The following post is from Laura of I’m an Organizing Junkie:
source: mauroguanandi
Editor’s note: There are a lot of great posts in the archives here at Life Your Way that don’t get much attention anymore, so I’m sharing a couple of my favorites each week. This great post from Laura includes some important reminders about why we promote organizing and slowing down!
There are many benefits to becoming organized, but today I’d like to concentrate on the six that have made the biggest impact on my life since I began my own journey 5 years ago.
It was the birth of my youngest son that sparked a desire in me to simplify and slow down — not so I could pack even more into my day, but so I could really enjoy all the benefits that simplicity and organization have to offer. Now that I’m addicted to the “high” that comes with it, I want to help others get “hooked” along with me.
So today let’s talk about the rewards, and in future posts here at Organizing Your Way we’ll talk about how to get there.
1. Find what you need when you need it.
Imagine not having to waste time searching for something day in and day out. Imagine not being late for an appointment because your keys were right where they were suppose to be in their designated spot. To not lose your mind trying to find something you need in a hurry is absolutely freeing.
2. Money in your pocket.
When you can find what you need when you need it means you won’t be wasting valuable dollars replacing the items you cannot find. Not only do duplicate purchases cost you precious dollars but they also add to your clutter load as well.
3. Better health.
Stress caused from disorganization and busyness plays out in so many ways. In a recent Martha Stewart Living article, Dr. David Spiegel explained that our bodies react by releasing stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, the lungs take in more air, and heart rate and blood pressure rise. If stress becomes constant, it can lead to headaches, trouble sleeping, lack of concentration, and weight gain or loss. It can also increase the body’s susceptibility to infections.
I know this to be true because at the height of my busyness my cortisol levels were through the roof. I experienced many of the side effects listed plus many many more. At the time I thought this was normal. Slowing down and simplifying taught me that it isn’t.
4. More time for down time.
Busyness is not an indication of success. When you become more organized and efficient at handling your day-to-day affairs, the natural tendency is to want to fill that extra time with more stuff and more activities. However, to maintain your sanity, it is important to recognize that down time is a productive and worthwhile activity that should be embraced.
source: Christian Haugen
5. A great example for your kids.
You maintain the standards with the examples you set. By modeling the organized behavior you want your children to emulate, you are teaching them the benefits of organization and simplicity from a young age so that it becomes a natural part of who they are.
6. Less housework.
I have discovered that an uncluttered home lends itself to less cleaning. When everything has a home, clean up is suddenly a snap. Less clutter means less time managing, corralling and cleaning that clutter, and that, my friends, is a very sweet reward!
The rewards of organization are many. Are you ready to take the journey?
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Laura is a wife and mother to three great kids, lives in Alberta, Canada and is an addict of all things organizing. You can find her blogging regularly at I’m an Organizing Junkie, and her organizing book, Clutter Rehab: 101 Organizing Tips & Tricks to Become an Organization Junkie and Love It!, will hit bookstore shelves in December 2010. |
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