I appreciate a good cardboard box.  

Maybe it’s because, as an Army brat and Army Veteran, I’ve relocated 25 times in my 42 years on earth.  

Maybe it’s because my family and closest friends don’t live nearby, so I need spare boxes to send them things.  

Or maybe I’m just a little bit of a pack rat.

High-quality as these boxes might be, they still add to the clutter in my space.  

And clutter is one of the many things that makes us tired.  

I found a great article on the ways in which clutter impacts our health.  In it, the author shares that: “research shows disorganization and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains.

 Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganization drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus.

 The visual distraction of clutter increases cognitive overload and can reduce our working memory.

 In 2011, neuroscience researchers using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and other physiological measurements found clearing clutter from the home and work environment resulted in a better ability to focus and process information, as well as increased productivity.

Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed. Research from the United States in 2009, for instance, found the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in mothers whose home environment was cluttered.

 A chronically cluttered home environment can lead to a constant low-grade fight or flight response, taxing our resources designed for survival.”

The cognitive load of clutter combined with the chronic, low-grade stress response is a recipe for exhaustion!  

Spring is a great time to commit to decluttering our spaces.  …not including these boxes, of course, which are actually totally necessary and obviously spark joy.  😉

Check out the article – it’s an informative read!  https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-does-clutter-do-to-your-brain-and-body

What’s your personal pack rat tendency?  

#NationalPackRatDay