gearpatrolFeb 8, 2024, 10:01 AM

Chapter 5: Your Mess Is Slowing You Down

Tidy, organize, purge: how to improve cognition and mood with a serene workspace. View in Browser You probably know some variation of this feeling: You get home from a long day to cook dinner and your

View in Browser

You probably know some variation of this feeling: You get home from a long day to cook dinner and your chef’s knife is in the sink buried in dirty dishes with the rest of your cooking gear. Stressful, frustrating. There’s a reason meditation halls aren’t decorated like flea markets. A disordered environment leads to a disordered mind.

Yes, being a mess can lead to lost productivity (up to two hours per week according to one survey). But it can also impact “our cognition, emotions, and behavior, affecting our decision-making and relationships with others,” according to Libby Sander, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the Bond University Business School, and Director of the Future of Work Project.

“Research on clutter in the workspace shows that while it can be helpful for creativity (encourages our brain to think outside the box), for other types of work it can drain us cognitively and leave us feeling stressed and in a bad mood,” she says. “If you can see clutter on your desk while you are working (or sitting on the couch at the end of the day) it is distracting. Our brains like order and so will keep focusing on the mess.”

She suggests starting small, by just cleaning the space in front of you or one shelf. “Ideally, you might be like Marie Kondo and put every single thing on the floor and sort it out and tidy it in one day, but often people find that too overwhelming or don't have enough time.”

We’d add that decluttering and organizing don’t have to be unpleasant when approached with the attitude of opportunity. Home design has flourished at most price points. With a few strategic purchases—shelves, side tables, racks, valet trays, maybe a credenza—you can turn your workspace into a place that’s productive but also deeply satisfying.

Cleaning is a hassle, and it can often feel like an unproductive distraction to turn your focus to remedying it rather than accomplishing your tasks.

One way to keep things clean while avoiding a kind of work fomo is to schedule in a regular period of time (whatever makes most sense) to just focus on cleaning up your workspace. Whether it’s something you put on your calendar or have as a recurring event in a productivity tool, just making it part of your routine will produce a huge benefit for your productivity and your sanity.

Further Reading

• The Key to an Organized Home: Buy More Stuff?

• The Perfect Apple Desk Setup, Four Ways

• This Productivity App Is Maybe the Best $2 I've Ever Spent

Gear Patrol
276 5th Avenue, Suite 704-3126
New York, NY 10001

You're getting this email because you subscribed via a form on our website or by entering one of our sweepstakes. If you'd like to opt out or change your preferences, that's ok — just click below.

Click here to forward to a friend. If you're new to this newsletter, you can subscribe here.

Update Frequency | Preferences | Unsubscribe | Advertise | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My P ersonal Information

2024 Gear Patrol. All Rights Reserved.

Latest Emails from gearpatrol

gearpatrol

9:33 PM (Yesterday)

Your iPhone Has a Useful New Feature You Probably Didn't Know About Yet

Plus, the return of an iconic cheap beer, new finishings for a popular Leatherman and more Plus, the return of an iconic cheap beer, new finishings for a popular Leatherman and more View in Browser

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Mon 11:04 PM

This Sub-$60 Casio Puts Expensive Tool Watches to Shame

Plus, New Balance trail shoes, hi-fi headphones from Japan and more Plus, New Balance trail shoes, hi-fi headphones from Japan and more View in Browser Casio's New Sub-$60 Masterclass Puts Much

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Mon 1:34 AM

This Car Safety Innovation Should Come to America

Plus, new releases from Yeti, New Balance and More View in Browser Subaru's Latest Innovation Is So Simple (and Great), There's No Reason Not to Bring It to the States Subaru's Latest

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Fri 10:18 PM

Why This Remarkable New Watch Lacks a Minute Hand

Plus a welcome Yeti cooler redesign, a surprising vertical mouse and more Plus a welcome Yeti cooler redesign, a surprising vertical mouse and more View in Browser Why This Historically Significant

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Thu 9:48 PM

Adidas's Best Shoe Just Got Even Better

Plus innovative coffee grinders, sports watches, SUVs and more Plus innovative coffee grinders, sports watches, SUVs and more View in Browser Adidas's Best Shoe, Ever, Just Got Even More Exciting

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Apr 23, 2025, 10:04 PM

This New Touring Moto Draws on WWI-Era Army Bikes

Plus, an impressive EDC bag, affordable Seiko watch and more Plus, an impressive EDC bag, affordable Seiko watch and more View in Browser Indian's Darkly Dazzling New Touring Motorcycle Draws on

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Apr 22, 2025, 11:04 PM

This New Travel Backpack Solves a Growing Problem

Plus, Fellow's first-ever espresso machine, affordable Plus, Fellow's first-ever espresso machine, affordable View in Browser This Minimalist Backpack Solves a Growing Problem for Modern

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Apr 21, 2025, 9:35 PM

This Was One of the Original Smartwatches, No Electricity Needed

Plus, deals on the Apple Watch, new EDC packs and more Plus, deals on the Apple Watch, new EDC packs and more View in Browser This Retro Dive Watch Revives the Original Wrist “Computer,” No Electricity

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Apr 20, 2025, 3:19 PM

Our 50 Favorite Made-in-America Style Brands

View in Browser 50 Made-in-America Clothing and Footwear Brands, Updated for 2025 50 Made-in-America Clothing and Footwear Brands, Updated for 2025 From denim and tees to boots and bags, these are the

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Apr 18, 2025, 9:19 PM

Is This Yeti's Next Everyday Classic?

Plus, science-backed running shoes, an ultralightweight jacket and more Plus, science-backed running shoes, an ultralightweight jacket and more View in Browser Is This Unassuming Yeti Release Destined

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Apr 17, 2025, 9:49 PM

This Japanese Turntable Looks Like the Future

Plus a luxe anniversary G-Shock, upgraded Hoka daily trainer and more Plus a luxe anniversary G-Shock, upgraded Hoka daily trainer and more View in Browser A Japanese Hi-Fi Great's New Audiophile

Read full newsletter →

gearpatrol

Apr 16, 2025, 10:19 PM

New Balance's Special Next Shoe Only Surfaces Twice a Decade

Plus Samurai-inspired knives, a Harley history lesson and more Plus Samurai-inspired knives, a Harley history lesson and more View in Browser New Balance's Next Shoe Is So Special, It Only Comes

Read full newsletter →