I wasn’t always so prone to purging, but for the past six years, I have become to rely on the regular removal of things from my home. My love of decluttering is not just a trendy or aesthetic decision. I have learned the connection between clutter and the brain, and I will never go back to a stuffed-to-the-gills home.
When I first realized the connection…
After my second son was born, I suffered from some pretty severe postpartum depression. During that season, I learned a lot about what helps to regulate my emotional state. I learned that I felt much better when I got dressed and ready for the day. (For me, that meant doing something with my hair, and putting on some makeup.) I also learned that going outside is literally a breath of fresh air. Most notably, I discovered that my environment dramatically affected my mood.
I discovered that physical clutter caused emotional overwhelm. When a room was orderly, and not overly stuffed, I felt more calm and in control. At first, I thought this was a very specific-to-me connection, or something only due to my postpartum depression. But as I dove into the world of minimalism, I learned that this connection between clutter and the brain is in fact quite universal.
It isn’t just me.
It turns out that scientists have done research on this clutter-brain connection, and have found that there truly is a connection. Clutter impacts the brain’s ability to focus, it impacts decision-making abilities, and even reduces our working memory capacity. Collectively, these effects create cognitive overload. Truly, a cluttered environment makes is harder to do just about anything.
Studies have also shown that cluttered environments have higher levels of cortisol (yes, the stress hormone!) So I was not going crazy when I felt that my stuff was causing me stress. It was. And it still does if I let it.
Clutter can affect eating habits, sleep patterns, and can increase anxiety. Clutter can absolutely worsen depression.
“For individuals struggling with depression, clutter can play a particularly insidious role. The visual reminder of tasks left undone can reinforce feelings of helplessness and inadequacy. Additionally, the energy required to navigate and manage a cluttered space can be overwhelming for someone already dealing with low energy levels, potentially exacerbating depression symptoms.” (from the article “Clutter’s Hidden Impact on Your Brain and Well-being” on the Neuro Launch website)
More and more research is discovering what many people have felt intuitively for quite some time. Our environments, and any clutter they hold, has a profound impact on our mental and emotional state. Knowing this has encouraged me to continue seeking simplicity in my home. When I declutter my home, I am not only making housework easier (which I am), or toy-clean up less of a fight (which I am), I am also taking steps to better my mental health.
A helpful way to think about clutter
For some serious motivation, watch this video, or better yet! listen while you tackle your closets. Dawn from The Minimal Mom was my first “minimalist” resource, and she is still my go-to. She gives lots of practical advice, while also sharing the reasons to declutter. In this video, she explains the idea of the “silent to-do list” – the idea that everything in your home is asking something of you. It is a great way to think about the mental overwhelm of your space.
Almost every item in your home (or at least in your current line of sight) is figuratively asking you to do something. The pile of laundry demands to be washed (or folded or put away…or all three). Knick-knacks beg to be dusted. Unfinished crafts whine to be completed. Floors ask to be vacuumed, blankets to be folded, cans of food to be cooked. Some of these cries are more irritating than others. Bottom line: the more things crying out for your attention, the more overwhelmed you are likely to feel.
The connection between clutter and the brain is real.
There are now countless studies supporting that nagging hunch I felt six years ago. Articles, books, and experts all attest to the powerful and real connection between clutter and the brain.
Knowing what I know now gives me permission to sell, donate, or throw away things that aren’t serving me and my family any longer. It isn’t wasteful or ungrateful or silly to make physical and mental space in my home. Not only are my decluttering efforts good for me, they are good for my children. I can only imagine how overwhelming a cluttered space is for a young child, whose brain is not even fully developed yet.
And so, in case no one else has, let me give you permission to clear out some of your things that are only causing stress. I can think of no downside, and plenty of upsides. Do yourself a favor and reduce your mental load, your physical chores, and your emotional overwhelm.
For suggestions on tackling toy clutter, see this post.
If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of decluttering, see this post about decluttering in the margins of your day.
I’d love to hear what YOU got rid of this week that lightened your load.