Gain More Mental Energy by Cleaning Your House and Getting Organized

The mind is a curious thing.

While the whole “you only use a fraction of your brain” concept has been challenged by science lately, I would argue that at its core, the premise is true. At the very least, we’re underutilizing our mental capacity every day. Brain power, like budget, is finite. And just like a budget, the same amount of currency can be more or less powerful depending on how it’s spent.

Our brains are designed to create, not trap. Mental energy can either be used to generate new ideas or fresh outlooks, or it can be shifted around to remember tasks. Memories like your first bike ride or your wedding day are coded differently than what is called “working memory.”

Working memory draws from your everyday brainpower to help you remember things like where you left your keys or if you threw in a load of laundry.

The problem with that is every iota of brainpower you’re using for those minute things is brainpower you’re not harnessing for your success. It’s exactly that reason that habit is so vital to success, and that’s what makes me such a huge advocate for clean and organized homes and workspaces.

Whether we want to admit it or not, our nature craves order. You may be one of the people who claim that you live in “organized chaos” because you remember that your keys are right where you left them–under the couch beside one lone tennis shoe.

But hear me out: if you hung that key on the key rack, where it belongs, the need to remember its odd location would disappear and free up the brain space you’re using to code that into your working memory. Without habits, your brain becomes victim to the nitty-gritty of the day, instead of being left open with space for creative problem-solving.The good news is this: unlike losing 100 pounds or getting thousands of dollars out of debt, regular chores are an easy habit to start and keep. I break my routine into 3 segments: daily tasks, weekly tasks, and monthly tasks.

Overall, the day’s tasks won’t take more than 45 minutes. The monthly tasks make take a bit longer but if you divvy them up across the weeks (as I suggest in the extended post) you will find that one hour of chores means more hours of usable, powerful brain space. And isn’t that why you’re here?

Check out the short chore list below! Download the long version of this list here.

Huge shout-out to Austin for letting me write a little on DNY about my favorite topic of all time.

Thanks for reading!

– Erin

CHORE LIST

Daily

Make the beds
Do the dishes
Wipe surfaces
Sort the mail
Load of laundry

Weekly

Wash all linens
Vacuum & Sweep
Bathroom Overhaul
Dust and wet wipe all surfaces
Clean out car
Empty fridge/freezer

Monthly

Office refresh
Vents and baseboards
Kitchen overhaul
Stuff detox