Hey everyone and welcome back.
You guys know how much I love a good deep dive
and today's topic is right up my alley, decluttering.
And wow, you guys did not hold back
on the research requests for this one.
Not at all.
I think it's safe to say that decluttering
is something we're all kind of fascinated with, right?
Totally.
It's like this universal struggle.
But here's the thing, it's more than just a tidy house,
right, like way more.
You hit the nail on the head
and that's what's so interesting
about the research you've gathered.
It really goes beyond the surface level
of organized home, happy life.
Right, and don't even get me started
on those pristine Instagram-worthy pantries.
Let's be real folks, most of us are dealing with a little
or a lot of real life clutter.
Exactly, and that's where the approach
in this research really resonates, I think.
It acknowledges that getting organized
can feel overwhelming, especially when you're starting with,
shall we say, a bit of a clutter mountain.
Okay, yes, the clutter mountain,
I think we've all been there.
So how does this research suggest we tackle that beast?
Well, it starts by understanding a little bit
about how our brains work.
You see, our brains, incredible as they are,
have a limited amount of energy
for decision-making each day.
It's a real thing, decision fatigue.
Have you ever noticed how by the end of the day,
even the simplest choices, like what to have for dinner,
can feel impossible?
Oh, 100%.
By dinnertime, my brain is basically fried.
Decision fatigue is real.
Exactly, so now imagine trying to declutter
your entire house in one go.
You're basically asking your brain
to make 1,000 decisions all at once.
Keep, donate, toss.
It's a recipe for overwhelm.
Okay, yeah, I'm already feeling stressed
just thinking about it.
So what's the alternative?
This is where that room-by-room approach comes in.
Instead of facing that mountain of clutter all at once,
you break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks,
one room at a time.
Okay, that makes a lot more sense.
So instead of getting bogged down
by the sheer volume of stuff,
you're focusing on, say, just your bedroom closet today.
You got it.
And here's why that's so brilliant.
By focusing on one smaller area,
you're essentially giving your brain a break.
You're reducing the number of decisions
it has to make at any given time.
So it's like tricking your brain into thinking,
hey, this isn't so bad.
I can handle this one drawer, this one shelf.
Precisely, and as you start to see progress
in that one area, it creates a sense of momentum.
Suddenly tackling the next room doesn't seem so daunting.
It's like that feeling of accomplishment
when you finally conquer that one junk drawer.
Right.
You're like, okay, I can do this.
Exactly, and here's where it gets really interesting.
This whole idea of decision fatigue and decluttering,
it's not just about your physical space,
it's about your mental space as well.
Oh, now you're speaking my language.
Yeah.
Mental clutter is a whole other beast.
We'll say that for later.
For now, let's stick with this idea of physical clutter
and why it matters so much.
Beyond just the aesthetic of having a tidy home,
what's the real impact of all that stuff on our minds?
Well, it all comes down to this concept
called cognitive load.
Basically, it's the amount of mental effort
it takes to process information.
And believe it or not, a cluttered environment
actually increases that cognitive load.
Wait, really?
So you're saying that all that visual noise from clutter,
like the piles of paper on my desk or the stack of books
I swear I'm gonna read someday,
it's actually making my brain work harder.
It might sound crazy, but it's true.
Think of it this way.
Your brain is like this amazing supercomputer, right?
But it only has so much processing power to go around.
Okay, I like that analogy.
I can get behind that.
So every time your brain encounters clutter,
whether it's a messy desk or a chaotic living room,
it has to expend energy to process that information,
even if you don't realize it's happening.
It's like my brain can't just tune it out.
It's still using up valuable brain power on that visual noise.
Precisely.
And that's why all that clutter can actually make you
feel more tired and mentally drained.
Wow, I never thought about it that way,
but it makes so much sense.
I mean, I definitely feel more frazzled and overwhelmed
when I'm surrounded by clutter.
And it goes beyond just feeling frazzled.
Your research actually highlights a link
between decluttering and increased productivity.
Wait, hold on.
Decluttering can make me more productive.
B.
Okay, I need to hear this.
How does that work?
Oh, think about it this way.
When your surroundings are cluttered,
it's like your brain is constantly getting bombarded
with these little messages that say,
hey, you still need to deal with this,
or this thing is unfinished.
Ugh, yes.
It's like that nagging feeling
that I should really be tidying up
instead of whatever I'm supposed to be doing.
Exactly.
And all those unfinished tasks and visual reminders
can create a low-grade sense of unease or even anxiety.
Oh, totally.
It's like my brain never feels fully off
when I'm surrounded by clutter.
Right.
And as your research points out,
that kind of mental environment
is not exactly conducive to focused work.
In fact, a cluttered workspace is often linked
to reduced focus, increased stress, even procrastination.
Okay, so it's not just me.
It's actually harder to focus
when my surroundings are a mess.
Your brain thrives on order and clarity.
When your surroundings are cluttered,
your brain has to work harder to filter out distractions
and focus on the task at hand.
It's like trying to have a productive meeting
in a noisy, chaotic room, right?
Exactly.
Now imagine the opposite.
What if you could create a workspace
that was calm, organized, and free of clutter?
Okay, paint me a picture.
