Scientists find physical clutter negatively affects your ability to focus, process information12/12/2016 Researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute published the results of a study they conducted in the January issue of The Journal of Neuroscience that relates directly to uncluttered and organized living. From their report “Interactions of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms in Human Visual Cortex”:
Multiple stimuli present in the visual field at the same time compete for neural representation by mutually suppressing their evoked activity throughout visual cortex, providing a neural correlate for the limited processing capacity of the visual system. Or, to paraphrase in non-neuroscience jargon: When your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain’s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment. The clutter competes for your attention in the same way a toddler might stand next to you annoyingly repeating, “candy, candy, candy, candy, I want candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy …” Even though you might be able to focus a little, you’re still aware that a screaming toddler is also vying for your attention. The annoyance also wears down your mental resources and you’re more likely to become frustrated. The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other physiological measurement tools to map the brain’s responses to organized and disorganized stimuli and to monitor task performance. The conclusions were strong — if you want to focus to the best of your ability and process information as effectively as possible, you need to clear the clutter from your home and work environment. This research shows that you will be less irritable, more productive, distracted less often, and able to process information better with an uncluttered and organized home and office.
3 Comments
4/11/2018 10:17:10 pm
As a Professional Organizer for a long time, I have perceived how evacuating mess can change people groups lives. Arranging, rearranging and getting out what does not serve you today conveys an adjust to your condition and additional time in your life! I totally concur about getting out clutter.This inquire about demonstrates that you will be less fractious, more gainful, diverted less frequently, and ready to process data better with an uncluttered and composed home and office. .For me, it’s a fine balance.
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Thank you for you kind comment. Decluttering really is the first and most important step in the process of getting and staying organized. Without it, you are trying to fit too much stuff into too little space and hanging on to things that only congest your life.
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5/3/2018 08:34:41 pm
I must agree with you because I have experienced all these myself. It's even more frustrating when you are not the one making all the mess and you are in charge of the cleaning all the time. It's hard to teach someone to clean up when he hasn't experienced how to do it all his life. Men had always had it easy. They are not required to do the laundry or clean the house so they don't value the effort of whoever is doing it. It's driving me crazy. I am sick of all these clutter and it keeps reappearing even just a few minutes after I clean up.
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