Why Spring Cleaning May Hold the Key to Productivity

By: Lisa Evans - Guest Writer on www.entrepreneur.com

Want to get more done? You may need to clear your desk. June Saruwatari, author of the new book Behind the Clutter, says clutter makes you less productive. It's a claim backed up by research. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Neuroscience showed multiple stimuli present in the visual field compete for our attention, making it harder to focus on the task at hand. The study also showed a cluttered environment led to difficulty processing information and has a negative impact on working memory. 

Physical clutter turns into mental clutter. When your environment is littered with paperwork, photos, tchotchkes, and other things that distract you from the task at hand, your brain’s ability to process information is blocked, causing your focus to waver and your energy to decline. All this clutter weighs down on your mental resources throughout the day, much like having a screaming toddler standing next to you while you try to get work done.

Clutter can also take a toll on your emotional state. Saruwatari used to hang onto old contracts and paystubs from her time as an actress, a reminder of the success she once had. She realized all of those items, in addition to taking up space in her home, were weighing her down emotionally. For Saruwatari, decluttering isn’t simply about getting your desk in order, it’s about relieving you of the baggage we hang onto from the past – past careers, relationships and incomplete projects.

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