I'm intrigued.
Imagine this.
You sit down at your desk and everything is in its place.
You've got a clear surface to work on
and all your tools are neatly organized.
You can actually breathe and think clearly.
Okay, I can already feel my stress level going down
just imagining that.
And that's the beauty of it.
When you eliminate the visual and mental clutter,
you free up your brain's processing power
to focus on what really matters.
So less visual noise, more brain power.
I like it.
But how does that translate to increased creativity?
Well, when your mind isn't bogged down
with trying to process all that clutter,
it's free to wander, to make new connections,
to come up with fresh ideas.
So a clean workspace is like a breeding ground
for those aha moments.
Exactly.
And it's not just about work either.
Decluttering can also free up mental space
for other things you enjoy, like hobbies, relationships,
or simply relaxing and being present.
Okay, I'm convinced.
A clear space equals a clear mind.
But this feels like it goes beyond
just our physical spaces, right?
I mean, our minds can be just as cluttered as our homes,
especially these days.
Absolutely.
In fact, your research dives deep into this idea
of mental clutter and its impact on our wellbeing.
Okay, so let's talk about mental clutter.
I think we can all relate to that feeling
of having a million tabs open in our brains to-do lists.
Or is that song we can't get out of our heads?
Where do we even begin to tackle that kind of mess?
Okay, so we've tackled the physical clutter,
explored the hidden depths of mental clutter,
and now for the million dollar question,
how do we actually clear out that mental mess?
Because let's be real,
just telling ourselves to think positive
doesn't magically make it happen, right?
You're telling, it's like trying to clean a messy room
by just wishing it were tidy.
Exactly.
Yeah, so where do we even begin?
With our physical spaces,
we can just grab a trash bag and start tossing.
But what about those cluttered corners of our minds?
Well, the good news is that your research offers
some really practical strategies
for dealing with mental clutter,
just like we talked about for physical clutter.
And one that really stood out to me was journaling.
Journaling.
Okay, confession time.
I've tried journaling in the past,
but I always get stuck.
Like, what do we even write about?
I hear you.
It can definitely feel intimidating at first,
staring at that blank page.
But here's the thing,
your research emphasizes that journaling
isn't about perfect grammar or profound insights.
It's more about creating a space
to process your thoughts and feelings.
So it's less about writing a masterpiece
and more about just brain dumping
whatever's swirling around up there.
Exactly.
Think of it like hitting Control plus Alt plus Delete
on those mental pop-up ads,
those thoughts that keep popping up
at the most inconvenient times.
I love that analogy.
So instead of letting those thoughts
just run rampant in my mind,
I can give them an outlet place to hang out
without distracting me.
That's the idea.
And your research actually breaks down
different journaling techniques you can try.
There's the classic brain dump
where you just write down everything that comes to mind,
no filter required.
And then there's gratitude journaling,
which focuses on shifting your mindset
to a more positive frequency.
Ooh, gratitude journaling.
I've dabbled in that
and it does help shift the energy, right?
It's powerful stuff.
And it doesn't have to take hours of your time.
Even a few minutes of daily gratitude journaling
can have a big impact on your overall wellbeing.
Okay, I'm sold.
Journaling it is.
But what about those times
when we're feeling overwhelmed in the moment?
Are there strategies for dealing with mental clutter
in real time?
Absolutely.
And this is where mindfulness and meditation come in.
I know those terms get tossed around a lot these days,
but the research behind them is fascinating.
Mindfulness has been a game changer for me,
but I'm always curious to understand the why behind it.
How can something so simple be so powerful?
It's about training our minds to be present,
to focus on what we're experiencing in the here and now
rather than getting caught up in worries
about the past or future.
It's like hitting the pause button
on that constant stream of thoughts
and just allowing ourselves to be in the moment.
Exactly.
And the more we practice mindfulness,
the easier it becomes to access that sense of calm
and clarity even when things get hectic.
Okay, that makes sense.
But easier said than done sometimes, right?
Especially in our hyper-connected world.
Speaking of which,
how do we navigate all the digital clutter
that comes with constantly being plugged in,
asking for a friend?
Oh, I think your friend is in good company on that one.
Digital clutter is a huge source of mental overload
for many people.
But the good news is your research
offers some helpful strategies
for what it calls a digital detox.
Okay, I'll admit the words digital detox
usually send me running for the nearest charger,
but I also recognize how draining it can be
to be constantly bombarded with notifications and updates.
It's all about finding a balance, right?
You don't have to go off the grid entirely.
Your research suggests starting with small steps,
like designating certain areas as tech-free zones,
like your bedroom or the dinner table.
Okay, I can get behind that.
I'm already picturing myself having an actual conversation
with my family at dinner
instead of scrolling through my phone.
What a concept.
It's about reclaiming your time and attention
and directing it towards the people and activities
that truly matter.
This deep dive has been incredibly insightful.
We've gone from decluttering our junk drawers
to decluttering our minds.
It's amazing how much our physical spaces
and our mental spaces are connected.
Absolutely, they're two sides of the same coin.
Well said. Yeah.
And on that note, we encourage you to continue
exploring the transformative power of decluttering
in all its forms.
Until next time, happy decluttering.