This One Underrated New Year's Resolution Is Actually Good For Your Brain

It's one of the most common New Year's resolutions of them all: This year, I will become more organized. You invest in a planner (maybe it's even color-coded), you wrangle your email until you hit inbox zero (a dream, truly), you organize your closet until it's spick and span, nary a stray scarf in sight. 

It's simple: People tend to declutter as a means of control. "There's a lot of research showing that people have been clearing clutter a lot [during the pandemic], partly because they need the space in their homes but also so they feel like they're more in control of their environments," says Rubin. In fact, an article in the Washington Post calls it the great decluttering of 2020. "I can't control my schedule, but I can control my coat closet," Rubin adds. "And that can make me feel better."

Plus, clearing your outside environment of clutter can help your mind feel more at ease. Think about it: Doesn't it feel oh-so calming to look at a freshly organized fridge or immaculately arranged closet? (No? Just me?) "The more cluttered my mind, the more peace I feel when my environment is harmonious," functional medicine doctor Karyn Shanks, M.D., previously wrote for mbg. "I feel less stressed when I pick up, clean off, put away (neatly), and get rid of what's no longer necessary—in the trash, the recycling, or a donation box."