It’s as if nature itself whispers the call. As the days get longer and warmer, the urge to purge our homes of the clutter, dust, and grime that accumulated in the cold winter season grows. But it's not just our living spaces that crave a thorough spring cleaning. Much like a desk drawer crammed with cables, old bills, and forgotten books, our minds gather clutter in the form of information overload, distractions, overthinking, and procrastination. These mental burdens hinder our ability to process information, maintain clarity, and sustain focus—in the workplace and beyond.
Organizations can play a role in reducing our mental clutter. The average person spends a third of their life at work (more than 90,000 hours in a lifetime), say McKinsey’s Jacqueline Brassey, Barbara Jeffery, and Patrick Simon, in a new article from the McKinsey Health Institute. Employers can effect significant change through six modifiable drivers of health: social interaction, mindsets and beliefs, productive activity, stress, economic security, and sleep.
Check out these 10 insights for ways you can tidy your mind, reduce burnout, and positively affect your mental health this season of renewal.
Beyond burnout: What helps—and what doesn’t
Cass Sunstein on the perils of habituation
Gen Z mental health: The impact of tech and social media