PITTSBURGH, United States — The pace of life in a family can be so hectic, now add to the mix some clutter in your household.

Declutter a room in the house and it can last a while, but when the clutter hits your digital world it can be a constant battle.

John Shumway tells you how it can impact your health.

The relief of decluttering can be like taking a breath of fresh air, but when it comes to electronics it has to be done daily.

Digital clutter gumming up our phone or computer is universal and inescapable.

“People spend 45 minutes a day searching through digital clutter to do their job effectively,” said Dr Susan Albers-Bowling from the Cleveland Clinic.

Dr Albers-Bowling says it’s more than just a nuisance.

“Digital clutter is just as toxic to your mental health as physical clutter,” she said, “It triggers high levels of stress and anxiety.”

She said it’s physiological and that when your brain sees digital clutter on your screen it releases cortisol (a stress hormone) and that pushes forward a host of reactions, “feeling frustrated, irritated, avoiding tasks, procrastinating, feeling unfocused, and is if you cannot get anything done”.

Dr Albers-Bowling says to make it a daily habit and says that spending just five minutes decluttering your digital environment can make you feel happier.

Deleting old e-mail, removing an app from your phone you don’t use, or trimming your bank of old text messages will give you a sense of accomplishment and improve your mood.

Eliminate a little at a time, but be consistent.