Getting Organized: The Top 5 Benefits I Experienced
I have been on a self improvement journey the last few years and one of my big focuses has been on organizing my house. Going through the process to get organized has had so many benefits on my life that I wanted to share the top 5 benefits I have experienced.
I have struggled with my mental health over the years - particularly anxiety. Then in late 2019 I got diagnosed with ADHD and my life made so much more sense.
Fun Fact: People with ADHD do tend to struggle with organization due to difference with our brains and typical neurotypical solutions don’t always work for us.
One of the areas in my life that I was really struggling with was keeping a clean and organized home. I have managed to go from a hot mess to someone who is kind of organized. I still struggle but I have made so much progress in this area that I have helped family and friends with their own organization struggles. I still struggle but I am proud of the process that I have made.
I still do question myself - how can I help others when I struggle? Well, who would you rather get help from when you are struggling? Someone who is naturally neat or someone who has been there, battled and dug out of hole? Thought this process I’ve learned a lot about what does and doesn’t work. I also don’t judge and can empathize with just how hard it is to dig out.
I am also an industrial engineer - so I have taken a lot of classes that are related to being organzied and I actually taught the class on 5S in a prior role. I will be honest, I felt like a hypocrite teaching the class at work then coming home to a mess - this wasn’t great for my mental health.
Why the focus on my home? There are eight basic areas that impact your overall wellness which is referred to as the circle of wellness. These areas are all inter-connected - which means as one area improves or declines the other areas will naturally follow.
The Circle of Wellness:
Physical: Movement, Nutrition, Sleep
Emotional: Stress Management, Mindset, Gratitude
Spiritual: Beliefs, Values & Ethics
Environment: Clean & Organized surroundings
Social: Social network and relationships
Intellectual: Education, Hobbies, Creativity
Financial: Budget, Investments, Debt Management
Occupational: Career, Volunteering
Here are what I believe are the Top 5 Benefits I have experienced to getting myself organized:
#1: More Time
I don’t think I want to even think about how time I have wasted over the years searching for things I have lost. Getting organized meaning being able to get up in the morning and being able to put on exactly what I want to wear vs looking in a pile of laundry, finding that matching socks or lost shoe. Once dressed - I would still have to find my car keys or where I set my phone when trying to get out the door on time. This is just in the morning; my whole life has felt chaotic and continually having to search for things that I lost. More time also impacts occupation positively since it’s easier to get to work on time and feeling less frazzled. This also helps when organizing your workspace efficiently.
#2: Spending Less Money
This one may be more painful than time. Notice above and all the “lost items”? Well, when I lost something, I would end up buying it again and the number of duplicates I ended up with is a bit scary. When you know what you have, you don’t buy as many duplicates due to loss or damaged items.
Then there are all the impulsive buys because being disorganized I didn’t fully recognize or acknowledge how much stuff I had. I thought it was a - I just don’t have it organized properly and not a - I have too much stuff issue. Going through this process and realizing how much I purchased that I didn’t use, and the pain of purging has helped with cutting way back on shopping. When trying to get rid of stuff and have less, you think more about what you purchase. I still have a bit of a weakness for Legos and craft supplies … I am still a work in progress.
#3: Improved Mental & Physical Health
This is #3 on the list but it probably has had the biggest impact. I noticed the improvements in the amount of time and money saved first but if for no other reason to get organized this should be more than enough to encourage you.
Mental Health:
One of the biggest impacts that clutter has on mental health is increasing stress and anxiety. When you see the clutter that you know you need to do something with, your brain is noting it and creating to-do list which makes it hard to relax. The higher this anxiety is the harder it is to tackle it which leads to a bit of an endless cycle.
In the image you can see a long list of what stress and anxiety does to your body and mind.
Getting my house organized and cleaned up has also improved my self-confidence. Getting a project completed creates a sense of accomplishment that I can be proud of.
Physical Health:
The big physical positive is reducing the side effects of stress - which is a lengthy list that can be improved.
Allergy / Asthma improvements - This may be a bit obvious but the more stuff you have, the more dust that collects on surfaces which can impact your breathing.
Lessen chances of slips, trips, and falls from clutter on the floor or piled on top of stuff.
#4: More Creative
When you have a house that is visually stimulating, and you can relax in - this clears up space in your mind for creative endeavors. More time for doing what you enjoy and expressing yourself further improves your overall mental health and wellness.
This also allowed me to clear up some space for a craft room and workshop. At one time these spaces were just piled with stuff but getting rid of things and clearing them out I was able to create spaces I can truly enjoy. My dining room has now been transformed into a craft room.
#5: Better Relationships
You now have more time, money, feel better both mentally & physically, improved self-confidence and the ability to express yourself. These improvements lead to improved relationships since as stated above, all the elements or wellness are interconnected.
I have noticed when my area gets messier, I get more stressed out which negatively impacts those I am in a relationship with. I know that if I want healthier relationships, I need to keep my environment organized. This is great motivation - I am doing this because it makes me a happier person and feel more connected to those who are important to me.
What is NOT listed
My reasons for organizing are not to impress visitors to my home or for social media. I know that I need to keep my environment organized for me - not anyone else. Somedays when I am struggling, I need to remember this for me and my own peace of mind!
Coming Soon: How do I get started?