Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganisation drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus. But research shows disorganisation and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains. My own research shows our physical environments significantly influence our cognition, emotions and subsequent behaviours, including our relationships with others.īursting cupboards and piles of paper stacked around the house may seem harmless enough. It can also make us less productive, triggering coping and avoidance strategies that make us more likely to snack on junk and watch TV shows (including ones about other people decluttering their lives). Clutter can affect our anxiety levels, sleep, and ability to focus. The decluttering craze is led by Japanese tidying aficionado Marie Kondo, author of a New York Times bestseller and Netflix show, Tidying Up.Ĭharity groups such as St Vincent de Paul are reporting a 38% increase in donations, year on year, as we get rid of the clothes, books and household items that don’t ‘spark joy’ or have a place in our future.Īnd there is good reason to get on board, whether it’s via the KonMari method, or just having a good clear-out. Many of us have started the year determined to be more organised: no more drawers full of plastic containers with missing lids, or lone socks. This article is part 1 of a 2-part series.An expert in organisational behaviour examines the effects disorganisation.ĭisorganisation and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains, which like order. What are you waiting for? Take these positive steps towards filling your life with meaning and possibility! In the end, decluttering is the first step to creating more open space both physically and in your mind - enabling your mind to sharpen, focus better and lead to you taking better care of other aspects of life. The study found that the amount of stress the families experienced at home was directly proportional to the amount of stuff they possessed. Ī study by UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives and Families (CELF) explored the relationship between 32 families and the thousands of objects in their homes and concluded that clutter has a strong effect on mood and self-esteem. Neuroscientists at Princeton University found that physical clutter in your surroundings competes for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress. What about that jumble of excess stuff around you? Research has shown that physical clutter affects our brain’s ability to concentrate and process information. It can mean your vision is clouded, as your mind is moving in different directions at once, adding to your stress level when very little gets done. Have you ever noticed how much clearer and focused your mind is when it is not cluttered? A cluttered mind is restless and unfocused. It can be something physical like books and clothes, but clutter can also be mental and emotional. Most importantly, it prevents us from doing what is most important to us. Are you constantly late or unprepared, often stressed and find yourself moving in all directions in order to get things done? Do you struggle to find items when you need them? Disorganisation can come from having lots of physical and mental clutter in their lives, whether they are attachments, fears, old letters or clothes.īy decluttering your mind and physical space, you can increase your focus and free your mind to get things done and enjoy life along the wayĬlutter is anything that we don’t need or use that saps our time, energy and space.
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