How a tidy space creates a tidy mind

A look at the benefits of decluttering, tidying up, and organising your space – as well as the pitfalls – and the best ways to maximise the impact of cleaning on your mental wellbeing

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on This is Calmer

Having too many items crowded around you can be distracting. According to a study by the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, having a lot of visual stimuli present when trying to concentrate on one thing will result in those items competing for your attention. Put simply, if there’s too much going on in your sight lines, you will need to concentrate harder to get a task done.

However, clutter can also be helpful, depending on how you like to work. Creative people may benefit from ‘organised chaos’, or may simply enjoy having all the tools and visuals that support their work nearby. An overly sanitised desk space can also feel distracting in itself, so you may benefit from choosing a few visual items that make you feel comfortable, such as a plant or a meaningful photograph. 

Benefits of tidying your workspace

If you find your area of work is distracting, you can experience many benefits from tidying your space. These include:

1. Creating more physical space so that you can accomplish the task more effectively.
2. Experiencing a sense of accomplishment from tidying, which will motivate you for the task at hand.
3. Providing time to subconsciously think or plan the task you are about to engage in, helping you approach it in a better, more logical, way.

However, do you ever find yourself putting off a task, and cleaning instead? It’s easy to put off tasks that require us to step out of our comfort zone and do an easier task such as washing the dishes or tidying your desk!

If you experience this sort of procrastination, give yourself a time-limit for cleaning. It’s natural to feel anxious about approaching a daunting task, and the act of tackling an easier one can actually be beneficial when you finally sit down to work through the more demanding task – just try not to get caught up procrastinating via the easy task forever!

Ways to improve your mental health by getting organised

If you would like to improve your productivity, focus and clarity when working through different tasks, you may benefit from getting organised – both around your desk, and also on your desktop. Here are seven ways you can improve your mental wellbeing through organisational tasks. Try some of these tips to work towards a healthier mind.

1. Discover the joys of minimalism and reduce how much your buy, as well as decluttering your existing space.
2. Set yourself a healthy sleep routine for a more productive working day and happier hours outside of work.
3. Implement time-management strategies to reduce procrastination and improve productivity.
4. Take up regular exercise for improved connection to both your physical body and social connections.
5. Learn how to manage your emails better, and reduce the stress and overwhelm associated with your inbox.
6. Take control of time spent on social media and learn how to improve your relationship with the digital world.