How Clutter Affects the Mind's Ability to Focus
Have you ever gone shopping in a cluttered store like a large thrift store or flea market - only to leave in frustration because you couldn’t find what you were looking for? The reason it’s hard to find a needle in the proverbial haystack is the same reason why a cluttered work or study environment makes it tough to focus on your tasks. Namely: distraction.
Every time you look at an object, that object triggers all kinds of thoughts, memories, and imaginings about that object. You might be sitting at your desk, diligently working away, only to casually glance at an empty water bottle. All of a sudden, instead of working, you’re pondering the intricacies of water bottle design and applying for a patent. And the more items of clutter you have surrounding you, the more often this type of distraction is likely to happen.
How Clutter Impacts Our Brains
What’s worse is that clutter has a cumulative effect on our brains - that is, the more you are exposed to clutter, the more distractible you become. Since your brain is naturally predisposed to favor order over chaos, constant visual disorganization tires the brain, impairs working memory, and makes it harder and harder to regain focus. Clutter also releases cortisol and is correlated with stress and anxiety (which also impede learning).
Thankfully, this means there is an easy solution to help boost memory and focus: decluttering. In 2011, neuroscience researchers using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and other measurements showed that clearing clutter results in a better ability to focus and process information, as well as increased productivity.
The next time you are tempted to put off cleaning and decluttering your office, remember that the benefits of a tidy workspace are not merely subjective. Especially for those with ADHD or other learning disabilities, decluttering supports the core value of improving and maintaining a healthy body, mood, and brain.