E20/S2 CLUTTER KILLER - Make sure your mess and disorder don’t do you down

Clutter is a common problem for many people, but as Andrew explains, it is not always bad.  Some of history's most brilliant minds, such as Francis Bacon, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, have thrived in disorder.  However, clutter can also adversely affect mental health and productivity, especially in the workplace. To address this, it's essential to understand why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively.

According to studies, clutter can significantly affect our cognition, thinking, emotions, behaviour, decision-making, and relationships.  People tend to keep clutter for various reasons, such as feeling overwhelmed or keeping things as reminders. However, clutter can harm our chances of success at work and reduce overall life satisfaction, especially among older adults. To tackle clutter, it's essential to create a simple plan and avoid leaving it all to chance.

One helpful framework for decluttering is Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain. First, break your total time into manageable blocks and dedicate a specific time each day to decluttering. Take it slowly and set a goal for each session. Next, reduce your material by making three piles of things: keep, reconsider, and chuck. Be honest with yourself and ask if you genuinely need the things you're keeping.  Finally, Andrew says to organise what you've kept and maintain it regularly. Finding a system that works for you and avoids clutter in the future is essential.

In summary, he reminds you that clutter is not always bad but can adversely affect mental health and productivity. Understanding why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively can create a more organised and fulfilling life. Using the Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain framework can help you to create a simple plan for decluttering and avoiding the harmful effects of clutter in the workplace and at home.

 

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version. Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at

www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading

and

www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch. BOOK: The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

www.myhappinessatwork.com/book