How does clutter affect mood?

DePaul University psychologist Joseph Ferrari, who studies clutter and procrastination, says clutter is a sign of a mental disorder that causes people to collect similar things.

In a study conducted with colleagues, Natalie Christine Dattilo, a psychology professor at Harvard Medical School, found that the more cluttered a home is, the less likely people are to feel joy in their lives. Disorganized living spaces can contribute to mental clutter, which makes it harder to think clearly and concentrate.

A 2019 study found that seeing clutter can also hinder concentration. It's also linked to bad habits, like procrastination.

A study conducted in the Netherlands found that even when you're just trying to relax, clutter can create a sense of chaos. Saliva tests of study participants showed that levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, were higher in those who lived in messy spaces than those who lived in tidy spaces.

In addition to stress, clutter can harm your mental and physical health in other ways. People who live in cluttered spaces report higher rates of depression and negative feelings about themselves.

Tips for overcoming clutter.

Overcome your cleaning addiction

Dr. Joseph Ferrari says people often cite the “three lacks” when explaining why they haven’t cleaned: lack of time, lack of resources, and lack of ability. Challenge yourself to overcome your laziness and get creative in finding ways to get rid of stuff.

Start small

If you're ready to start decluttering yourself, take on small tasks, like tackling a tight area that's really giving you trouble, like a kitchen counter that leaves you no room to cook, a desk drawer that's too cramped, or an overflowing bookshelf.

While you are organizing everything, you can turn it into a game to see how fast and focused you can work. You can put on some music to make it more fun.

Celebrate results

A cluttered space can make you feel overwhelmed and anxious, while an organized space can make you feel calm and safe. When you take loving care of your space, you send an important message to yourself that you are worth the time and effort, that you deserve a comfortable and well-maintained living space.