If You Want to Declutter Your Mind, Start With Your Home

When spending time in your home or workspace, how often does it occur to you that there’s just too much "stuff?" What thoughts and emotions does this awareness bring up?

Physical clutter in our home and work environments actually has a significant impact on our mental health. Clutter is linked to stress and anxiety, as well as depression. Research shows that levels of the stress hormone cortisol are higher in people whose home environments are cluttered. Sustained elevated cortisol levels can lead to chronic stress and decreased immune system function, along with anxiety and depression.

You may believe that you’re unbothered by clutter—defined as a crowded or disorganized mass or collection that impedes movement and/or reduces effectiveness—but its effects can operate beneath the surface of conscious awareness. A Princeton University Neuroscience Institute study used fMRI among other approaches to show that the human brain prefers order, and that constant visual reminders of disorganization drain our cognitive resources and reduce our ability to focus. They also found that when participants cleared clutter from their work environment, they were better able to focus and process information, and their productivity increased.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Psychology Today.