In 2013, author Mikael Cho summarized some research about clutter and your brain. It is quite fascinating. He discovered that decreasing the amount you consume and reducing the amount of stuff you own can help you focus and be more creative. You will also have more time and money for the important things in life. Interestingly, many of my clients tend to discover the same phenomenon.
Cho cites research from Yale University where researchers asked people with hoarding disorder to imagine discarding their possessions. In fact, the subjects had increased brain activity in the same area that relates to physical pain. These people feel the loss of their valued possessions, similar to physical pain. It hurt them to let go of some of these objects. Interestingly, the more emotionally attached they were to something, the more they wanted to keep it. I never considered this relationship between clutter and your brain, so perhaps understanding this concept might make letting go easier.
Don’t Touch!
Another point Cho discusses (which was no surprise to me) is that touching or holding items can cause people to become more emotionally attached to them. Additionally, the longer they touch or hold them, the more valuable the brain thinks it is. For that reason, when I work with clients, I hold the object and ask them to decide whether to keep it or let it go. (I know, I’m sneaky, aren’t I?).
Digital Clutter
The overconsumption of digital information also negatively affects you. During the social media boom, author Mark Hurst indicated that when too many things are happening simultaneously (all those smartphone alerts!), your brain splits up its power. The more often this happens, the more stressed your brain becomes. It cannot filter information properly, switch quickly between tasks, or hold information in your working memory. In other words, you become more forgetful.
One of the best techniques to improve the relationship between clutter and your brain is to create systems for controlling consumption. For example, you could limit the number of people you connect with on social media. Alternatively, turn off all your social media notifications and schedule set times per day to check in. Furthermore, you can take time to prioritize your tasks and take a few minutes every day to tune into your “Zen brain.”
A technique for controlling the amount of physical stuff you own is to limit the amount of space available to store your things. Then, make an agreement with yourself that you will only own what fits in that space. Remember, there will always be more information available and more stuff you can buy—try to resist!
By finding ways to limit your consumption, you can declutter your physical space and free your mind. This sense of power and control over your surroundings can be liberating and give you more time to enjoy life and the things that truly matter.
Feel free to share your techniques to help develop a healthy relationship between clutter and your brain.