Chronic disorganization starts long before the clutter shows up. Here’s what’s actually going on beneath the surface.

Feeling stuck or short on time? You don’t need a full day to make progress. These three quick organizing wins can shift the energy in your space, and your mindset, in just a few minutes.

Research backs it up: in one study from the University of Toledo, toddlers were given two play sessions, one with 16 toys and one with 4. When only four toys were available, the children played longer with each item and used them more creatively. The researchers concluded that an abundance of toys may create distraction, while fewer toys encourage deeper, more focused play (Dauch et al., 2018).