What clutter does to your brain

I think we can all agree that a woman’s mind is a very busy place. What people aren’t talking about, however, is the effect of clutter on the brain. And let me tell you: it’s NOT good. I will admit that this is a vast oversimplification of biology, but it’ll give you the gist.

Your visual cortex processes everything in your field of vision. If it’s overwhelmed, it makes your brain less effective. Your prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision making and problem solving, and if it’s overloaded, both of those areas suffer. Your amygdala is the center for your emotional processing, and when it becomes overwhelmed, so do we.

All of these forces serve to increase our cortisol, which can suppress the immune system and increase our appetite, especially for sugary, fatty foods. It also contributes to anxiety, depression and poor sleep.

The bottom line? Clutter has serious consequences on our health. Tackling it sooner than later is your best option.