The Conversation

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If you’ve been watching Marie Kondo’s Netflix show, Tidying Up, you’ve probably spent some of your summer holidays sorting through your stuff and working out what “sparks joy” and what doesn’t.

It’s time consuming but worth it. As Libby Sander explains, clutter can affect our anxiety levels, sleep, memory and ability to focus. That’s because our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganisation drain our cognitive resources.

The KonMari method isn’t for everyone, though. Some people have a strong emotional reaction to most of their possessions, so the “spark joy” test won’t be helpful. Thanking items we want to get rid of might also be a problem, write Melissa Norberg and Jessica Grisham, as anthropomorphising inanimate objects can increase their sentimental value and perceived utility.

So what do you do with all the things you want to get rid of? Jenni Downes has some tips, but notes we need to work on buying less in the first place.

Fron Jackson-Webb

Deputy Editor/Senior Health + Medicine Editor

Disorganisation and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains, which like order. Artem Bali

Time for a Kondo clean-out? Here’s what clutter does to your brain and body

Libby Sander, Bond University

Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed. It can also impact our ability to process information and connect with people. Here's why.

Some people have an emotional reaction to many of their possessions, making it a challenge to get rid of anything. Shutterstock

My possessions spark joy! Will the KonMari decluttering method work for me?

Melissa Norberg, Macquarie University; Jessica Grisham, UNSW

While the KonMari method will help many people declutter their houses and reassess what they really need, for people with clinical hoarding disorder the process is much more complicated.

Vinnies is not a dumping ground for your rubbish. Jeremy Brooks/Flickr

So you’ve KonMari'ed your life: here’s how to throw your stuff out

Jenni Downes, University of Technology Sydney

Dumping your closet debris on a charity shop just means giving volunteers the cost of sorting out your landfill.

Back to work and school

Bringing your lunch and snacks to work could save you $600 to $1,800 a year. Shutterstock

Back to work? Take lunch from home to save time and money – and boost your mood

Clare Collins, University of Newcastle

Are you a meticulous lunch planner, or do you decide what's for lunch after those first pangs of hunger strike after midday? If you're in the second camp, it might be time to change.

Good friendships translate to higher achievement at school. www.shutterstock.com

Making friends in primary school can be tricky. Here’s how parents and teachers can help

Dr Natasha Wardman, Australian Catholic University

Making good friends in primary school is not always an easy task. Here's how teachers and parents can help.

Parents may need to play the advocate for their child, especially if their child has a disability which affects their ability to communicate. www.shutterstock.com

What you need to know if your child with a disability is starting school soon

David Roy, University of Newcastle; David Armstrong, RMIT University

It's important for the child and their achievement at school that there is a good parent-teacher-student partnership.

Keep it cool. Shutterstock/bitt24

How to keep school lunches safe in the heat

Vincent Ho, Western Sydney University

The good news is that the bacteria that cause food to spoil are quite different to the bacteria that typically cause food poisoning, and generally don't make you sick.

Expert answers to serious, weird and wacky questions

Curious Kids: how do tongues taste food?

Paulomi (Polly) Burey, University of Southern Queensland; Ursula Kennedy, University of Southern Queensland

Your tongue, saliva and nose work together to help you taste your food.

Curious Kids: why do spiders have hairy legs?

Jonas Wolff, Macquarie University

Believe it or not, I have studied the hairy legs of spiders for years and can give you some definitive answers on this.

Curious Kids: how is water made?

Emma Kathryn White, University of Melbourne

While making small volumes of pure water in a lab is possible, it’s not practical. The reaction is expensive, releases lots of energy, and can cause really massive explosions.

Curious Kids: where did the first seed come from?

Marjorie Lundgren, Lancaster University

This is the story of how seeds came together bit-by-bit over a really long time, as plants evolved.

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