Organizing as Self-Care: Transform Your Space, Improve Your Life
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 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.
- Work for short periods of time so you make good, not hasty, decisions.
4. Evaluate all the things in the room to determine which things support the activities in that space.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Little by little you will transform your space.
Conclusion: Organizing as a Self-Care Practice
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.
