Want less stress? The answer is to get organised in multiple areas of your life.

Research shows that living a chaotic existence in cluttered, untidy spaces causes:

  • High levels of stress, anxiety, and depression
  • Poor sleep quality and eating habits
  • Time wasted from being unable to find things
  • Difficulty focusing, and lower productivity
  • Trouble with decision-making and managing emotions
  • Lower relationship quality; people tend to have a dim view of disorganised people

The opposite applies as benefits to those people who strive to be organised: Improved overall mental health in the sense of a more positive mood, feeling more in control, and generally feeling more relaxed and grounded in your own space.

But where to start?

Your House and Workspace

Start small; with one room, cupboard, or drawer. Go through your stuff; keep only what you use/need and what gives you joy. Donate, dump, or sell the rest. Use aids such as partitioned containers to group and organise your items. It’s important to have everything in its place, somewhere that makes sense. Put things back in the same spot to make it easier to find them, as you associate the item with a specific location. Habitually spend 15 minutes at the end of each day keeping surfaces clean and clutter-free. You’ll feel psychologically enabled and prepared the next morning.

Your Time

Compile literal daily to-do lists to improve productivity, reduce the brain’s burden, and enhance focus. Maintain a physical/digital calendar so you don’t miss any important deadlines or occasions. Set calendar reminders, so you’re not scrambling at the last minute or forgetting to buy stationery for your son’s school project. Don’t over-book your diary and block out periods for downtime and reflection for a calmer, more structured life.

Your Patterns

Being aware and proactive is also part of being organised and feeling empowered. For example, notice and reduce patterns of stress so that you’re not constantly triggered and reactive. For example, if you find yourself always getting angry in traffic, try to understand why, and find a way to address those issues. Perhaps leaving home 30 minutes earlier might be less stressful. If your nature is to leave things to the last minute, investigate the reasons for your procrastination, and consider breaking projects into smaller tasks with daily deadlines.

If you’re struggling to get organised in all aspects of your life, please contact LifeAssist for confidential support.

Written by LifeAssist