BY ZOE ALDRIDGE

According to a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) study conducted by the Center on Everyday Lives of Families (CELF), we’re drowning in stuff. The researchers found that clutter leads to stress – especially for women. “Women who characterize their homes as restful, restorative, or tidy had lower stress levels,” says Jeanne Arnold (UCLA professor, and founding faculty member of the CELF project). But the mess doesn’t stop there. Clutter also decreases productivity, fosters confusion, increases irritability, zaps energy, and leads to weight gain – yes, weight gain.

Hebrews 12:1 teaches that “we must get rid of everything that slows us down” (God’s Word Translation). That Scripture doesn’t only apply to sin; it applies to all things – including the clutter in our heads, hearts, and homes. If your “stuff” is keeping you from living a satisfying life, you’ve got some de-cluttering to do.