As Marie Kondo’s rise to fame shows, organization does not come easily or with much joy to everyone. However, getting organized has been proven to reduce daily stress and minimize certain anxiety.
It can be difficult getting started, but organization in one form or another can make you feel empowered, confident and less frustrated day to day.
What does it mean to be organized? The definition according to Google is “arranged in a systematic way” and “having one’s affairs in order so as to deal with them efficiently”. This can be divided into two different categories. One type of organization can pertain to ongoing tasks and/or responsibilities Being organized in this area means being aware of what we need to do, when we are going to do it, and planning so that it can be done efficiently. The second part relates to possessions. Being organized in this area means that every item has its ‘home’. This allows a person to always find something easily and take better stock of what they might have.
Being organized with our possessions enables us to cope with things in an effective way and prevents or lessens moments of feeling hectic, out of control, or like we are forgetting something. Being organized about our tasks and responsibilities allows our daily lives to be structured in a way that lessens feelings of shame or anxiety when we are late to do something or have not given ourselves the time we need to accomplish something.
Organization helps us prepare and plan out our days and weeks to best set ourselves up to successfully and effectively accomplish what we need to with the least amount of stress.
It is important to find and implement certain tools and habits to help get and stay organized, no matter where you are on the organization journey.
Below are a few tips for being organized to reduce anxiety:
Schedule It.
Have a set time every week when you sit down and look at the week ahead. Look at your calendar and the commitments you might have. Then, add any other tasks or events you need to schedule in. Think and plan out the logistics of accomplishing the listed tasks. You may notice that you have a work meeting at 5pm, but were also planning on picking up your kids from soccer at the same time. By looking at your calendar ahead of the week, you can problem solve with less pressure and stress.
Easy Access.
Keep your calendar in a place where you can easily see it or access it. Maybe it’s on your phone, in a sparkly new planner or in your kitchen. Whether it’s digital, print or both make sure it’s convenient and at your fingertips within seconds.
Bite-Sized Tasks.
The idea of organizing your entire life can be very daunting. When looking at your schedule, think of smaller projects that you can tackle here and there to organize your possessions piece by piece. If you’re planning to head to the car wash, take some time to rummage through the glove compartment, pockets and trunk to remove any unnecessary items and organize the items you use on a regular basis.
Be Honest.
When setting a to-do list for the day, be very honest with yourself. Do not set yourself up for failure by putting too much on the agenda for one day. Focus on your preferences – are you a morning person? Get those bigger, stressful tasks done first so you’re not dreading the afternoon when you rather be winding down your day.
Set Reminders.
Use the reminders app on your phone to keep you accountable. Write the caption and set the reminder notification for a certain time. You can even set recurring reminders for things like “pay rent” or “call mom”.
5-Minute Rule.
If you can do something in less than 5 minutes and have the time, do it now. See how easy that was?! The feeling of accomplishment for crossing something off a mental (or written) list is paramount to continuing on the path of getting organized.
Investigate.
Acknowledge when you are avoiding a task and investigate why. We increase our anxiety about something by avoiding it until the last minute when, if we had done it earlier, it would have been a much less stressful experience.
When you approach becoming organized, check your idea of “perfection” at the door.
You do not need to have a beautifully written calendar or a color-coded closet. You simply need the awareness and the time to prepare. Becoming organized is a process that needs to be approached mindfully as not every system or tool will be right for everyone. Begin the process and learn what works for you.
Anxiety happens and that’s okay! Remember that it is an act of self-love to give yourself the space and time to be organized.
“With organization comes empowerment.” – Lynda Peterson, Author
