Clutter impacts performance: see why (and how) you should keep your study space or work desk in order

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Research shows that disorganization influences our cognition and behavior, increasing anxiety levels and affecting concentration and performance. Messy environments influence our cognition, emotions and behavior Freepik Keeping your work table or study desk in order is not just a matter of whim. Research proves: an organized environment impacts your performance and well-being. According to experts, the maxim is true: “When our surroundings are a mess, so are we.” What studies have shown (see details at the end of the report) is that: 📚 We waste precious minutes looking for objects left scattered around (on average, 9 minutes every day). 😵‍ Messy environments influence our cognition, emotions and behavior. 🧠 Our brain likes organization: clutter reduces our focus and productivity. 👉 If organization on a daily basis brings gains in general, for those who are even more under pressure, such as preparing for the entrance exam or the National High School Exam (Enem), it becomes more urgent and necessary. ✅ Click here to follow the new g1 Enem channel on WhatsApp A tidy environment reflects an organized mind. Or, more simply, organizing the environment allows the person to concentrate better and organize the information they are absorbing in a more practical and effective way. How to maintain order Below, check out tips on how to have a suitable environment to maximize your performance. But first, test whether you are one of those people who live well with a mess without caring too much or are you one of those people who see something out of place and start cleaning it up. In the infographic, identify five elements that hinder concentration when studying. Minister of Education confirms that there will be no change in Enem ‘neither now nor in 2024’ To have an ideal place to study or work, psychologist Amara Brandão recommends: ☀️ Having good lighting Just as good lighting can facilitate rest, a Bad lighting can impair concentration and focus. The ideal environment for working or studying cannot be too light or too dark – and the best thing is if it has natural light. 🖥️ Having the clarity of well-calibrated screens The so-called blue light from computer, tablet and cell phone screens can harm the eyes and interfere with performance and concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully adjust the brightness settings of digital devices. 🪑 Have suitable furniture A desk or table with a chair at a height that allows your feet to rest on the floor (keeping your knees at 90º) and does not force your spine, is the best option. In the case of students, no studying on the sofa or in a lounger! 🔇 Get rid of distractions A noisy environment hinders concentration. For those who are going to study, it is worth looking for a quieter place, without large crowds. Music, especially loud music, can also distract from focus. Children should learn to help with homework from an early age; see tips Shoo, mess! Students who make organization a routine see the benefits in practice. For Maria Eduarda Bilheiro Feijon, 17 years old, maintaining order in the study environment is essential. If my room isn’t tidy, I can’t study. My study corner, then! I have a table with my computer, a corkboard and even a wall with sticky notes where I take notes, and I keep my books all separated. When studying, she already thinks about the subjects she is going to review and only takes to the table the material she will need. Maria Eduarda’s study table. Personal archive Pedro Lopes, 19 years old, follows a similar organizational system, but admits that it took him a while to recognize the benefits. I was never very organized and my room reflected that. But when I started studying in earnest, it really bothered me. If there was a shoe out of place, I would get up to put it away and never sit down again. This only got better when he started cleaning up the mess before studying. He also started to keep only the material that would be used in each study session on hand. “It really made a difference, because I have nothing else to do other than study. I have no excuse to get up and now I only leave the table when it’s time for a break”, he adds. For Julia Mano Senise, 18 years old, the biggest challenge was adapting to studying in two different environments. She takes classes in the morning and in the afternoon she alternates between her mother’s house and her father’s house, and she needs to study wherever she is. At my mother’s house, I have a table in the bedroom to study, but at my father’s house, I don’t. So I use a dining room table. For me, studying from my bedroom is better, but I needed to learn how to look good in the living room. I thought about my goal and went. How to get a thousand marks in the Enem 2023 essay? The secret is simple: train; see 6 golden tips Research with a focus on organization At the beginning of the report, we pointed out that we wasted precious minutes looking for objects left scattered around. The data comes from research conducted by behavioral psychologist Becky Spelman, at the request of the company Samsung, revealing that, in the United Kingdom, adults spend, on average, 9 minutes every day looking for lost items, such as cell phones, TV remotes and keys. This also applies to the virtual environment: an international survey carried out by the International Data Corporation (IDC) showed that IT (information technology) workers spend up to two hours a week searching for lost digital documents. Researchers also say that messy environments influence our cognition, emotions and behavior. A study led by Libby Sander, a professor specializing in organizational behavior at the Bond University Business School in Australia, points out that this can increase our anxiety levels and lead to mental exhaustion, with impacts on decision-making and our relationships with others. . Research from the University of Michigan (USA) also demonstrated that those with a messy desk give a negative impression to their co-workers, which influences the way they are seen and can interfere with career progression. Furthermore, they claim that our brain likes organization: clutter reduces our focus and productivity. Scientists at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute (USA) used magnetic resonance imaging, among other resources, to show that our brains like order and that constant visual reminders of disorganization consume cognitive resources and reduce our ability to focus. The research also found that when participants cleaned up clutter in the workplace, they were able to focus more, process more information and increase their productivity. WATCH EDUCATION VIDEOS

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