having a go at doing something about it then noticing what difference the tidier uncluttered area makes to you physically, mentally and spiritually? The KonMari method of decluttering has helped thousands of people in recent years. Perhaps looking it up on the internet might be a help to you.
Does it make a difference to you to view looking after your belongings well, not owning things to excess, and keeping your belongings tidy as forms of worship?