Everybody's organizing these days… from closets to desktops. It's proven to reduce daily stress levels - making you more efficient, productive and self-confident. And when you're all of the above, there's a little more time in the day to play.
There are books, magazine articles and television shows dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on the latest time and space management tips, as well as serving as an entertaining, thought provoking visual reminder of the peace, love and happiness a little clean-up can bring.
Those who are well organized actually get more done, because there's less confusion in their life. How many times have you lost your keys on your desktop, in your tote bag, on your dresser and stressed about being late - yet again.
Or perhaps you ran out of time to run an errand along your way, because you had to take the time to dump out your whole bag and then restuff it, or sift through your work space before you could lock up and get your car started. The organized are just plain less likely to lose or forget things, because their world runs more smoothly.
So take some tips from the often mocked organized, and see if breaking through the minutiae of life, doesn't give you more balance, peace and happiness.
A word from the wise
People may joke with those who are anal (that is, super organized... often with a fetish for making lists and compartmentalizing objects), but it does keep their stress levels down. Some people are natural list makers. Once they complete a task on their daily list - either to contact someone, complete a chore or a work project, they highlight it in, say, pink. A page full of pink means a lot has gotten accomplished and they can breathe easy. Other's keep two calendars, one personal and one work - so they don't have to keep all those events in their head.
Let it go
Such organizational tendencies can carry over into other areas as well. There's a Chinese expression about monkeys swinging from vines. It refers to those sleepless nights when your mind races from one thought to the next, like a monkey from a vine. The solution to a better night's sleep? Make a list of all the thoughts that are running through your mind. Once they are down on paper, it's halfway to being accomplished, because now you can visualize them. Plus, you're not going to forget to make that dentist appointment or see your boss about that great idea you want to pitch because you've already written it down. It'll be waiting for you in the morning, so now you can shut your mind off and rest.
Clutter of the mind is stressful, but so is the physical clutter of your home or office. Is your desktop clean and simple? Your computer, your phone, pen/pencil holder, in and out file, notepad, and - if you must - that adorable picture from your skiing holiday in Banff last winter are a comfortable amount of clutter. Anything else is taking up room and causing you unnecessary stress.
Organizational queen
In your home, take a cue from (we know she's not hip, but she is organized!) Martha Stewart, whose organizing skills have given her the time to bake gorgeous pies and build an entire business empire for herself, assign drawers or cubbies for specific items. You can even attach labels to them. Use multi-functional items, like ottomans that have storage space inside to hide board games or blankets. You'll have less clutter and fewer losses and misplaced items, because everything will have its place.
Now we come to the best idea of all to reduce your stress with organizational skills: Go through your home and take anything that you don't use anymore or have outgrown and either give it away to friends, donate it to charity, or have a garage sale. You can wind up with more money in your pockets, less clutter in your home and a smile on your face from accomplishing this task. Furthermore, someone else might benefit from your generosity, so you'll have completed a karmic duty as well.
Odd couple
Let's face it: There are some of us who are more Oscar Madison than Felix Unger. For you, clutter is a way of life, but adapting to a more Felix-like (okay, maybe not that extreme) outlook will help you psychologically. Try the above techniques and see how they make you feel. If you respond well to this change, then assess your mental and physical clutter level once a month. Has your list-making and chore assigning eased you into more of a mental comfort zone?
Or, conversely, are paper piles growing like stalagmites on your desk and in corners? With a little self reminder it won't take you long to put them where they belong, because you're already much more organized... and you'll feel much better for it.
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