The kids are in bed, you sit down on the couch, and you are surrounded by piles of toys. You are too tired to do anything about it, but you can't fully relax b/c you feel a little guilty for not cleaning up.
You sit down at your desk, ready to work, but you keep getting distracted by stray notes left on your desk. Your computer desktop isn't any better, and you can't find the files that you need when you need them.
You are on a tight schedule, but you can't ever seem to get anywhere on time. You feel like you should be better at this. You wonder how other people manage to get places on time.
In each of those situations you are not being as efficient or as relaxed as you could be. Disorganization goes hand-in-hand with stress, but often we do not see how closely these two things are related. If we are used to living in a world of clutter and disorganization, we think that we have adapted to it. We think that we function just fine in the midst of it all, and we think that it would take more time and effort to get organized than to function in disarray.
Dana Grossman Leeman, MSW, PhD of Simmons School of Social Work confirms that this is simply not true.
"Organizing tasks can lead to a restored sense of control and calm. Cognitive Behavioral therapies are fantastic in this regard. This modality is based on the premise that thought patterns will lead to certain behaviors that engender related feeling states. Change the thoughts, and then you can alter behaviors, and shift feelings. Growing up, my dad had a favorite saying that my siblings and I still joke about. He'd come into our rooms when we were studying, and if he saw clutter and mess, he'd tell us that the key to doing well at any endeavor is having order and organization. "An organized desk makes for organized mind." To this day, I have to create some order before I can get down to work. This is a life skill that translates to all arenas of our lives."
Organize Your Things
If you pack away the special cookware and serving-ware, you will have more room to store the kitchen items that you use daily. You can free up counter space and easily put things out of sight if your cabinets are not cluttered with items that you use once or twice a year. Imagine cooking meals in a clean kitchen where you have counter space to chop, prepare, and dish meals!
Organize Your Time
Imagine living in a world where you are not checking your car clock every few seconds worrying that you will be late. You can put yourself back in control of your day instead of feeling pulled in all different directions. You will be able to say yes to certain activities and politely decline others while being realistic about your time limits.
Organize Your Mind
The goal is to get you to a state where you can enjoy the life that you have created for yourself. You work hard, and you deserve to be happy! Take the time and energy to organize your life so that you and your family can enjoy the benefits of calmer days.
This post originally appeared on MomShar.com, & you can connect further with Shari on Instagram!
