Is the Clutter in Your Home Stressing You Out?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80% of our medical expenditures are now stress-related. The abundance of things in our disorganized homes can be an often overlooked source of that stress. A 2003 study indicated that women spend an average of 55 minutes per day looking for things. When we are looking for something, we are usually frustrated at ourselves and the time we've wasted.

For some, the stress starts from the moment you get out of bed. You trip over clothes on the way to the bathroom, are unable to find a new razor, search frantically for a permission slip, and are at a raised level of anxiety before you've even hit rush hour traffic. Searching for missing items, forgetting a friend's birthday or a work deadline, and simply feeling disorganized, are all sources of daily stress, guilt, and frustration.

I truly believe that mess equals stress and that less stuff equals more peace and tranquility. Living in a cluttered home can consistently lead to low-grade level of constant stress. Often, people do not even recognize that clutter was their chronic source of stress until the unnecessary stuff is removed and key items are given their place. Your home should be a refuge from stress, but if it is cluttered and disorganized it can be the single biggest source of your family's daily stress. Relaxation techniques tell you to close your eyes and picture a wide open space in order to stay calm. This theory of how to stay calm holds true in your home. Seeing open space on the floor, a book shelf, or a kitchen counter, is imperative to your psychological well-being.

So you might acknowledge that you are living in a disorganized home, but it's so overwhelming, you don't know how to get started. It is difficult to change daily habits. Remember, it's not about getting organized - it's about being organized. Give yourself permission to implement some unconventional organizing techniques and create a unique system with the right balance that works for you. Being organized doesn't mean that you feel forced into rules or regimens that don't make sense; you are simply giving your items a home that makes sense to you in order to value your important things and your precious time all the more.

To emerge from being disorganized to living clutter-free is a daily process, and getting started is certainly the hardest part. First, tell someone aloud what you want to do. What is your ideal end result? For example, I want the garage to be able to house both cars; I want the tool room to be accessible and tools easily found; I want to be able to invite guests upstairs, not into just one room in the house; I want to find have a spot for my mail so that I don't have to look at it all the time, but can find it when necessary. Articulate your vision so that you will be accountable. You have to engage those family members you live with - they need to know your mission and be on board to implement new routines which will help the household stay organized. Get their goals and desired results incorporated into your plan as well.

The end vision may appear far away, but put one foot in front of the other. Start with one cupboard, or one closet, or one shelf; accomplish that and go from there. If you absolutely hate organizing, and cannot even bear to get started, set a timer for only ten minutes and just go through one stack of papers or one drawer of clothing. It's incredibly fulfilling to see even just a small change.

Sometimes it is easiest to start with deep storage areas such as boxes in a basement, attic, or garage that you haven't opened in years. You could be surprised at how many things you will find that you no longer want, need, or value, versus the things already in your living space. Before you start to purge, call and schedule a charity; Salvation Army or the Vietnam Veterans Association, for example, to come and pickup donation items at your home. With this date on your calendar, you will be even more motivated to give your now useless items away to a good cause.

Maybe you have too many knick knacks in your china cabinet or your children have too many toys overflowing out of their toy chest, but you just are not ready to purge and say good-bye to these sentimental things. Start by boxing up half and then rotating the toys or knick knacks each season. This will enable you to enjoy the items more, and lead you to you see what items you value more than others.

Letting go of items is extremely challenging for some. Deep memories and personal associations are tied into these keepsakes, and saying good-bye to a small decoration or an old blanket can be a mourning experience. Grieve your items and remember the person or event. It can help to engage someone else in this process so that you can share your recollections, and then say good-bye to your items. There are many items in our homes that had a great deal of value to us at one time, but they no longer do and the only inherent value is in the memory. Keep the adage in mind that memories are more valuable than items we no longer use.

People can irrationally justify keeping almost anything. As you assess your inventory of stuff, here are some reasons not to keep things:
"¢
Waiting for them to become useful again (I might need it later),
"¢
I used to use it a lot (If it hasn't been used in two years, pitch it)
"¢
Keeping things out of guilt (Grandma gave this to me as a gift)
"¢
Keeping it because I spent a lot of money on it (only keep things you like and us - we've all made stupid purchases we regret; storing it won't help)

As you go through the daily process of becoming and staying organized, you will feel your stress diminish. Relieving yourself of clutter and disorganization will relieve your body's stress. Enjoy your home's new atmosphere as the no-longer-useful items are removed, important items are given their spots, the treasures are found, and your keepsakes are stored and honored properly.