Piles of clutter in our homes and at the office are not just eyesores; they also increase stress and inhibit productivity. It’s difficult, if not impossible to get tasks done on time, remember all the important events in life and be on time for appointments. This, in turn, annoys our family, friends and co-workers and ultimately causes stress and strain on relationships which make it even more difficult to get organized.
Here are some suggestions for creating serenity in your world, and yes, they are all related to putting organization into your daily routine:
1. Eliminate one thing every day. If de-cluttering your whole house feels overwhelming, set your goal at eliminating one thing every day and work your way up to attacking a drawer, then a closet, then a room.
2. Designate one hour to attack your car. Clear out the candy wrappers, old papers and magazines, etc. You’d be surprised how fast this can be done. Once cleaned out, empty the trash everyday. You’ll feel peaceful even while driving in this crazy traffic.
3. Eliminate the chaos from your desk. You should have no more than 15 percent of your desk covered in order to be productive.
4. Wake up a half an hour earlier each day. Reduce the rushing around and take a few minutes to relax and drink your coffee or tea while reading the paper instead of gulping it on the way to work.
5. Designate some time every day to you. Make sure you take at least 30 minutes every day to do something you love to do.
6. Turn your bedroom into a peaceful retreat. Make your bed every day; remove piles of paper, old catalogues and magazines from the floor. Clear off your dresser top, put those dirty clothes in the laundry room. Pull out anything being stored under the bed. Dust it off and get rid of those things you no longer use. You will sleep better in a clutter and dust-free bedroom.
7. Be sure to reward yourself for the things you accomplish on your “to do” list. Most people struggle getting through a list that is usually unrealistic, then criticize themselves for not completing it. When you accomplish four things on your list, take 10 minutes to reward yourself for your progress. It will make attacking the rest of the list a little easier. It will also help if you make that list more realistic in the first place.
Work these seven suggestions into your life and you’ll reduce your stress and see an increase in your productivity.
If you have questions for The Mess Doctor or need professional assistance to get organized, contact Barbara Ricketts at MessDoctor@Mac.com or call 661-263-0124.