Are you truly in need of that additional ChapStick? Here's a guide to minimize and manage office mess.

Are you truly in need of that additional ChapStick? Here's a guide to minimize and manage office mess.

Clutter Chaos: Breaking the Clutter Cycle for a Cleaner, More Productive Mind

From a random Post-it note reminding you of an errand, to a half-eaten chocolate bar or extra charging cords piling up, the mess on your desk can feel like an endless mountain. In this digitized age, gatherings of everyday items become overwhelming and drain our mental resources.

Why is clutter so dangerous?

According to Marietta Van Den Berg, psychiatrist and medical director for Surrey Memorial Hospital in British Columbia, "Clutter reduces our bandwidth. It negatively affects our perception of our environment or ourselves." This impact extends beyond our immediate environment and seeps into our decision-making, stress levels, and sleep quality.

Researchers at UCLA discovered that high densities of household objects correlated with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol among women. So, as the spring cleaning season kicks off, here's how to take control and declutter for a cleaner, more productive mind.

Tackling the Circulating Swarm

Matt Baier, owner of Matt Baier Organizing in Stamford, Connecticut, explains that buying items online is part of the problem. "Things circulate into our lives all too easily. We need a competitive plan for things to circulate out," he warns.

Clutter: A Postponed Decision

Besides the ease of online shopping, it's common to store everything on our desks, assuming we'll get around to dealing with it later. But as Van Den Berg points out, "[Clutter] is actually just a postponed decision or action."

By taking a moment to put items away, you can save time in the long run. Keep a 'To-Do' folder for tasks like bills or calls you need to make, preventing misplaced belongings from piling up.

Finding Time for Decluttering

Decluttering your workspace might feel like a daunting task. However, committing to short sessions over time can make a significant difference. Look at your schedule and dedicate 15 to 30 minutes each day, or longer if possible. Set a timer and see what you can achieve; it's all about accountability. Some workplaces even set aside time every week or quarter for their employees to declutter their email inboxes and files.

Sort, Delete, and Label

Many professional organizers suggest sorting items by category, such as office supplies, electronics, and keepsakes. This allows you to see how much of each item you have and make informed decisions about what to keep.

Bankers boxes, conveniently labeled with sticky notes, can be used for sorting. Label one box "elsewhere" for items that need to go in a different room; but make sure to distribute them later to avoid distractions. Once you've sorted and categorized your belongings, go through each box and decide what no longer serves a purpose.

Taming the Wilderness of Papers

Approach a mountain of paperwork by determining what you're legally required to keep and asking yourself, "When was the last time I used this document?" As decluttering expert Jenny Albertini advises, "Do you have anything coming up that you know you need it for? Is this hard copy the only one? Would you be able to do your work or task if you didn't have this anymore?"

Digital Decluttering

When organizing digital files, follow the same principle of sorting, reducing, and categorizing your files. Work in short bursts of time to avoid decision fatigue and delete excess items. With presentations, keep only the final product. With emails, ask yourself if the message is necessary for future work. If not, delete it. If you have thousands of unread emails, move them to a digital archive at the end of the year.

Think Before You Buy

Avoid clutter by buying fewer things. Instead, try to reuse existing items like cardboard boxes for organizing office supplies.

By adopting these strategies, you can create a workspace that fosters productivity and mental well-being. So next time you find yourself tempted to hit 'Add to Cart,' think again. Your future self will thank you.

1. The high density of household objects in an environment can lead to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, according to researchers at UCLA.
2. Clutter not only affects our immediate environment but also negatively impacts our decision-making, stress levels, and sleep quality, as mentioned by Marietta Van Den Berg.
3. Buying items online contributes to the accumulation of clutter, as warned by Matt Baier, owner of Matt Baier Organizing in Stamford, Connecticut.
4. Clutter is often a postponed decision or action, as explained by Van Den Berg; by putting items away immediately, you can save time in the long run.
5. Committing to short decluttering sessions each day, instead of trying to tackle the entire task at once, can lead to significant progress in managing clutter.
6. When sorting through belongings, it's helpful to group them into categories such as office supplies, electronics, and keepsakes for a more informed decision-making process.
7. In dealing with paperwork, it's essential to keep only what is legally required and necessary for current tasks, while asking yourself if a hard copy is truly necessary.
8. When organizing digital files, follow the same strategy of sorting, reducing, and categorizing to avoid digital clutter and decision fatigue.
9. To avoid accumulating clutter, practice conscious consumption by reusing existing items and thinking carefully before making purchases, which will contribute to a more productive and mentally healthy workspace.

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