Imagine the chaos that would ensue if you are living in an unorganized state. It’s hard to keep up with everything, both at home and out of it, especially when there isn’t enough energy for anything other than basic tasks — like chores or bills due by their deadlines because feeling overwhelmed makes us too tired before long-term projects can even begin.
Build up of clutter is a silent killer. It’s the first thing we notice when we set foot inside our homes and it breaks down on us before we can even enjoy what we’ve invested in. We all need to make sure that things don’t get out of hand and turn into too much to handle.
Being unorganized generally spreads from one area of life to the next. As one region is impacted, it quickly spreads to another until a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness takes hold. There are messes all around, literal and metaphorical alike.
This is where organizing comes into play. It makes you gain back control and put things into order, so that nothing breaks down on you. How exactly does it work? Well, let’s see!
What causes clutter?
Clutter can happen to anyone at any time — some people are born with a knack for collecting stuff, others inherited a tendency from their parents, and still some people’s surroundings can trigger an emotional response that causes them to buy stuff.
But whatever the cause is, clutter can be a problem. It makes it difficult for you to move freely through space and dramatically decreases the efficiency of your work or home life.
There are certain things that attract clutter: lack of storage space, no designated (and accessible) spaces for certain items, spending too much time collecting more stuff, etc.
Another reason for clutter is stress. According to research, when you’re stressed out, your brain’s reticular formation (the area that manages incoming information) gets overloaded with stimuli and becomes blocked like a logjam on a river. It can’t process anything new coming in.
At the same time, your brain takes in every detail of everything around you. This causes everything to get stuck in your brain, not just the things you need. Stress causes clutter because it keeps storing information you simply don’t use or need.
How to get started
Sorting out the clutter can streamline life and make it easier day-to-day. It may require effort in the beginning, but the results are worth it. Start with essential items like your hobby items, books or tools.
Take everything out of the room you’re sorting. On a sheet of paper, draw one line for each item that must go back into the room. No matter how hard it may seem at first, try to keep only essential items.
Then label the sheet “sorting out” and place it somewhere you can see it so that when an essential item comes back to your home, you’ll know exactly where to put it. It’s important to keep everything in one place so that sorting time will be easier and more organized next time.
Additionally, having a designated space for items that don’t belong will avoid clutter from forming. For example, you can have a space for old magazines, catalogs, and papers. If there is no more room on the designated sheet of paper, or if an item doesn’t need to be kept at home anymore, throw it away or give it to someone who needs it.
Once you have the resources in place to maximize your home and your mind, you can expect to feel things getting more accessible. You’ll discover more spare time and have less anxiety about chores and the expectations of your family.
Here are some key ways to declutter and streamline your life:
- Have a capsule wardrobe
- Create spreadsheets of important dates and occasions
- Get outside assistance
- Organize your pantry for easier meal prep and save money
- Create chores for your family
- Create routines for daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance
- And more
Why it’s a good idea to sort out your clutter
Sorting out the clutter may sound like a huge job, but you’ll save time and energy in the long run. It will also improve safety around your home as you can see what’s behind doorways, under furniture, or hidden in dark corners.
The result is that you’ll save money as you won’t have to replace broken appliances or buy things that aren’t necessary. You’ll also feel happier and more relaxed because you know where everything is.
Getting rid of the clutter can help you live a more streamlined life, allowing you to accomplish more. Having systems in place and making use of your time wisely creates order in your home as well as peace outside it. It’s worth the effort to establish an ordered house free of mess and confusion.
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