Cluttered Space, Cluttered Mind
The Science Behind Mental Fog
Ever walk into your home and instantly feel stressed by the mess? Like the walls are closing in, your to-do list is growing, and no matter how much you try to stay on top of it, clutter keeps creeping back in?
You're not alone.
That overwhelming feeling isn't just in your head—there's a real connection between physical clutter and mental clarity. Science backs this up, and I've seen it firsthand with my clients.
A Wake-Up Call
I'll never forget working with Claire, a busy working mom who called me in pure frustration.
"I can't think straight anymore," she admitted. Her home office had become a maze of papers, books, and random items. Every time she sat down to work, she felt overwhelmed and stuck.
As we worked through her space over several sessions, she kept saying:
"I can literally feel my brain getting clearer."
By our final session, she wasn't just organized—she had made major career decisions she'd been postponing for months.
"I couldn't see my future clearly when I couldn't even see my desk," she realized.
And Claire isn't alone. This happens again and again, and the research explains why.
The Science | Your Brain on Clutter
Science confirms what we already feel—clutter isn't just annoying, it's mentally exhausting.
A Princeton University study found that visual clutter fights for your brain's attention, making it harder to focus, process information, and feel in control.
When your space is cluttered, your brain struggles to function efficiently, leading to:
❌ Increased stress levels
❌ More distractions and mental fatigue
❌ Decision paralysis—because your brain is already overloaded
And here's the kicker:
A 2010 study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that women who described their homes as "cluttered" had higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) than those who described their homes as "restful."
In short, clutter is keeping us in a constant state of stress.
How Clutter Hijacks Your Mental Energy
Imagine your brain as a computer with too many tabs open.
Each piece of clutter adds one more tab that your brain has to process:
💡 The stack of mail saying "deal with me!"
💡 The pile of laundry whispering "don't forget to fold me!"
💡 The overflowing toy bin shouting "trip hazard!"
💡 The cluttered kitchen counter murmuring "you're falling behind!"
It's called "attention residue"—when part of your brain stays stuck on past distractions, making it harder to focus on the present.
Dr. Daniel Levitin, neuroscientist and author of The Organized Mind, explains:
"Every time you're distracted, your brain uses up glucose and oxygen that could have been used to focus."
Translation? Clutter is draining your mental energy—before you've even started your day.
What Comes Next?
Now that you understand the real impact clutter has on your brain and mental energy, you might be wondering: "If clutter is so bad for me, why is it so hard to let go?"
That's exactly what we'll explore in part 2 of this series, where I'll share:
The 5 hidden psychological reasons we hold onto things we don't need
The surprising benefits that appear when you create physical clarity
3 simple steps to start decluttering—without feeling overwhelmed
