this. featured experts
Dr Jeromy Anglim
#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
#1 in the world for sport science2
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
#1 in the world for sport science2
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
NEXT UP ON this.
When it comes time to buckle down and study or work, do you ever find yourself distracted or overwhelmed by everything around you? The problem might be clutter – what you might call an ‘overabundance of possessions’ or, as Assoc. Prof. Jeromy Anglim defines it, ‘an excess of disorganised elements in one’s environment.’
However you slice it, clutter can be a problem when it affects our mental health, creative spark and overall productivity – but, with a clean mindset and an openness to change, it doesn’t have to be.
At its most basic, clutter refers to an accumulation of too many ‘things’. Key to this definition is that clutter typically has a negative impact on the people living amongst it.
This could look like a chaotic kitchen making us over-snack or a desk lost in a sea of documents. Clutter can extend beyond the physical, including ‘digital spaces (e.g., overflowing emails, disorganised files) and even mental or emotional clutter (e.g. mental to-do lists, racing thoughts and a busy mind),’ according to Anglim.
Whatever the problem, though, it’s worth remembering that clutter doesn’t have a textbook definition – it’s a bit different for everyone. ‘What appears cluttered to one person might be a functional workspace for another,’ says Anglim. ‘For example, a desk covered in papers and sticky notes may seem chaotic to an observer but may reflect an organised workflow for the individual using it. People’s thresholds for clutter vary significantly, making it an individual difference factor that can even become a source of tension in shared spaces.’
Feeling cluttered? In that case, you probably are.
As anyone who’s sat down at a messy desk or a room filled with distractions will know, clutter can be a problem. It can even feel a bit like the brain itself is becoming as cluttered as the space around it.
‘In general, clutter can be distracting and increase cognitive load, making it harder to focus on tasks,’ says Anglim. ‘It can also slow down task completion by increasing the time and effort needed to locate relevant materials.’
At its most extreme, research suggests clutter can affect your brain, well-being and quality of life, while potentially increasing stress, binge eating and work-related tension. While clutter isn’t always a bad thing (‘Some individuals thrive in what appears to be a messy workspace because it follows an internal logic that supports their workflow,’ Anglim says), it can definitely spell bad news for many of us.
Tidiness can be a great thing, and there’s a school of thought that keeping a space de-cluttered can mean more space in our brains to pay attention to the important things.
On the other hand, Assoc. Prof. Anglim says we ought to keep things in perspective because, even if de-cluttering does help us de-stress or boost attention, it’s not a sure-fire path to success.
‘There isn’t strong evidence directly linking tidiness or clutter management to life success,’ Anglim says. ‘More broadly, the preference for order and structure is an aspect of conscientiousness, a personality trait linked to various life outcomes. However, it’s other facets of conscientiousness — such as achievement-striving and diligence that tend to predict success more strongly than tidiness itself.’
It doesn’t matter if we’re artists or economists – creativity is important for business, helping us with motivation and productivity. It’s good to note, then, that tidiness and reducing clutter can help inspire that creativity – though it’s no guarantee of success, of course.
‘Research suggests that distractions reduce task performance, including creative thinking,’ says Anglim. ‘In many cases, clutter can serve as a distraction, making it harder to focus and identify what needs attention. That said, excessive focus on organisation can also be counterproductive. Spending too much time perfecting a minimalist setup or refining workflows can become a distraction in itself, taking away from the actual work.’
The real benefit here, says Anglim, comes from being in control. If you’re looking for that tidy boost in creativity, it all comes down to owning your zone – whether that’s a tidy office space or a clean kitchen.
‘Ultimately, personal control over one’s environment is key,’ he says. ‘If a person feels in control of their workspace — whether tidy or cluttered — they’re more likely to function effectively.’
There’s no shortage of great ways to reduce that clutter, from the pandemic-popular advice of Marie Kondo (who encourages a clean space, clean mind ideal by keeping only the things that ‘spark joy’) to a complete rejection of consumerism (life is definitely tidier when you get rid of all your stuff).
For those looking to take some approachable steps, though, Anglim has shared a few common strategies:
Taking a deliberate approach with a strategy in mind can be a great way to clear your clutter. ‘Simple habits like these can help maintain a more organised space over time,’ Anglim says.
Let’s recap: clutter is the problem we face when too many things are clogging up our workspace (or mind or emotions) and it’s causing us some issues. It might be stress, demotivation, a lack of creativity – whatever it is, all that clutter isn’t helping when it comes time to study or work, and finding an effective strategy for dealing with it can offer some real brain benefits.
In the end, while tidying up might not solve all our problems, there’s definitely a case for keeping that clutter at bay in order to get the most out of ourselves. As they say, tidy space, tidy mind.
