Have you ever felt jumbled, and frustrated and foggy, and then you do a big clean/tidy/sort and suddenly you feel a sense of relaxation and calm? For myself, I can feel a pressure building when my personal space isn't clear and tidy, and I can't focus.
Clutter in your home can have various effects on your brain and overall well-being. Here are a few ways in which clutter might impact your mental state: from the POV of a busy Mum, and a Professional Organiser.
- Increased stress: Living in a cluttered environment can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. The visual chaos and the constant reminder of unfinished tasks or disorganisation can overwhelm your brain, making it harder to relax and focus.
- Reduced concentration: A cluttered space can make it difficult to concentrate on specific tasks. Your brain may struggle to filter out distractions, leading to decreased productivity and efficiency.
- Impaired creativity: Clutter can hinder your ability to think creatively. It can limit your mental space and restrict your brain's capacity to come up with new ideas or find innovative solutions to problems.
- Negative mood and fatigue: Research suggests that cluttered spaces can contribute to negative emotions and fatigue. The visual overload and the subconscious association of clutter with unfinished work can drain your mental energy and leave you feeling exhausted.
- Impaired decision-making: When your environment is cluttered, it can be challenging to make decisions effectively. The abundance of stimuli can overwhelm your brain, leading to decision fatigue and difficulties in prioritizing or organizing tasks.
- Reduced relaxation and sleep quality: A cluttered bedroom or living area can disrupt your ability to relax and unwind. The physical presence of clutter can subconsciously signal to your brain that there are unfinished tasks, making it harder to switch off and achieve quality sleep.
- Increased procrastination: Clutter can contribute to procrastination. The overwhelming nature of a cluttered space can make it tempting to delay tasks or avoid them altogether, as the thought of dealing with the clutter can be mentally draining.
It's important to note that the impact of clutter can vary from person to person. Some people are more sensitive to clutter than others, and some people don't see the clutter at all.
When our clients ask us for help, our aim is to clear their space/s so our clients 'can think clearly. We love helping them create an organised and clutter-free environment and hope that this promotes a sense of calm, improved focus, and that it positively influences their overall mental well-being.
Happy Organising, Angela and the Sort My House Team.