8 Life-changing Benefits of an organized home
“Getting organized is a sign of self-respect.”
— Gabrielle Bernstein
Promotes Your Physical Health
There is a connection between a clean home and a variety of health benefits. According to an Indiana University study, a clean and tidy home can reduce anxiety, stress and fatigue. This allows for better sleep, improved focus, and physical fitness. Dr. Rian Rowles with Indiana University says that "too much clutter can cause tremendous stress and fatigue.” A study published in The Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that the women with messy or cluttered homes had higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that is linked to weight gain, acne, and irregular menstrual periods.
2. Improves Your Mental Health
Keeping your mind clear is hard to do when your home is a mess. The clutter everywhere is a constant reminder of the tasks you need to do, fostering an environment of stress and tormenting you with overwhelming feelings of depression and anxiety. Another study done at Princeton University found that it's difficult to focus in a cluttered home, and there are links between a person’s mental health and the tidiness of their environment.
Sleep is crucial for mental health, but waking up in a messy environment begins your day with stress. This takes a toll on even the most positive people. Being able to find what you need to start your day on time for work, school, or whatever else you have planned gets you going more easily and peacefully, and improves clarity of mind.
3. Increases Your Productivity
Many people are now working from home. In 2022, Statista.com reported that 70% of worldwide employees work remotely. In the United States population alone, that number is 26%. There are expected to be 36.2 million American employees working remotely by 2025. A clean and organized home helps create a positive work environment so that, instead of being distracted by housework, you can focus on work that brings in income.
If your home is organized and every item has a designated place, you will spend less time looking for those items. Not to mention the relief you’ll feel when you go to find the items and they’re right there. Key hooks and coat hangers can be used to organize not only coats, but purses and backpacks.
4. Saves You More Money
If you have a designated place for everything, your chances of losing an item decrease drastically. Whenever you lose something, there is a risk of paying for a replacement and then finding it later, leaving you with two items and a bill when you could have just stored the item in a consistent location. Teaching children about the designated place for their items decreases loss of personal things like clothing, socks, and shoes.
Cleanliness will keep your home looking newer and well kept, raising its value! Just ask any buyer or realtor out looking at homes to compare a clean home to a rundown one. Many times, homes that are not well kept can have water leaks under sinks, behind fridges or in bathrooms. Keeping a regular eye on your home space also helps you to catch small home repairs. This is much better than a full floor or sink replacement, which would cost thousands of dollars! Proper maintenance also lengthens appliance life.
5. Improves Your Sleep
The Indiana University study correlates better sleep with a clean and organized bedroom. A recent study featured in The Jakarta Post surveyed thousands of people and found that when their house is clean, 60% felt less stress, 72% slept better, and 80% felt more relaxed. Try making your bed as soon as you get up so that you have accomplished something before even leaving your room. You will be rewarded that night when your bed is neat and comfy, ready to tumble into for a good night’s rest.
“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made—that you made—and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
-William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed
6. Saves You Precious Time
If everything has a designated place, you're not going to need to spend time looking for it. This saves you time. It could also prevent tension between other members of your home. Create a system with the same kind of items in one location.
For example, in our home, we have stations for our baking items and cookware. We also have a designated area we call the “hydration station” for specific beverages like coffee, tea, hot cocoa and all the items we would need for those drinks. This saves us a lot of time by reducing our steps and preventing going to multiple cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. It also makes it easy for early mornings, when I am half asleep and need to make a coffee or energy drink.
7. Increases Your Generosity
Your decluttering could benefit others. Donate unwanted items to your favorite or local charities. People who cannot afford those items at full price may have a chance to own them because of your kindness.
8. Allows You To Create Your Own Sanctuary
The home has become your place of work, where you live life, teach your kids, and enjoy your loved ones. As mentioned earlier, running a clean and organized home reduces stress, improves mood, gives a sense of accomplishment, and makes you feel incredible. Start small, even if it's only 5 minutes every day. Clean up a focused area such as a desk, the floor, or a cabinet. If you're feeling really ambitious, take on an entire room!
So, there you have it - the benefits of an organized home. As it turns out, taking steps to organize your home could be the best thing you’ll ever do for yourself. So, do your best to get your home in tip-top shape - you’ll thank yourself for it!
So, there you have it - the benefits of an organized home. As it turns out, taking steps to organize your home could be the best thing you’ll ever do for yourself. So, do your best to get your home in tip-top shape - you’ll thank yourself for it!
