I know you’ve all heard or read about work/life balance and the importance of self-care. I bet when you think about self-care, images of someone getting a massage, a mani-pedi, or taking a nap may run through your brain. Has it occurred to you that organizing is a form of self-care? Yes! It’s true! There are many ways that being organized improves your quality of life. Isn’t having that (quality of life) what self-care is all about? My goal in this post is to share with you the many ways of viewing organizing as self-care so that you think of organizing as less of a chore and more of something you do to improve your life.
Declutter Your Space, Declutter Your Mind
I am not ashamed to admit that when I am stressed, confused, or overwhelmed by something that I’m thinking about or that is happening in my life organizing something helps me. Organizing things, tidying them, or reducing the bulk helps me to think through the thing that is bothering me.
I sometimes arrive at steps I can take that aren’t as awful as I had first thought, and which will help me resolve the problem quickly.
We know that visible clutter is often the reminder of something to do, or a decision to make.
When I work with clients to declutter a space, they tell me how happy it makes them feel to have the space organized. The clutter that requires a decision is dealt with and the reminders either put on a to-do list (with a date to do them) or completed.
Save Time, Reduce Stress
It’s no secret that when we organize our home we put our belongings where we want to find them, so that putting our hands on the things we need is a quick and easy task. Being organized saves you time because you don’t waste time hunting for items, hidden in piles of other stuff. This in turn reduces stress.
Organizing as self-care is all about reducing stress.
Managing your time, being aware of how you’re spending your time, is simpler when you are not anxious or stressed.
Taking Control of Your Environment
When you view organizing as self-care you maintain the organizing you have put in place. You have invested time to create organizing strategies and solutions that work for your family. You are in control of your environment.
This gives you the confidence to invite friends over in the spur of the moment without any hesitation. You’re not worried about being ashamed or embarrassed over the state of your family room.
Mindfulness: The Meditative Act of Organizing
When you are being mindful, you are paying attention to what you are doing in that moment. You don’t let your thoughts distract you from being totally present.
If you apply this concept to the act of organizing, you pay attention to where you put your belongings. The old and familiar mantras of “don’t put it down, put it away” and “a place for everything, and everything in its place” become second nature.
Paying attention to where you put things as you are dealing with them maintains the organization of the space and feels rewarding. You know you are helping your future self by avoiding clutter and disorganization.
Habits and Routines: Building a Better Lifestyle
Creating the habits and routines which support the overall organization of your home helps to build a better lifestyle. Why? Well, let’s talk it through.
When your morning routine includes the habit of making your bed, hanging up your towel, and tidying your room before you go to work (even if your work is from home) then your bedroom stays organized.
If you remember to close the loop when you do tasks like laundry, dishes, or bill paying then those tasks are finished. There’s no laundry lingering on the couch waiting to be folded, no dishes in the sink, and the bills have been paid and recorded or filed.
What about the regular day-to-day items that come into the house with us like tote bags, backpacks, mail, catalogues, and other stuff?
That’s where the familiar mantras come in so handy. Create the habit of putting things away. If you can’t do it right away, then make an appointment with yourself to do it at a specific time.
Practical Tips: How to Start Organizing Today
Here are some practical tips so you can start viewing organizing as self-care.
- Pick one room. It could be your family room, the kitchen, or your bedroom.
- Set a timer for 20 – 30 minutes.
- It’s important to do this work a little at a time so you make good decisions.
- Evaluate all the things in the room to determine which things support the activities in that space.
- If something doesn’t belong in that space, determine where it can go and label it with the place it will go. Resist the urge to take it there now. You are organizing in just one room.
- You will probably come across things you forgot you had. You’ll also find things you may no longer want. If they are in good condition, make a date with yourself to donate or sell them.
- Little by little you will transform your space.
Conclusion:
The more you become accustomed to organizing small spaces in your home, the more you will learn about yourself and the things you honestly need, use, and love.
Fear not, you do not need to do this all by yourself.
You can enlist the help of family members or friends or a trained professional organizer, like me.
Organizing does not need to be a chore to avoid at all cost. It can (and does) transform spaces, brings a feeling of calm to a room, and can be very rewarding.
Feel free to reach out to me to learn more about how being more organized may help you. You can email me at: dnqsolutions@gmail to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.
Diane N. Quintana is the owner of DNQ Solutions, LLC. She is an ADHD Organizing Specialist, a Hoarding Specialist, and a Chronic Disorganization Specialist. Diane is also an ICD Master Trainer, Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization, Certified Professional Organizer and co-owner of Release Repurpose Reorganize LLC based in Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in residential and home-office organizing.
This is so wise and timely! I just had a long discussion with a virtual client yesterday about the essential element of mindfulness or intentionality with organizing, and how it’s not merely moving things around or creating something more aesthetically pleasing, but a gift to oneself.
Actually, it’s two gifts. It’s a gift in the present because, as you note, there’s a meditative quality to the act of organizing. Last week, I was feeling anxious about the state of the world, and a few sessions of paper organizing, filing, and shredding really soothed me, and gave me a sense of control over my universe, if not the entire universe. But organizing is a gift to your future self, to lessen the likelihood of stress and ensure you can find what you need when you need it. Yes, some of the physical acts of organizing can feel like a chore, but so are other acts of life and self-care; some days, I am groaning about having to hold my arms up for so long to dry my hair! It’s silly, and it passes, because I like not looking like Medusa!
I so agree, Julie. Organizing is 2 gifts – one for now, and a gift to your future self!
I love the emphasis that organizing is a form of self-care. I don’t know how often people think of it that way. Yet again and again when working with clients, it’s evident how transforming a space or a system, also transforms their mood and state of being.
Just today I began working with a Virtual Organizing client who I had worked with decades ago in-person. Even how she defined her “whys” had were really under the self-care umbrella. We didn’t use those words, so I’m especially glad you offered this perspective. Thank you, Diane.
Isn’t that wonderful, Linda!
Having habits and routines to keep my home decluttered is very important to my mental wellbeing. When I am sick or in some crisis and those routines slip, it only makes things worse.
Thanks for commenting, Jonda!
I’m so glad that you put this truth into a blog post. I’ve known this for myself for years. When I get stressed and need to regain my confidence, I will start organizing. I think this is because I feel competence in this area, and I am comforted by visual (and functional) order. For those who struggle with organizing, this might not feel like self care at all. However, as with most things, once you achieve even a tiny bit of mastery by working on something, when you do it again you feel good about yourself. And feeling good about ourselves is definitely one way of caring for ourselves.
Plus, as you mention, all these terrific benefits of being organized are wonderful for mood, peace, and serenity!
Thanks, Seana. I know people who dislike organizing think of it as anything but self-care but the fact remains that when their things are organized they feel better.
I agree, Diane! Organizing = Self-Care. People tend to think of organizing as a chore, not realizing that going through the process and being aware of where everything belongs will create a tranquil environment, giving back to oneself and creating an oasis instead of a chaotic home.
Exactly, Sabrina!
Interestingly, I recently read another article which clarified that self-care isn’t all about pampering. I have to agree that getting organized is a good example! The positive feelings that arise after decluttering and organizing things to be more efficient are so worth it!
Thank you, Janet – organizing and decluttering is truly time well spent.