Joe Shmmoe
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Updated May 1, 2024
Messy environments can make it hard to relax and focus. Clearing out piles of old papers, stuffed closets and sloppy surroundings will free up mental space.
Household clutter can be a source of stress, and research suggests it may harm mental health. In a study of nearly 1,400 adults — mainly women in their 50s — researchers found that having a lot of clutter can undermine well-being, as reported in 2016 in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. And visual clutter takes up mental space, which can hamper the brain’s ability to focus and process information, according to a study of 10 people, ages 25-37, reported in 2011 in The Journal of Neuroscience.
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