Visual Clutter Stress
Ever notice you feel more stressed when your home or office are a “mess?” What about the day your house gets cleaned? Feels good, right? Yep, there’s some science to that. What we see with our eyes send signals straight to our brain. These signals can overload our thought-processing mechanisms or be interpreted into certain (possibly negative) feelings. Some researchers found that , if what we see is “clutter” (a negative term), the brain processes this signal as a negative response, affecting the way we feel in a negative way. Here are a few of the ways in which clutter causes us to feel stress…
It is more difficult to relax (both physically and mentally) in a cluttered space. Clutter causes feelings of anxiety (“Will this space ever look better?”).
It is more difficult to feel positive about ourselves in a cluttered space. Clutter creates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized.”) and embarrassment (“I can’t have you see my space.”).
It is difficult to feel focused in a cluttered space. We are often less productive if there is clutter distracting our mind from concentrated, critical thought.
It is difficult to feel creative in a cluttered space. Open space allows us to tap into our creative mind space where we can imagine new possibilities.
It is more likely we feel exhausted in a cluttered space. Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli causing our senses to work overtime. Our brain receives repeated signals that there is more work to be done.
The start of the new year is a time for renewal for many. If you are looking for some renewal of the way you live and the way you feel – or just less stress at home/work – it might help to take a moment to clear the visual clutter you see each day. Don’t get overwhelmed by this task! Take it bit by bit. We set new goals in the beginning of the year, get after them in the beginning, and maybe suffer from a little motivation fatigue by week three of the year. Pace yourself and start with manageable chunks.
Where to start? I recommend choosing one small area that you encounter every day.
Maybe that is the kitchen sink? (Wash dishes every night so you can wake up to a clear kitchen.)
Maybe that is where you place your mail? (Process mail as it comes in each day.)
Maybe that is your entryway into and out of your home? (Enlist your whole family’s help in this case!)
Maybe that is your desktop or email inbox?
Wherever you choose to start, realize that the space didn’t get cluttered in the snap of a finger and it may take a little while to clear things away. If maintenance is the issue, consider seeking advice from a professional organizer about creating systems that work for you so you spend less time with big clutter clearing projects.
