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The Link Between Organization/Disorganization, Clutter, and Mental Health
If you think about it, it makes sense that there is a link. Personally, I love the feeling of being in a clean house, and I know that I breathe a sigh of relief when I’m done cleaning — and it’s not just because the work is done. It goes deeper than that.
In a study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, women who described their homes as “restful” and “restorative” had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than women who described their homes as “cluttered.” Additionally, the women who considered their homes cluttered were more depressed and fatigued.
Put another way, when you are faced with piles of stuff and a long to-do list, it causes stress to your body, which can lead to all kinds of issues, including sleep trouble, depression, and even anxiety. Clutter is distracting, according to the Journal of Neuroscience, and it actually affects your ability to focus. Your visual cortex can get overloaded when there is too much to look at, which interferes with your brain’s ability to process information.
Audrey Sherman, Ph.D. states on her blog “Dysfunction Interrupted”:
“Simply put, the stress chemicals from disorganization eat up the good chemicals needed for mood stabilization. With that process in effect, you feel…
