The Importance of Getting Organized

Why do you need to get organized?

There are so many reasons why you should get organized. One of the most important is because it is making less work for you in the course of your life. Let's say that you have kept everything thrown away on your desk, floor, bed, bathroom countertop, and hallway closet for two years. If you were to organize these places you would be able to eliminate all of this clutter and simply place them in their appropriate areas. This will not only make your life much more organized but it will also free up space for you to do other things with your time.

Another reason why you should get organized is that it helps to reduce stress levels, especially if there are times when you are rushing around trying to do everything and it is extremely hard for you to stay organized. When your life is so busy it is inevitable that some things will start to slip through the cracks. This can lead to serious problems later on down the road since these unorganized areas of your home or work area will cause tension and more stress than you can bear. If you get organized, not only will your stress levels drop but you will also be able to cover all of the bases and ensure that nothing is missed or forgotten about.

Sometimes people might think that they spend their time doing things more efficiently if they do not get organized. This may be true in some cases, but there are so many reasons why it is much easier to get organized than not to. The truth of the matter is that being disorganized will cause you so much more stress and work throughout your lifetime, especially because you have to try and fix things later on down the line when they start going haywire.

If you do not get organized it can become extremely hard to find things and you never know where they will be. Another reason why you should get organized is so that others do not have to go through the trouble of finding what you are looking for. For example, if we take a look at your desk or work area, would it be easier for you to simply donate items that other people could use instead of digging around in a multitude of boxes and clutter?

Consider the fact that if you get organized, not only will your life be less stressful but it will also make your work area much more productive. Your coworkers would love to have a clean desk as well, which is another reason why you should get organized. This may seem petty but it can be a big reason why you should get organized. You could simply make things much easier on yourself and others by getting organized.

woman putting clothes in the sack

To make your life much easier, all you would need to do is spend around 15 minutes a day organizing one area of your home or workplace. For instance, if you choose the kitchen as your location, you can organize all of the items in your kitchen cupboards and drawers. Once you have done this, spend 15 minutes organizing the things on your countertops like spices, seasonings, bread crumbs, etc. This will make it easier for others to cook without having to search through piles of papers or odds and ends to find what they need.

father and daughter organizing dishwasher

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should get organized and the best part is that it does not take too much time out of your day. If you lack the motivation to do this yourself, simply ask a friend or family member to help you out. Once they realize how beneficial getting organized truly is they will most likely be happy to help you out. For you to get started, simply begin by tackling just one space in your home or work area and you will notice a huge difference in not only how much easier it is for you to find things but also the fact that you have more free time to do other things because of all of the time that has been saved.

The Disorganized Household

Do you ever wonder why some families insist on living in a mess? You may see toys, clothes, and other belongings strewn about the floors of their home; they seem to not care that the rest of the world lives differently. Questions like "How can they live like that?" or "I cannot imagine living like that" float through your mind as you struggle to comprehend what life must be like for those people.

declutter and disorganized household

A disorganized household comes from a lack of motivation to fix the situation. It can be brought on by financial problems, bad advice from other people, or simply ignorance about what should go where. In a disorganized household, the home's residents tend to ignore their messes and go on with life as if everything was in its proper place. They can be easily spotted by their unopened mail strewn about the house or visible dust bunnies where they shouldn't be.

What makes a disorganized household different from a normal messy one? A messy one has a place for everything and everything is in its place. In a disorganized household, there are no specific places to put things so they find their spot to land.

mom shocked of declutter house

Disorganization leads to other problems besides just an unruly home. Unopened mail can lead to penalties or missed opportunities for financial stability, dust bunnies can lead to increased allergies and hectic mornings can lead to more health problems. By not tackling the disorganization, the family may become stressed and depressed with their living conditions.

So how does a household reach this level of chaos? There are many different ways it can occur but there is usually one root cause that leads to all others: laziness. Without the motivation to keep things tidy, daily life will become more difficult than necessary.

disorganized living room

Perhaps the easiest way for a household to become disorganized is by not setting up any sort of organization system in the first place. If left alone, the home's dwellers will eventually lose track of where things are and what belongs to whom. This especially applies to children who do not want to put away their toys after playtime. They may take something out of the toy box, decide they no longer want it, and simply leave it on the ground. If nobody ever puts that toy back into its proper place, then everyone will start doing the same thing until there are twenty random toys strewn about the home. Even worse, it takes no time for a child to empty the toy box making it harder to find anything.

