It may not be that much of a big deal if there's a small amount of clutter around you, occasionally. However, clutter is a symptom of being unorganized. Being unorganized is a habit. So is rationalizing or making excuses about being too busy.
Here is one of life's paradoxes. Have you noticed that those people who are the most productive and seem to be able to schedule spare time at short notice, are almost always the tidiest?
If you are in the other camp, you may seem never to have the time to pick up after yourself (and badly trained others). By the time you attempt to have a clean-up, the sight of your clutter exhausts you even more.
There is no doubt that clutter can easily accumulate over time and can be super stressful to look at. Piles of different things and countless to-do lists are a real drag on the psyche. This can affect not just your day to day schedule, but all aspects of your life, both work and play.
To relieve yourself from the stress of being disordered, there is a simple solution. Be organized. However, like most things in life, simple does not mean easy. You need to put in the extra effort of getting organized and staying organized, which can eventually reduce stress levels and will make you feel more accomplished and in control.
Living in a cluttered environment and being unorganized is circular - each feeds off the other. You can improve both aspects, but you have to break the cycle by forming better habits. Getting rid of all areas of clutter can help you make healthier decisions in life, and also make your relationships easier and more rewarding.
Helpful Tips to Get Organized:
Declutter your home
It is energy-draining when your house is a mess, as where you start and end your day has a big effect on your outlook. Don't get distracted by micros - there is no need for in-depth organizing. The important part is to put everything in its proper place. Determining the one correct place for each item, and returning it there every time is the biggest problem solver in de-cluttering.
Learn to say no
Setting boundaries for yourself and others is one key to becoming more organized. Knowing you have preset limits can help decrease your stress level. Don't automatically say "yes" to requests for help from others. Evaluate each request before responding. Protect your time.
Start planning
Planning your day ahead of time greatly helps in reducing your stress level. This will alleviate feelings of being rushed all the time. Take time at the end of the day to plan for tomorrow. If you do this, you will feel far more relaxed and in control.
Proactivity is the key
Being proactive with your problems is part of being organized. Unaddressed problems accumulate, and your emotional clutter is probably affecting you more than anything else. Solve the issues that you can, then pay attention to different stressors in your life, and work to manage and eliminate them.
Advantages of Being More Organized
If you're more organized, you will feel in control, instead of feeling you are being swept along by the events of the day. And any choices made while not under pressure will result in better decision making.
Here are a few more advantages:
Being systematic creates clarity of mind. This makes us feel more energetic and eager to do what needs to be done instead of avoiding it.
You have the chance to do more of what you want if you are organized. One of the best things about being organized is that it creates time for the things you want to do, whether at home or work.
Your personal life is more satisfying when you can achieve your goals. It gives you a powerful sense of accomplishment and empowerment.
It helps you to be more productive in your job, which will give you a greater opportunity for career growth. You will have a more productive time for higher-priority tasks.
It doesn't take too much effort to get better organized, and if you do, you will save yourself a lot of time, stress, and heartache. Getting started is always the hardest part!