One thing is for sure, getting organized can feel empowering and exciting. Among other things, organizing has the potential to reduce stress levels and boost mental health. But why is that the case? The answer is simple. Clutter and mess can create more stress and anxiety, but by cleaning, organizing, and reducing the clutter, people are able to take control and create a more relaxing environment that helps them focus on the pressing issues in their lives.
It is a well-known fact that cleaning and organizing are strongly associated with decreasing stress and anxiety. Often a cluttered or messy area can be seen as “unfinished business,” whether consciously or unconsciously, and this can add unnecessary stress.
As a result, the more organized you stay, the less stressed you get. For example, if you have everything decluttered in your house or workplace, you can easily find things even if you are in a hurry. You will not be late for the tasks or be worried about where exactly your items are. In fact, it not only improves your productivity but also keeps you motivated to achieve your goals in an orderly manner.
To better explain, getting organized will feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Take the time to examine how you can adjust remove the “stressors” in your life and ultimately reduce your stress levels. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD Cardiology:
Because so much of life is unpredictable, organizing helps to maintain a regular schedule and track all your responsibilities that lie ahead. Better to clutter a piece of paper with a to-do list than to clutter your brain with how-will-I-do-it-all worries. While you’re at it, the other thing you can do with your pen is a nightly gratitude journal. Write down one or more things every day that you appreciate. The action helps puts your stressors in perspective.
If you’re looking for an easy way to reduce stress, decluttering your environment may be a good place to start. Getting rid of useless stuff can benefit your mental health by making you feel calmer, happier, and more in control. In fact, a tidier space can make room for a more relaxed mind.
Namely, a study led by associate professor NiCole R. Keith, Ph.D., research scientist and professor at Indiana University, found that people with clean houses are healthier than people with messy houses. In fact, the survey found that participants who kept their homes clean were healthier and more active than those who didn’t.
Furthermore, a 2010 study published in the scientific journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin used linguistic analysis software to measure the way 60 individuals discussed their homes. Women who described their living spaces as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who described their homes as “restful” and “restorative.” The researchers also found that women with cluttered homes expressed higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
On the other side of the coin, being disorganized affects your overall personality, behavior, and ultimately creates an adverse impact in the eyes of others. It increases your nervousness, and you end up being depressed about your projects.
As Mayo Clinic noted, clutter and disorganization also tend to increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting chronic stress. That’s because a cluttered environment can make your brain less effective at processing information and more prone to frustration.
Moreover, in 2011, researchers at Princeton University also found that clutter can make it more difficult to focus on a particular task. Namely, they found that the visual cortex can be overwhelmed by task-irrelevant objects, making it harder to allocate attention and complete tasks efficiently.
According to Jamie Novak, author of The Get Organized Answer Book: “The average person wastes almost an hour a day searching for misplaced items like house keys, reading glasses and important pieces of paper.”
Furthermore, it is observed that a messy environment brings laziness and less efficiency along with it. It also induces the inability to meet deadlines by decreasing the productivity level. You start feeling financially pressurized and disappointed for not accomplishing the desired targets. In a nutshell, being disorganized is directly proportional to an increased stress level.
Overall, being organized doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. You’ll be most successful when you take time consistently to organize your home or workplace. As you focus on being organized, your physical and mental health will likely improve.
10 golden rules to stay organized and tackle stress:
- Use a daily planner
- Make weekly and monthly to-do lists of important tasks
- Keep your space clean and clutter-free
- Focus on a single task at a time
- Manage your time well
- Get into a specific routine
- Schedule regular breaks during the day
- Start the day with structured ‘me time’
- Set goals and track your progress
- Keep basic things you use on a regular basis in the same space
A survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation discovered that people who make their beds every morning are 19 % more likely to report regularly getting a good night’s sleep. People who were surveyed also reported benefits from having clean sheets, with 75% of people said they get a better night’s rest when their sheets are freshly cleaned because they feel more comfortable