Another common reason people don't clean up after themselves is due to poor or bad advice from others. The perceptions that other people have about messiness are influenced by their habits and parenting styles.

stressed mother of disorganized household

Even though they grew up in a clean home, they may have been told that it's okay to have your socks on the floor because "your bedroom is your personal space" or that you can leave dirty dishes in the sink until after dinner because "it takes too long to wash them." These ways of thinking are not always effective and only lead to more clutter. Lastly, some people just have the mindset that if the mess bothers you then it is your problem. In their minds, they are allowed to leave whatever household items wherever because you should simply adjust to their lifestyle. Even though this seems like an idealistic approach to living with others, there has been no scientific proof of whether or not it works.

Tips on How do you get organized

Getting organized is a great way to find time for yourself and your tasks. In this article, I will give you many tips on how to get started organizing your life, room, or desk!

Step 1: Get rid of what you do not need

woman opened cabinet full of clutter

When it comes to organizing, prioritizing things that are important and getting rid of the unneeded things is very important. With organizing it becomes easier to get things done, and you want to find time for yourself and your tasks - not sorting through a big pile of unused papers or clothes that you no longer wear.

Step 2: Put things away where they belong

Putting away things where they belong is also very important. Putting things away where they belong reduces clutter and makes it easier to find the thing you are looking for!

Step 3: Clean as you go

When organizing, cleaning up as you go is one of my favorite tips on how to get organized.

organized and decluttered workstation

It's so simple but so effective! If you have a desk, clean up the papers during your free minute. It will be easier to find things and you won't have a messy desk anymore!

Step 4: Make lists

checklist declutter organize

When it comes to getting organized, writing lists can help you. Making a to-do list, a shopping list, or a packing list before going somewhere is a great way to keep track of what you have to do. It's also a good thing to write down the things that need to be done in your home - so you know what needs to be done next time you clean!

Step 5: Use folders and labels

When it comes to organizing, folders and labels can be very useful. Many people use post-its as a quick way for labeling and sticking papers together, but I prefer using colored labels and folders! It makes it easier to find the things you are looking for - as long as you put them in the right folder or label!

Step 6: Delegate

Delegating is a great way to stay organized and get things done. When you delegate, you hand out tasks to other people without worrying about it. This will give you time for yourself and your tasks!

Step 7: Stay Positive

woman organization living space declutter relaxing with tea

Staying positive can be very helpful when it comes to getting organized. Getting organized and staying positive will make it easier to get things done and it will also give you time for yourself!

Tips on how to get back on track if you slide backward in organization

Project management can be a bit of a challenge. When you're in the thick of it and working on your list, it's easy to get lost and let time slip by while you find yourself trying to catch up, or rework things that would have been fine had you kept up with them from day one.

Sometimes you lose the progress you made and need to get back on track, fast.

Whether it's an item you let drop entirely or a project that's gone off the rails (or both), here are some tips on how to do just that:

1. Start small

If you find yourself starting from scratch, don't try to tackle too much in the beginning. You'll overwhelm yourself and won't be able to keep up with anything, resulting in more delays for you further down the line when you've failed to reach your goal.

folding and organizing clothes

Instead, pick something small that is very important, but would also give you great momentum if it went well. If there are multiple projects you're trying to jump back on board with, focus on just one for now.

2. Be specific

Be clear about what you're doing and why, so that you're aware of what you need to do, how long it'll probably take, and how urgent it is compared to everything else on your list. Otherwise, the small project might end up being a source of great stress, which might once again cause you to fall behind.

3. Divide and conquer

woman sitting and looking at her projects

If there are multiple projects you're working on with the same level of importance, break them down into smaller pieces or separate projects with their timelines and deadlines so that they don't get in the way of each other.

4. Be flexible

Your plan doesn't have to be cast in stone. If something changes, your priorities might need readjusting or you require more information before moving forward with the next step of your project, then go for it! You can always pick up where you left off later once everything is back on track.

5. Keep everyone involved

The more people you have working on something, the better. This ensures that there are sets of fresh eyes reviewing your project every so often to keep it moving in the right direction. If someone gets stuck or stumbles over a hurdle because they're carrying too much weight, then their coworkers could come to their rescue. Otherwise, it'll slow the whole project down and may even cause it to come to a screeching halt.

6. Ask for help

woman calling for advice at office

Have trouble keeping up? Don't feel like you have to do this all on your own. Many organizations offer mentors, coaching, or training services that can be quite helpful when you're trying to get back into the swing of things.

7. Take a break

If you're too overwhelmed to work on anything, then just take some time to relax or do something that isn't stressful for once. After all, you won't get anything done if your blood pressure is through the roof! Keeping healthy and rested will give you more energy to get things moving again later.

8. Reward yourself

When you've gotten back on track with your project, treat yourself to something nice! It'll boost your mood and motivation for the next thing that needs doing. And when you've finished all of them, pat yourself on the back because they're all done...and take another well-deserved break if needed.

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