The Magic of Sorting: Why This Simple Step Brings Calm and Clarity
- Lauren Pollack
- May 19
- 3 min read
There’s something quietly powerful about sorting.
As I began navigating the complexities of home, work, and mental load, I realized I was deeply drawn to the act of sorting. Whether it was organizing a pack of construction paper by color, rearranging books on a shelf, or lining up pebbles at the beach, I started to notice how these small, satisfying actions brought me a surprising sense of calm.
Sorting helped me breathe a little deeper. It was quiet, focused, and grounding—something I could do even when everything else felt like too much.
When I discovered that sorting was a key part of organizing, it all clicked. The peace I felt wasn’t just visual—it was cognitive. It wasn’t about perfection or productivity. It was about restoring a sense of order and creating space in my mind, just as much as in my surroundings.
The Joy of “Like with Like”
In practice, sorting like with like is one of the simplest and most underrated ways to bring order to any messy situation, especially the kind that feels overwhelming.
Whether you’re staring at a junk drawer, a doom bag, or a room where everything has landed but nothing has a home, pulling things out and grouping similar items together begins to create order.
All the cords in one pile
All the pens in another
Receipts, random screws, chargers, paperclips—each in their own group
There’s no need to make decisions yet. No pressure to purge or perfectly organize. Just begin by putting like items together.
When we do this, something shifts. The mess stops feeling like one giant, tangled blob and starts to take shape. I love seeing the patterns of belongings emerge when I'm sorting with my clients. An artist who loved to doodle had extra pens tucked into every drawer. A mom with two young kids discovered tiny dinosaurs hiding in every bag. Sorting becomes a way of learning—not just about your stuff, but about yourself.
We are not here to achieve a minimalist drawer or a Pinterest-worthy shelf, though I'm sure you can get there if that's your goal. Sorting creates clarity. It helps us move from “Where do I even start?” to “Oh… this, I can do.”
Why Sorting Calms the Mind
There’s a scientific reason sorting feels good.
Cognitive researchers have found that our brains are wired for categorization. It’s how we make sense of the world. When we sort, we create structure and reduce the mental effort it takes to process a chaotic scene.
Even something as small as putting pens in one jar and paper clips in another tells the brain: you’re safe, you’re in control.
Sorting also reduces cognitive load—the background noise of questions like “Where did I put that?” or “Do I even have one of those?” When your things are sorted, your mind doesn’t need to track their location. You get to release those internal reminders and repurpose that energy for something more meaningful.
In human-centered design, we use a similar approach when we engage in affinity clustering—sorting like content with like content to uncover patterns, themes, and insights. This method helps make sense of complexity, allowing meaningful connections and trends to emerge organically from seemingly scattered ideas.
What If Something Doesn’t Fit?
Will you encounter items that don’t seem to have a category? Absolutely. But that’s part of the magic too.
Sometimes those misfits just haven’t revealed their pattern yet. For now, give them their own temporary category. Label it “TBD,” “Misc.,” or “Unclear.” What matters is that you’re making space for discovery and learning something about your relationship with your belongings in the process.
Sorting as a Practice
Even when I’m not sure what the outcome will be, sorting brings me back to myself. It’s a gentle, accessible place to begin, that always offers something. Sometimes it’s insight. Sometimes it’s fewer items in the bin. And sometimes, it’s just a little more peace than I had before.
Because often, the simplest acts hold the deepest magic.
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