Orderliness
April 2022 Character Core
Orderliness is much more than just keeping things tidy. It is creating spaces where you can relax, or where you can be more productive.
Tips for being orderly:
1. Start Small
If reorganizing your entire house looks big to you, start small. Spend 20 minutes each day decluttering a space in your home and putting stuff away, and at work make sure your space is cleared at the end of the day so you come back to an organized space. Mayoclinic.org states, “When working couples gave tours of their homes, women who used more words describing clutter and disorganization also tended to show levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting chronic stress. On the flip side, those who described their homes as being restful or talked about their beautiful outdoor spaces were less stressed and reported less sad feelings as the day went on.” Having a restful home to come to after a long day of work will help your state of mind.
2. donate or Store Items
Once you have started organizing your house and trying to find a place for everything, you may find that you have many things you do not need or use. Donating items to thrift stores is a great way to re-purpose the clutter. Go through clothes and get rid of the clothes you no longer wear. Consider organizing your clothes by color in your closet. If you have things you use only once a year like Christmas decorations, buy storage totes and clearly label what is in each tote.
3. Make a habit of decluttering
After you have started going through your house or workspace and started putting things away or getting rid of them, make a habit of tidying up. This can be done in smaller ways by consistently decluttering the main spaces of your home, or in bigger ways by having an annual or bi-annual clean out of your whole house. Creating habits will help you to stay on top of the mess rather than feeling swamped by it.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” It may be hard at first, but in the long run, being orderly will save you time and will also give you peace of mind.
