It is March which means spring is coming! And when spring is coming that means spring break is coming too! Before you head home you should start to sort through your dorm room to get rid of any clutter. But getting rid of things doesn’t mean you have to throw it in the garbage… That’s why a dorm drive is being held! Everything from clothes, non-perishable food items, unopened hygiene products, and other unused items, are acceptable.
But why is cleaning important?
Benefits of Spring Cleaning: 5 Ways it Improves Mental Health
When the sun starts shining brighter and setting later, it signals the start of cleaning up your living space. Clinical psychologist Dawn Potter, PsyD, tells the Cleveland Clinic, “We have this idea that spring is a time to clean, which may be, in part, because spring has always been a time of renewal and rebirth.” After a long, cold winter, your body gets energized with the return of warmer weather.
1. You Feel Accomplished
After finishing something you started, it’s normal to feel proud of yourself. This euphoric feeling helps reduce tension.
2. Eliminates Stress
Many people use cleaning as a way to destress, Dr. Potter explains; “Sometimes, if you’re faced with other problems that you can’t address at the time, or if you’re just feeling overwhelmed, you may find that cleaning helps you restore a sense of control.”
3. Peaceful Feelings
With the sense of control you obtained from organizing your space, you establish peace of mind. Once you’ve cleaned there’s no need to stress anymore.
4. Improves Focus
While working at home it is easy to get distracted by the environment around you, which includes any clutter in your space. “The distraction of clutter can be worse for people who are already struggling to keep themselves focused,” Dr. Potter says.
5. Fighting Depression
The Cleveland Clinic states, “A 2010 study shows that people who describe their homes as “cluttered” or full of unfinished projects were more likely to suffer from depression and fatigue than those who describe their homes as “restful” and “restorative.”’
The mental push of cleaning your room may help bring up your mood. Cleaning can give you a reason to be proud of yourself, upping your morale and energy.
After cleaning your living space and gathering items you don’t want/need, listed below are locations you can take them to.
Where You Can Drop Off Your Items
You can find the boxes labeled dorm drive in the following residential halls:
- Casey/Smith Tower
- Randall Hall
- Dragon Hall
Why Not Throw It Out?
Tossing away your old items might be the easiest option to get rid of them, but donating them could help someone who is in need. An item you might see as having no more use could be something someone else desperately needs, but doesn’t have the proper resources to purchase it.
Cortland has a population of about 17,000, as of 2023, and only about half of the population is employed. A 2020 study showed that out of the 18,633 residents, 9,120 were employed, with a poverty rate of 23.2%.
According to the Daily Sentinel, Cortland Police Chief Paul Sandy says the following about 2022; “This year has seen the biggest rise in homelessness by far”. The article also states, “Cortland’s homeless population is the largest that Deputy Police Chief David Guerrera has seen in years. ‘“We’re constantly getting calls about homeless people.”’
Where Are Your Items Going?
On Friday, March 11th the donations are going to be dropped off at a pop-up event in McGraw Village, Cortland County, NY. This event is being held by the mutual aid group: Mutual Aid of The Finger Lakes. Please remember to donate if you can!