In a fast-paced world full of every distraction known to man, it’s no wonder our minds are so active. We process a lot of information per day, and on average, we have around 50,000-70,000 thoughts.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that your cluttered mind can be exacerbated by the space around you. I can speak for myself—if my space is too chaotic and disorganised, I feel like I can’t relax or think straight. (Now, as a Virgo, I may have this way more than others—but you get my point).

Our prefrontal cortex is the part of our brain where we make decisions and process memories, particularly whether they get lost from our short-term memory or retained and filtered through to our long-term memory. This part of the brain can become overwhelmed when a room is cluttered and messy. But why?

We take in information through the five senses. 

Imagine a scenario: a student wants to study for an exam. Their desk is in their bedroom, the bedroom is cluttered and messy, perhaps it doesn’t smell great, they have music on in the background to aid the silence, the computer is in front of them, they are reading, they notice the washing basket is overflowing, they go to reach for a pen and the five things cluttering the desk fall off, or even finding the pen in the first place can be a problem. There is only one task that this student wants to achieve—to study. But with all the information in their peripheral vision, it’s difficult to stay focused on the task at hand, thereby obstructing their ability to assign meaning to what they are reading. This means the information does not make it to long-term memory and is lost.

When the prefrontal cortex is overwhelmed, we suffer from decreased mental clarity, and our stress levels can begin to rise. Our brains are so easily distracted and used to being distracted that, naturally, if distraction is present, it will find it.

Now, it doesn’t mean that you need to make sure your space is spotless constantly. Don’t get overwhelmed by the idea of your overwhelm.

You need just enough order so you can prioritise and maximise the most out of your productive energy. It’s about knowing what you can control. And if you are a person who doesn’t want to declutter their space—maybe it’s organised chaos? Then perhaps the right idea for you is to find a more minimalistic space outside of your home where you can work.

It’s about finding what works for you. But the ultimate message here is—clean space, clean mind. Here are my five top tips for organising your space:

  1. Start with the area you can see. This includes your peripheral vision. For example, if you want to clear your desk area, clean everything that is within view first.
  2. Carve out time each day to tidy up. I usually spend 15 minutes at the end of each day to make the space right again, ready for the next day. This may work better for you in the morning—experiment and see what feels best.
  3. Create specific places for specific things. For example, if you need your study notebooks each day, have a designated spot for them so that you always know where to look.
  4. Engage your other senses! By this, I mean take your favourite calming smell and put it in the room. Do the same with music; think about what will calm you rather than ramp you up.
  5. Have a regular cleaning routine. Plan it according to how it fits best with your schedule and stick to it! If you maintain a consistent routine, it will become less overwhelming and less of a chore.