By: Lifestyle DeskNew Delhi | November 13, 2025 09:30 PM IST 3 min readHeartbreak can often leave people feeling emotionally overwhelmed, but everyone has their own way of navigating it. While some might retreat inward or seek distraction, others look for control in the chaos.Actor Aditya Roy Kapur recently shared his rather unexpected approach to dealing with heartbreak — cleaning his wardrobe. In a conversation with Nayandeep Rakshit, Aditya said, “Cleaning is my way of dealing with heartbreak. A lot of you may roll your eyes, thinking how unusual his way of dealing with the heartbreak is.” During the same conversation, the actor also expressed his concerns about the decline in the quality of personal relationships today, noting how technology has subtly transformed our interactions. “We’re more connected than ever before, but are we truly communicating?” he asked.Story continues below this adSo, can physically decluttering or cleaning help someone cope with emotional turmoil, such as heartbreak?Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, tells indianexpress.com, “Yes, cleaning or decluttering during heartbreak can be surprisingly therapeutic. Psychologically, it offers a sense of tangible progress and control when internal emotions feel chaotic or out of hand. Engaging in physical activity like cleaning activates the body and distracts the mind, creating a sense of movement, literally and emotionally.”It taps into what’s known as ‘behavioural activation,’ a therapy concept in which small, purposeful actions help improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms.Link between organising our environment and regaining a sense of emotional controlArora explains that our external environment often mirrors our internal state. “When heartbreak hits and emotional control feels lost, organising our surroundings can offer a grounding effect. It helps restore a sense of agency and structure. It’s a two-way street, cleaning the room can help one feel better, but also maintaining a clean room keeps this cycle going,” he mentions.Simple acts like folding clothes or throwing out old belongings create small wins, reinforcing self-belief and helping tolerate distress.Story continues below this adIdentifying and leaning into healthy coping mechanisms after a breakupCoping is profoundly personal and is primarily governed by your past, Arora states, but a helpful rule of thumb is to notice whether the activity soothes without numbing. Healthy mechanisms, like journaling, exercising, therapy, reconnecting with friends, or even cleaning, tend to create emotional movement and relief without long-term harm.“Asking ‘Is this helping me heal or just helping me avoid pain?’ can guide better choices. Leaning into activities that nourish rather than deplete your emotional bandwidth is a sustainable way forward. Heartbreak hurts, but it can also open space for intentional self-care,” concludes the expert. b For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd