That cluttered desk, overflowing laundry hamper and full sink are sending a visual message to your brain that things are messy, overcrowded and out of control — and that can be seriously stressful. Organizing your surroundings can be a daunting task, so start small. Pick one doable project to work on for a couple hours each week (like cleaning out a hall closet or your desk drawers), or try changing one behavior that contributes to the clutter, like cleaning dirty dishes right after meals or sorting through the mail as soon as it arrives.
