How Visual Clutter Can Add to Mental Overwhelm

There’s a spot on the kitchen counter that seems to collect everything.

The mail lands there. A water bottle someone forgot to put away gets added. Then there’s a receipt, a charger, something that needs to go upstairs, and a random item you’re keeping there because you haven’t quite figured out where else it belongs.

None of it seems like a big deal on its own, so you walk past it and think, “I’ll deal with that later.”

A few days later, the counter is full again.

I was thinking about this because sometimes the things taking up space around us are also quietly taking up space in our heads. You may barely notice the pile anymore, but every time you walk past it, your brain sees it.

That little pile can become one more thing waiting for you.

Your Brain: Visual Clutter and Cognitive Load

Our brains are constantly taking in information from the environment around us. The things we see compete for our attention, even when we aren’t consciously thinking about them.

When there’s a lot in your visual field, your brain has more information to sort through. That can add to your cognitive load, which is basically the amount of information your brain is trying to manage at any given time.

Think about that kitchen counter. The unopened mail might remind you about a bill. The charger reminds you that you need to find where it belongs. The bag sitting there reminds you that you meant to return something. Suddenly, a pile of stuff has turned into a pile of unfinished thoughts.

This is one of the reasons visual clutter can contribute to feeling overwhelmed. Your surroundings can keep reminding your brain of things that still need a decision, an action, or your attention.

Of course, clearing a kitchen counter isn’t going to magically solve everything that’s overwhelming you. But removing one source of unnecessary mental noise can make things feel a little lighter.

Sometimes that little bit of space is exactly what you need.

Your O.F.T.: What Is Taking Up More Mental Space Than It Deserves?

This week’s question is:

“What is taking up more mental space than it deserves?”

Maybe it really is the kitchen counter. Maybe it’s the stack of papers beside your desk, the laundry sitting in the chair, or the pile of things you’ve been meaning to put away.

It could also be something you can’t physically see. An email you keep thinking about answering, a small decision you’ve been putting off, or a task that’s been following you from one to-do list to the next.

Choose one thing that keeps catching your attention and deal with that first.

You don’t need to clear every surface in your house or finish everything that’s been hanging over your head. Find the thing that’s taking up more space in your brain than it deserves and make that your O.F.T.

Your Next Step Forward

Let’s start with the kitchen counter.

Clear the counter. Take everything off so you can actually see what has accumulated there.

Put away anything that already has a home. The keys go where the keys belong. The mail gets opened, filed, or recycled. The water bottle goes back in the cupboard.

Choose a home for what’s left. This is usually where clutter starts. When something doesn’t have an obvious place to go, the counter becomes its home by default. Decide where it belongs so you don’t have to keep making that decision every time you see it.

Then enjoy your empty counter.

More importantly, notice whether your brain feels a little quieter when you walk into the room.

You don’t have to organize your entire life today. Start with the one thing that’s been asking for your attention every time you walk past it.

One F*cking Thing at a time.