Clutter Isn’t Harmless — It’s a Health Hazard in Disguise
As a home health nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how the environment around us isn’t just a backdrop — it contributes to health. When our space is overloaded with stuff, it’s not just messy; it’s a risk. Clutter hides allergens (dust mites, mold), makes cleaning harder, and may even hamper our brain’s ability to process visual information. For example, a clean home is linked to better physical and mental health.
At the same time, our cognitive system called the Visual Working Memory System (VWMS) — the mechanism that temporarily holds and manipulates visual info in our mind — works best in a less chaotic space. Research shows that visual clutter increases cognitive load, slows visual search, and reduces efficiency.
Putting this together: clutter isn’t just “ugly“ — for nurses, parents, older adults, and kids, it’s a tangible health and cognitive burden.
🌿 Top 5 Reasons to Declutter Your Home Space
1. Protect respiratory health & reduce allergens: Clutter accumulates dust, pet dander, and hides surfaces that should be cleaned regularly. The American Lung Association notes that dust mites live in fabric-heavy areas and trigger asthma and allergies.
2. Prevent mold growth and hidden hazards: If items are stacked or rooms have poor ventilation, mold may flourish unseen — especially in basements, closets, behind boxes.
3. Reduce fall risk and medication mishaps, especially for older adults: Clutter creates trip hazards and can obscure medication bottles or create confusion about which pill is which; for elders or those with mobility issues or multiple meds, this is a serious safety concern.
4. Lighten cognitive load via the VWMS benefit: When our environment is overloaded, our Visual Working Memory System has to work harder — more visual “noise” means more distraction, slower decision-making, increased error risk.
5. Support healthy development & parental wellbeing: For mothers with young children, clutter means more visual chaos, more mental load, more difficulty tracking kids, managing tasks and transitions. It not only affects maternal wellbeing, but also the child’s developmental environment. A calmer, clearer space supports better interactions and modeling of healthy habits.
🌿 Clear the Clutter, Empower Your Health
Sometimes a little less really is more — less clutter, less stress, more calm, and more room to breathe. If you’re looking for inspiration, A to Zen Life on YouTube is a wonderful resource for decluttering motivation and practical tips, and for the older person in your life, Silver Linings Transitions offers excellent senior-focused downsizing and organizing support. Start small — one drawer or corner at a time — and notice how much lighter life feels.
As nurses, we know our surroundings affect our wellbeing and how we show up for others. If you’re ready to bring that awareness into practice, join my CE course “Declutter for Wellness: A Nurse’s Guide to the Impact of Disorganized Environments on Health” (1.0 CE unit) — available at Joyful Sprouts or on CEbroker.com under Joyful Learning CE. Let’s create spaces that support the care we give — starting with our own. 🌱
Stay on top of your health this year—sign up for my e-newsletter for tips on staying healthy, prepared, and balanced in 2025.
Don’t miss the Top 5 Essential Oils for Stress Management to keep your wellness in check.
Sign up now and receive a free guide on “100 Uses for Essential Oils”! Let’s kickstart your wellness journey today! 🌱
