When Your Environment Works Against You
Something unexpected happened on the day I sat down to write this blog post. After a long day at work, my mind was bubbling with ideas for a vlog. I arrived home, greeted my husband and one of my sons, then headed upstairs to my office—excited to get my thoughts typed up.
However, the moment I stepped inside my office, my excitement came to a screeching halt. On my office chair sat two loads of clean clothes rolled up in big towels—an eyesore in the middle of my newly organized space. Instantly, my focus shifted from creativity to the never-ending list of household tasks. A wave of frustration washed over me; I began to feel deflated, defeated, then outright annoyed. I had spent the previous weekend reorganizing this very space so I could concentrate on writing, yet here I was, distracted by something so trivial yet so disruptive.
I stood there for a moment, debating how to react, and believe me, my initial impulse wasn’t the most graceful. But instead of venting my frustration, I simply picked up the clothes, moved them to another room, and decided to fold them before bed.
When I returned to my office, it felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
How Clutter Fatigues the Brain
I recently heard a news report explaining how hearing loss can contribute to dementia because the brain has to work harder to process sounds. This immediately got me thinking about the impact of clutter on the human brain.
Our senses—hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste—are all managed through an intricate network of neural pathways. We don’t simply hear with our ears; sound waves are captured by the eardrum and transmitted to the brain through auditory nerves. Similarly, our eyes detect light and color, and the optic nerve helps our brain process what we see. If reduced sound input can strain the brain, then excessive visual stimuli, such as clutter, can certainly have the same effect.
Have you ever stepped into a beautifully arranged space and felt a sense of calm and pleasure? The brain responds positively to order and releases feel-good chemicals as you take in the beauty around you. Now, imagine walking into a dark, cluttered room. Instead of relaxation, your brain stays in a constant state of processing. There’s an underlying sense that something needs to be done, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start.
When surrounded by disorder, the brain works overtime—draining your mental energy in the process.
What the Expert Says
Kathleen D. Vohs, in her book “Decision Fatigue Exhausts Self-Regulatory Resources,” discusses how clutter causes decision fatigue: “When you’re surrounded by clutter, your brain is constantly processing and making small decisions about the items in your environment, even if you’re not consciously aware of it. This continuous low-level decision-making drains mental energy and can make you feel more exhausted, leading to poorer decision-making over time.”
Your Call to Order
To prevent decision fatigue—or to stay on topic, what I call clutter fatigue—there are several effective strategies you can use. One simple approach is to do what I did. Remove clutter immediately by taking the time to put items away or move it to another area, and set a designated time to tackle it later. This minimizes visual distractions and helps maintain your mental energy.
Another powerful method is to establish a decluttering routine, whether daily or weekly. Doing this earlier in the day, when you have the most energy, can make the process feel more manageable.
If decluttering feels overwhelming, delegate household tasks to family members or hire outside help. Sometimes, a fresh set of hands can make a huge difference in maintaining an organized space.
Lastly, try the one-minute rule—if a task takes less than a minute to complete, do it immediately rather than postponing it. Small, quick actions (like throwing away junk mail, placing shoes back where they belong, or wiping down a counter) prevent buildup and keep clutter from spiraling out of control.
Feeling overwhelmed by household clutter? Take control with my book, Conquering Your Clutter, available now on Amazon. It’s packed with practical strategies to help you simplify, organize, and reclaim your space.
Read Surrendering Your Schedule To God
Power Verse
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7
