getting organized is good for your health!
by Kathleen Moore, Ph.D.
Becoming more organized can improve many areas of your life, but it may surprise you to learn that getting organized can actually help you be healthier. Here are five reasons why:
1, Being Organized Reduces Stress
If you regularly spend time rummaging through clutter to find things, procrastinating, catching up on tasks you’ve fallen behind on, attempting to locate something in your filing system, trying to find bills that need to be paid, etc., your stress level (not to mention your blood pressure) is probably pretty high. When you’re organized, your home and office are more pleasant places to be, giving your mind, body, and spirit the opportunity to be more relaxed and stress-free.
2. Being Organized Gives You Time to Exercise
In order to be at optimum health, everyone needs to exercise. When you’re organized, you can build exercise into your daily routine, no matter how busy you are. And being organized can create more free time in your schedule by eliminating time spent on the kinds of unproductive activities mentioned in #1.
3. Being Organized Gives You Time to Eat Right
If you think you don’t have time to eat at least three healthy meals every day, and instead you’re constantly eating fast food, take-out, and other convenience meals, you’re taking a big risk with your health. Becoming more organized will help you free up more time to eat well-balanced, homemade, healthy meals.
4. Being Organized Allows You to Breathe Better
When your home or office is cluttered, that can also mean it needs cleaning. It’s very difficult to clean when there’s clutter strewn about. According to the American Lung Association, one of the most effective ways to control asthma and allergy triggers is to reduce the dust in your indoor environments. When you’re organized, you can quickly and easily dust and vacuum, without obstacles.
5. Being Organized Can Make You and Others Happier
When you’re disorganized, it affects you, but it can also adversely affect the people around you -- your family, friends, and co-workers. For instance, perhaps you are always running late and keeping people waiting because you can’t get your schedule under control. Maybe you forget forget important birthdays, anniversaries, or school events. Or perhaps your boss is upset because you can’t find that important report in the mess on your desk. These types of problems regularly cause tension, and occasionally big relationship problems can result from being disorganized. When you’re organized, you and the people around you can spend less time being frustrated, and more time being productive and happier.
Are you convinced? Want to get more organized? There are many books and seminars available to help you gain control of various aspects of your life. There are also professional organizers who can work with you to develop systems and techniques that will empower you to STAY organized on your own. Good places to start are www.getorganizednow.com or www.onlineorganizing.com, two websites filled with tips, ideas, and free newsletters to inspire and motivate you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kathleen Moore has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, and currently works as an administrator at the University of Rochester. Contact her at kmoore@rochesterhealthyliving.com.