I remember the strict policy one of my former employers in the biopharmaceutical industry had. “Clean your desks before the end of the week” was the repetitive command coming from ‘upstairs’ continuously.
As scientists of course we were mostly messy. More focused on the results and a lot less interested in how our desks and cubicles looked like. As I matured and grew more comfortable in my own skin I realised that there was a lot more in cleaning my desk than met the eyes. Once I started practicing the command from ‘upstairs’ and ended up with a clean desk and in-box first thing on Monday mornings, I noticed I did my best thinking and analysis at that time! Coincidence? Not at all.
Clutter affects us all in in the same way. Takes away concentration, increases frustration and we end up worrying more about what to tackle first than getting quality work done. It also doesn’t help that one tends to overlook things in a big mess and end up regretting it at some point. So if an office clutter does this to your work, imagine what it does to your home environment where you should be reenergising and nourishing yourself!
Decluttering visibly organizes our space and in turn helps us organise our thoughts and thought patterns. The flow of energy is felt by us at various levels but more commonly understood visually. So regardless of how we think it impacts us, it is important to note that clutter has a great impact on our lives in a mental, physical and emotional sense.
In severe cases of cluttering, which affect 1-2% of the population, hoarding begins to consume us to the point that we lose touch with the norm and can’t imagine our environment without the collected treasures (which unfortunately sometimes includes animals!) and start feeling the adverse effects of hoarding and accompanying clutter. Although it is understood that obsessive behaviours have varying psychological and emotional roots (this includes hoarding), clutter nonetheless produces the same effect in all of us. It blocks the flow of energy, blocks creative thinking, becomes visually tiring, makes any space less relaxing and nourishing, and in some cases can have a negative impact on our health and safety. So next time you walk by a room or a space in your house or at work, as yourself if you like what you see and can you improve it. And remember, if you don’t love it or use, you should toss it!
In severe cases of cluttering, which affect 1-2% of the population, hoarding begins to consume us to the point that we lose touch with the norm and can’t imagine our environment without the collected treasures (which unfortunately sometimes includes animals!) and start feeling the adverse effects of hoarding and accompanying clutter. Although it is understood that obsessive behaviours have varying psychological and emotional roots (this includes hoarding), clutter nonetheless produces the same effect in all of us. It blocks the flow of energy, blocks creative thinking, becomes visually tiring, makes any space less relaxing and nourishing, and in some cases can have a negative impact on our health and safety. So next time you walk by a room or a space in your house or at work, as yourself if you like what you see and can you improve it. And remember, if you don’t love it or use, you should toss it!
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