Home organization is a crucial element of a healthy and productive lifestyle. A cluttered and disorganized home can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, while an organized home can have a profoundly positive impact on our mental and physical well-being. In this article, we will explore how to achieve an organized home, provide some methods to do so, and offer a plan to implement home organization immediately. We’ll also link to relevant resources for further reading, including studies on the impact of home organization on mental health.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/well/mind/clutter-stress-procrastination-psychology.html
Decluttering
To begin, achieving an organized home starts with decluttering. Decluttering means getting rid of the things you no longer need or want, which in turn creates space for the things that matter. To do this, start by sorting your belongings into categories: keep, donate/sell, or throw away. It’s important to be honest with yourself about what you truly need and use regularly.
Storing by Categories
Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to find a home for everything you’ve decided to keep. One useful method is to group items by category and store them in designated areas. For example, keep all your cleaning supplies together in a designated closet or cupboard. Similarly, you could store all your paperwork and office supplies in a specific area, such as a desk or filing cabinet.
Storage Solutions
Another method to achieve an organized home is to invest in storage solutions. There are many creative and affordable storage solutions available, such as storage bins, shelves, and organizers. It’s important to choose storage solutions that suit your needs and your space. For example, if you have limited closet space, consider purchasing a hanging organizer for your shoes or accessories.
Implementing Your Plan
Now that we’ve discussed some methods for achieving an organized home, it’s time to create a plan to implement them. The key to implementing your plan is to start small and stay consistent. Here are some steps to get started:
Step 1: Choose a specific area of your home to focus on, such as a closet or a desk.
Step 2: Declutter the area using the KonMari method or another decluttering method of your choice.
Step 3: Create a system for organizing the items in the area. This could involve assigning a specific place for each item or labeling containers and drawers.
Step 4: Schedule time each week to maintain the area. This could involve spending a few minutes each day decluttering or setting aside a specific time each week for deep cleaning.
As you work on organizing your home, it’s important to maintain the habit. This means taking a few minutes each day to tidy up and put things away. For example, you could make it a habit to put away your clothes at the end of each day or to do a quick 10-minute tidy before bed.
In conclusion, achieving an organized home can have a significant positive impact on your mental health and well-being. By decluttering, grouping items by category, investing in storage solutions, and maintaining the habit of tidying up, you can achieve a well-organized and functional home. For further reading and resources, we recommend checking out the following studies on the link between home organization and mental health:
- “The Psychology of Home Environments” by Sam Gosling and Lindsay Graham
- “The Relationship Between Clutter and Life Satisfaction” by Catherine Roster and Joseph Ferrari
- “Order and Disorder in the Home: Relations With Life Satisfaction and Openness to Experience” by Christopher J. Boyce, Alex M. Wood, and Andrew B. Tarrier.
As for material to get better on home organization these resources are brilliant:
- Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”
- Apartment Therapy’s “The Home Edit Guide to Organizing Your Home”
- The Spruce’s “20 Clever Closet Tips & Tricks”
