How Clutter & Disorganization Can Affect Your Life
Since being in a state of disorganization can feel overwhelming, it can be hard to tell which came first: being overwhelmed or being disorganized. Nonetheless, being disorganized contributes to chaos in and out of the home. Simplifying your spaces not only clears the clutter from your home it also helps streamline other areas of life which can increase your happiness.
The Ways Clutter Effects You Physically & Mentally
Clutter and its effect on your mind
One big problem with having lots of clutter, or too much “stuff” laying around, is that it competes for attention and draws your focus away from your priorities. In fact, a study done by Princeton University came to that conclusion. The researchers looked at people both in organized and disorganized environments and their findings were that having too much clutter around decreased performance overall.
Referencing the same research, it was also found that those that experienced a cluttered environment also had increased levels of stress. Unfortunately, having more stress in your life is directly related to other health conditions such as heart disease and stomach problems. In addition, people who have more stress can feel tired and overwhelmed, leading to low energy. In the long run, the lack of energy makes it hard to get chores down, finish tasks, and run errands. Before long, there’s no food to make a complete meal, no one can find a clean pair of socks, and the bills are overdue.
Disorganization can lead to physical problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Health issues
- Trouble Sleeping
Other Ways Disorganization Can Affect Your Life
Time and money wasted
A decrease in performance and an increase in stress are not the only negative effects of clutter. Without organization, people waste hours of time trying to find something they know they have. Like that time you knew you had a flashlight for camping, but couldn’t find it. So then you ended up spending more money by having to buy it again and you were late leaving for your trip. But of course, you found it when you got home (totally me, before I made staying organized a priority!).
When it comes to your time, it’s a precious commodity. When you don’t remember where you stored an item that you need to, let’s say, complete a home improvement project, finishing will take a lot longer. Multiple the time it takes you to search for something with how often it happens and you will realize that you have wasted many hours. Considering this scenario, I’ll quickly mention how beneficial it is to plan your days ahead of time so you can consider what you might need to get the job done, manage your time wisely, and stay productive.
Another example is if you can’t find a bill that must be paid because you misplaced the envelope. Paying something late could end up costing you more in late fees and could even affect your credit score. If that happens it could, in turn, increase the amount you have to pay on things like car insurance, mortgage interest, etc.
These are just some reasons why it’s important to create a household budget so you know when bills are due. If you stay organized with your income & expenses, it will help you meet your responsibilities so that you don’t negatively affect your financial future.
Disorganization can affect:
- Paying bills on time
- Property values
- Lost productivity
- Family time
Basically, being disorganized trickles down from one area of life into another. As one area of your life becomes affected, it spreads into another area. Eventually the figurative weight of being and feeling disorganized leads to a sense of overwhelm, hopelessness, and helplessness. Before long there are messes everywhere – in your spaces, your schedule, your finances, your relationships.
“With organization comes empowerment.”
Lynda Peterson
How to get organized and streamline your life
Although it sounds like being moderately disorganized or “messy” is a prediction of future failings, it is not. There’s nothing wrong with being messy or having a lifestyle that someone else might consider cluttered. Some people are less organized where others may be extremely so. Failure to make the bed doesn’t automatically designate someone as being unorganized.
Problems with not being very organized arise when your disorganization directly or even indirectly begins to negatively affect one or more areas of your life. For example, being disorganized becomes a problem that needs a solution if it leads to disharmony in your family or causes you to avoid important tasks because you can’t seem to get it together. If you can think of one health issue you are experiencing or one area in your life that feels chaotic then simplifying and streamlining your life might be the solution.
Let’s get started organizing!
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. Once you have the resources in place to maximize your home and your mind, you can expect to feel things getting easier. You’ll discover more spare time and have less anxiety about chores and the expectations of your family.
Clearing the clutter can streamline your day-to-day living and make it possible for you to do more with ease. Having systems in place and using your energy wisely helps to create harmony in your home and beyond. The satisfaction and pride that comes from running an efficient home that is free from clutter and chaos are worth the efforts it takes to get there.
Tips to get you started organizing & simplifying your life
The organization of a cluttered space is a two-step process. First, sort through everything and get rid of things you no longer need. To determine what to throw out, one question to ask yourself is if you have not used it in more than a year, more than likely you don’t need it anymore. Then decide what you need to do with those items. Things that have no monetary value can be thrown away. If you think someone can get some use out of it, you can donate it to a charity.
The second step is what to do with what you have left? Organize it of course! When organizing you want to make sure that each item has a place. That way, you always know where it is so that it is easy to retrieve when you need it. Once finished using it, always put it back in its place!
More decluttering suggestions to get you started
- Create spreadsheets of important dates and occasions
- Organize your pantry for easier meal prep and save money
- Create chores for your family
- Create routines for daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance
- Create a capsule wardrobe
- Get outside help decluttering
No Comments