Our living spaces have a powerful impact on our mental well-being. Chaotic environments can deplete our energy, strain our physical health and heighten our stress levels. The same is true in a cluttered, disorganized prison cell.
Clutter and chaos drain us after long days of working in the prison kitchen, spending our social energy with others and navigating the harsh terrain of the prison landscape. We suffer from burnout, decision fatigue and mental exhaustion. And processing our stressors during lockdown periods, when we have time to relax or unwind, is hard to do if our cells are visually disorganized.
Instead of waiting until next year to spring clean, let’s start now by redesigning our cells to make them fully functional. Just like in the free world, we must establish a system of tidying up that works for us and our cellmates. In that spirit, I offer the following tips:
- Sometimes decluttering requires that we discard unneeded items collected over the years. Many people hang on to collectible items and things of sentimental value, such as magazines, old photos, newspaper clippings, clothing, electronics and letters. It’s important that we sift through these items and let go of the clutter we no longer connect with. If you don’t need old bottles, discard them. Avoid getting stuck in the habit of saving a used Ajax or laundry detergent bottle for later use. It’s not worth it.
- Whatever is deemed important should be prioritized and given proper space. Most of us live in small spaces, so we want to use it to the best of our abilities. Make shelves out of cardboard and use these shelves to store condiments, hygiene products and accessories.
- Inside your storage lockers, use cardboard cutouts to make dividers. This will help you store stuff more neatly and create space.
- Fold your clothes and store them under your mattress.
- Never run cords across your floor. Instead, buy extension cords, then tape them across your ceilings and down the walls.
Being organized can help you feel more like yourself when you start your day each morning. When we take time to assemble our cells into spaces of maximum usability, it’s more than just performing a task — it’s a form of care that turns your cell into your home.
Look around your cell and let it reveal where you are mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Clean up. You’re not crazy, you’re disorganized. Make the decision now to honor your cell as your home. If you make it one, it can be a place of rest, where you can dream bigger.
