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organizing your home

May 07
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7 Psychological Benefits of an Organized Home

By Blog, Quick Organizing Tips, Simple Living 2 Comments

Untidy environments increase stress for most people. Do you declutter your mind while you declutter your home? Science says yes.

 
We all know the feeling after accomplishing that thing we’ve been putting off, and oftentimes that thing is tidying up. But where does that feeling come from, and how can we get more of it?  



Is this you?


People who have a hard time to declutter your home often struggle with:


  • Time management and project motivation
  • Feeling overwhelmed easily, which can lead to procrastination
  • Perfectionism and finishing tasks
  • Holding attention and being distracted frequently
  • Saying “no” to others
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Orderly environments are linked to more healthy choices.


Our surroundings shape our thinking. If you’re constantly looking at all the things you’re putting off, it’s going to reflect poorly on your mental health. It's more enticing to prepare healthy meals in an orderly kitchen with an easily accessible pantry, and most people sleep better in a tidy room with a made bed.

Pro Tip: Split your fridge, freezer, and pantry into sections that make sense to you, and put items back after use every time.  


Improve focus.


Disarray makes it harder to find what you need and makes you more prone to frustration. It may also distract you while doing another task. Declutter your home by sorting through visual clutter can help your focus and attention span.

Pro Tip: Start with your most frequently used spaces. Clear off your kitchen and bathroom counters. Find a place for each item.


 

Alleviate depression and anxiety.


The only thing a messy home can add to your life is more burden to your mind. Clutter will make you feel worse and scatterbrained, and it is more challenging to want to clear up the space when you see piles accumulating. You may not feel like doing it, but any small steps you can take will improve your overall mood.

Pro Tip: Ask for support while organizing. Having someone around can make the task less dull and more fun.  



Reduce dust and allergies.


You may think that your home is clean despite being disorganized. But you would be surprised at how much dust, pet debris, and mold can build up when hidden. It's important to regularly declutter your home, otherwise, it's harder to clean around piles of belongings.


Pro Tip: Give yourself 20 minutes a day to tidy up any piles laying around the house.  



Enhance self-esteem.

Cluttered spaces erode your confidence because it causes you to feel less in control of your life. Feeling proud and at ease in your home gives you an automatic confidence boost. A living environment that looks more respectable can be extremely empowering.

Pro Tip: Find inspirational pictures and try to imitate them in your home.  



Better relationships.


It’s a drain on your energy and for others in the home to keep clutter lying around. When a household can delegate organizational tasks to everyone, it creates a sense of teamwork and strengthens bonds. Plus, it gets everybody motivated when you can declutter your home together.

Pro Tip: Consider a “Homeless Things” basket for any items you find scattered around the house. Set a ritual once a week where each person checks the container to remove the items that belong to them.


 

Free up time and energy.


When you’re chasing mess after mess it’s impossible to mentally relax. There’s a reason insomnia is linked to disorganization and the accumulation of too many things. Having fewer things means making fewer choices throughout the day.

Pro Tip: Keeping a schedule for tidying up; maintaining a system is easier than creating a new one each time. Try to donate or sell items that you no longer need.

 
 

Decluttering can actually be quite therapeutic; play some relaxing music, visualize your desired “after” of the space, sort in a system that works for you, and simply enjoy the zen that comes with a tidied home.

 

Which room will YOU start in? Comment below!

 
 
 
 
 

Like this article?

You’ll love this one👇🏼

10 Day Decluttering Challenge

 

 

 

Don’t know where to start decluttering?

 

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Mar 11
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Keeping Things Organized in Your Bathroom

By Blog, Home Organizing, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

Quick – think of the room that gets the most use in your home!

 

Everyone uses it at one time or another during the day… and just about everyone living in the house has stuff stored there!

Did you say the bathroom? If you did, you know just how important it is to keep this room organized and clean.

Since there are so many washroom organizational ideas out there, I’ve compiled my favorites that are useful for everyone! These inexpensive tips are especially handy for teenagers and university students.

Here are my ideas to help you keep things simple, organized, and easy to use in your bathroom:

 

Tip # 1:  Makeup and Magnets

If you use cosmetics, one of the worst things is to waste time rummaging through your bag in the morning trying to find your blush, eye shadow, or that always-disappearing eyebrow pencil.

