Is it time to declutter your workspace to remove the constant flow of stuff? I’m talking meeting notes, files from past and current projects and the dozen tabs you keep open in an attempt to keep up with industry news. If you spent any time working from home over the past few years, you may have been forced to add household clutter to the “stuff I’ll deal with later list.”

Messiness can affect us even if we don’t feel bothered by it at the moment.

Clutter used to leave me feeling mentally exhausted and like I hadn’t accomplished anything, even after a productive day. I’ve since discovered ways to reduce the noise so that I can focus on my creative process and complete the tasks that matter most. I have become far more efficient in my work, and I owe much of my progress to understanding the importance of decreasing clutter.

Decluttering isn’t just about making your space look nice

Tidying up has a strong correlation to your mental state. That’s exactly what neuroscientists at Princeton University found when they looked at people’s task performance in an organized versus disorganized environment. The results of their study showed that physical clutter in your surroundings competes for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress. Similar to the effects of multitasking on your brain, physical clutter overloads your senses and drains your energy.

Clutter competes for your attention

Clutter is anything that competes for your attention, not just physical items. Files on your computer, notifications from emails and social media accounts and anything else that goes ping! at night competes for your attention. This creates digital clutter and zaps your ability to focus and be creative. Overconsumption of digital stuff has the same effect on the brain as physical clutter. The same goes for mental clutter: old thoughts, beliefs or ideas that are not aligned with our present moment.

There is so much external clutter and our minds are like sponges, taking in information all the time and overloading our senses. This leads us to feeling overwhelmed, restless, absent-minded and self-critical.

Declutter your workspace to create more ease, flow and clarity for your mind. 

8 Strategies to clear the clutter

Set limits

Set a limit for how many people you follow on your favorite social media platform, how many books you buy and how many magazines you subscribe to. I only get e-magazines now and I won’t buy a new book until I finish my current read. As a practice, I don’t download apps I don’t need.

Limit social media and doomscrolling

Has scrolling become your distraction of choice? I feel you. Sometimes I have to turn my phone off when “Do Not Disturb” won’t do, because scrolling can be my slippery slope. Now when I get the urge to scroll, I set a timer for how long I can scroll or I go stretch or go walk my dog instead.

Organize your files

Start by removing all the ones you have saved to your desktop. Seeing a pretty screensaver creates more peace of mind than seeing a bunch of loose files on the screen.

Write it down

Sometimes it’s best to allow mental clutter to flow from your subconscious onto paper and so that afterward you can tear it up, throw it away or burn what you wrote.

Be still and relax

Find moments to relax through purposeful, deep and calm breathing multiple times a day. My regular meditation practice has completely changed my experience of mental clutter. My go to meditation apps are Calm and Insight Timer. You can also find great meditations on YouTube.

Log off with intention

Make a practice of clearing your desk at the end of each day. Don’t throw things in a random drawer or filing cabinet. This simple act signals to your brain that the work day is done. Find a storage system that works for you and stick with it.

Tackle clutter head on

Remember, the more you avoid it the more of it there will be!

Set a timer

Decluttering can be done in a matter of minutes once you have a system in place. Set a timer and focus on a specific area to declutter before moving on to the next.

Self-coaching questions for a clutter-free workspace

Is my life less noisy with less clutter?

Am I more productive with less clutter?

Do I feel more creative with less clutter?

If the answer is yes, keep doing it!

Clutter, whether physical, digital or mental, is something you’ll always have to contend with, but it is possible to bring alignment to this area of your life, one intentional choice at a time. Once you gain control over your clutter, you’ll never look back!

—

Need a personalized system for clearing your physical, digital or mental clutter? Click here to schedule your Strategy Session!