Before You Set Goals for 2026, Clean This

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A new year doesn’t require a dramatic overhaul.

It requires a clean start. One of the fastest ways to reset mentally is to clean something physically—your office, bedroom, closet, or garage. Not everything. Just one thing. 

Here’s why it works, backed by research.

Clean space creates clean signals.

Research published in the Journal of Neuroscience shows clutter competes for your attention and makes it harder for the brain to process information efficiently.

Visual chaos creates mental noise. When you clean, you reduce cognitive load and send a clear signal: this matters. Order outside lowers friction inside, which sharpens focus and decision making.

Small wins rebuild momentum.

Small, completed tasks are confidence builders.

Harvard Business School research on progress shows that finishing even minor tasks releases dopamine, the brain’s motivation chemical.

Cleaning a workspace, garage, or room can give you an immediate win, and wins create momentum.

You control the controllables.

You can create your own environment! This sense of control lowers stress and builds resilience.

You may not control outcomes, markets, or schedules, but you control your space. Acting where you have agency builds mental toughness.

That is Puke & Rally.

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