I went over to a friend’s house recently, and she introduced me to the idea of putting small magnets on the back of your most used cosmetics! You can go to your local craft store to buy some super glue and small magnets, and secure them to the back of your individual makeup items.

That way, you can easily store your make up to the back of your medicine cabinet door, or any other metal surface in your bathroom! This makes them easy to reach, out of the way, and most importantly – easy to use.

Tip # 2:  Hooks and Baskets

Everyone has their own favorites when it comes to cleaning their body.

Some swear by all-natural organics, while others prefer on the latest-and-greatest in aromatic science.

Whatever the case, keeping things separate is a good idea. And one of the easiest ways to do just that is to place hooks on the wall near the shower stall, with hanging baskets for each household member.

This way, you are freeing up valuable counter real estate for other things!

Tip # 3:  Making Shelves Out of Nothing at All

Let’s face it – often storage space for such things as towels, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies is in short supply in many bathrooms.

It seems as if most bathroom designers don’t realize that these spaces are to be routinely used at some point!

If you find your bathroom woefully inadequate when it comes to storage space, consider using one of your empty walls instead. It’s simple enough to put up some brackets and a shelf, and you can easily make it look exactly the way you want.

Plus, what you need can be always within easy reach, instead of hidden away in some cupboard down the hall.

Tip # 4:  Use Mason Jars

Worried about keeping smaller things organized and within easy reach? Things like tooth brushes, shaving materials, cotton swabs…

Consider using simple mason jars to keep things organized on your bathroom sink counter. The glass is easy to clean, they are inexpensive, and can be decorated in any manner.

Simply put one out for toothbrushes and toothpaste, one for shaving, one for cotton swabs, etc.

And if you want a little cleaner storage, you can use the lids to keep the contents safe from airborne irritants.

Jun 06
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How to Declutter After Life Transitions Part 2

By Blog, Business Organizing, Expert Articles, Free Articles, Home Office Organization, Home Organizing No Comments

how to declutterNow that you know you are not alone- what do you do? What is the first step learning how to declutter?

 

How to Declutter- Change Habits One at a Time

 

One example of making an internal change that affects the external environment is changing a habit.  Let’s start with something very simple here.  If you’ve recently moved to a new home, you will need a new place to put your keys and hang your coat every time you come home.  And here’s the skinny on habit changing.  You can change a habit in a couple of days using the power of visualization.  Athletes have used this technique for centuries and are masters at developing habits for success.  Simply close your eyes take a few deep breaths and visualize yourself coming in the front door, hanging up your coat, setting your keys and/or glasses in the same place.  Repeat this visualization another 2 times for a total of three times in less than 5 minutes.  The next day, you might return to your old habit, but stop yourself, remember your visualization and go hang your coat up and set your keys in the new place.  Repeat this the next day and within a few days, you’ll have developed a new habit for finding your keys, every time! Stop the clutter first and knowing how to declutter will be easier!

 

How does this all relate to transitions and organizing?  Well, just about every client I’ve worked with over the years has been through some sort of transition.  Transitions have ranged from learning new technology, making room for twins in a growing family, expanding a business, home or office renovations, divorce, to moving someone into assisted-living. Professional Organizers help people get organized so they can get on with their life.  Those who do this, get to the other side of their piles faster and easier than if they did it on their own.

 

Recognize You’re In a Transition

 

When you are going through a transition, recognize that this too shall pass and that it’s temporary.  Acknowledging this piece is critical as it gives you peace of mind that you are doing the best you can during the transition.  Learn how to declutter because the faster you get your environment organized, the better.  Embrace the new skills or what you learned through the transition.  Helping others who may be going through a similar experience will make their life easier and assure them that they too are not alone.

 

Create Healthy Spaces

 

On a regular basis, at least 2 – 3 times a week, make sure that your environment is clean, put things away and that it’s pleasing and inspiring to you.  This is not about perfection and comparing your home to picture-perfect rooms in a magazine.  This is about regular maintenance and keeping your environment orderly to support your vision for your life.  This is an important step in knowing how to declutter. The everyday work! Keeping your physical space clutter free also frees up your time and has a ripple affect into other areas of your life and those around you.  Clearing out the clutter is part of the transition from one time in your life and into another.

 

What have you learned about how to declutter before, during, and after life transitions? Tell us about it in the comments.