These days, we're all busy juggling
projects, deadlines, and work demands with family life and personal
time. When the chaos of a hectic lifestyle looms, getting and staying
organized seems like just another never-ending task to cross off an
already long list. But what you might not know is that keeping your
physical space tidy could actually make your life simpler in the long
run by decreasing
your stress and anxiety, and impacting your health, well-being, and
relationships in a myriad of positive ways. And keeping that tidy
environment doesn't have to be hard. Here are a few habits to
cultivate that will make organization automatic and easy – so you
can devote more time and energy to the things that matter most.
Create a to-do list
Trying to keep track of things in your
head will likely leave you feeling distracted and disorganized, a
mental perspective that has a tendency to spill over into your
physical surroundings as well. As David W. Ballard, the assistant
executive director for the American Psychological Association, said
in an article for the Huffington Post, "We spend a lot of
mental energy trying to keep track of all the things we need to
remember." So don't waste time and energy trying; every day,
write down a list of items you need to accomplish, and keep a notepad
close by so you can jot things down throughout the day. This strategy
will help increase your productivity by keeping your mind free to
focus on one task at a time.
Don't let things pile up
Think twice before you throw another
file on your desk at work, or relegate some old pens to the junk
drawer at home. Small things have a tendency to pile up over time. If
you spend two minutes or less organizing at the end of each task, or
ten minutes at the end of the day, staying tidy will seem far more
manageable.
Give everything a home
Attempting to organize without
containers is like trying to live in a house without closets or
cabinets. To avoid chaos, develop an organizing system that includes
containers, drawers, baskets, and bins. Then hold yourself and your
family accountable to put items back in their proper places each and
every time you use them. This strategy will significantly decrease
the amount of time you have to spend organizing later.
Be a ruthless purger
If anything is better than organizing,
it's purging. After all, the less stuff you own, the less time you
have to spend on cleaning and organizing it. Minimizing the things
you own can also make you feel less anxious and stressed. So start on
one area or room at a time, and get rid of everything you don't want
or need. If it works for you, use Marie
Kondo's popular KonMari organizing method of holding each item
and asking yourself if you truly need it or if it brings you joy. If
you don't or it doesn't, throw it out and enjoy the freedom of having
more space and time.
Keep it paperless
Nothing has the power to make you feel
overwhelmed like stacks of bills, paperwork, receipts, and junk mail.
Reduce this stress by spending a few minutes each day sorting through
your paper piles – Better yet, sign up for paperless billing on
each of your accounts online, or download an app like Genuis
Scan to digitize each piece of paper with the touch of a button.
The fewer piles you have to contend with, the more in control you'll
feel on a daily basis.
Break up tasks
If you've already let clutter get the
best of you, don't get discouraged or overwhelmed. Simply tackle one
task at a time, one day at a time. If you prioritize organizing one
thing a day, whether it's the corner of a desk or an entire room,
soon you'll be back on track!
Good habits make a big difference, and
they can make keeping your home and office tidy much easier over
time. In all likelihood, you'll also feel more productive, healthy,
and empowered, and even have more energy and time. Let us know on
Facebook
and Twitter if you
have any other organizing habits that make your life easier or
simpler. We'd love to hear from you!
