Organizing Is Good For Your Health

Want to Get Organized?

Zen rocks and a lit candle

We love rainbow color-coded bookcases and Instagram worthy pantries, but that’s not why we’re passionate about organizing. When we work with our clients, we can see the immediate impact that restoring order can have. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that we’ve helped reduce stress and improved the home environment for the people who’ve hired us.

But can organizing really improve your health? We say absolutely yes! Read on to find out how.

Better Sleep

a decluttered bedroom
Photo: Done & Done Home

As everyone knows, sleep is essential for good health. A cluttered bedroom can lead to all kinds of sleep problems which can have a negative impact on your overall well being. So use the following tips to keep this area neat and tidy.

1.) Your bedroom is for sleeping, not answering emails or checking out our latest Instagram post (you can do that during your waking hours 😉). Keep your electronics in another room so you aren’t tempted to start scrolling when you should be winding down.

2.) Keep your bed free from excess pillows, cast off clothing or unused blankets. All of these things can get tangled up and cause you to have a restless night. You just need the essentials…one or two pillows and enough coverage to keep you comfortable.

3.) Your bedside table should be clutter free. Don’t let books, glasses, or miscellaneous odds and ends pile up. You don’t want the last thing you see before nodding off to be a disorganized area which can lead to jumbled thoughts and feelings of anxiety.

Better Food Choices

According to the article, Food As Medicine: It’s Not Just A Fringe Idea Anymore, over 50 percent of the American diet is processed food and only 5 percent is plant based. These facts can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease to name a few of the chronic conditions that are affected by a poor diet. An organized kitchen can help you make better food choices on a daily basis.

1.) A clean and organized kitchen will enable you to prepare healthy meals for yourself and your family. If your fridge and pantry are full of fresh foods and staples that are visible and easily accessible, you’ll be more likely to make meals at home as opposed to eating out. Avoiding restaurants and take-out can save you money, calories and consumption of processed foods.

2.) Food prepping is a great way to establish an organized routine. Take some time each week to choose recipes, make a shopping list and have all the ingredients at home. If you’re organized, you’ll find that making healthier food choices will be second nature.

3.) Studies have suggested a link between hoarding and obesity. When our spaces are full of items that are not in their intended place, it can lead to poor decision making. People who were given the choice between an apple and a chocolate bar more often chose the apple when they were in an orderly room.

Better Mental Health

street signs with stress and relax

A cluttered home can cause stress, contribute to depression and have a negative physical effect on your body. Cortisol levels, aka the stress hormone, have been found to be higher in women in cluttered spaces. Taking the time to do a few simple tasks around your home may make all the difference.

1.) Paper clutter can be a big source of stress for people and often it’s one of the first things we see when we enter our homes. Take a few minutes each day to sort through your stack of mail. Recycle ads, shred any personal correspondence and file bills you need to hold on to. Another great solution is to go paperless…have as many bills switched to electronic payment as possible. The less that comes in the door, the less you’ll have to deal with.

2.) So often we have a million things to do and not enough time to do them. Making to-do lists will help you prioritize your endless tasks and bring a sense of calm to your life. Whether it’s a digital list on your phone or old-fashioned paper and pen, seeing what needs to be done laid out in order of importance can be a game changer.

3.) If your home is causing you stress, give yourself some time to make improvements. Assuming you can change overnight is likely to cause you as much stress as the mess itself. Start off in small increments, as little as fifteen minutes can be enough, and stick to your timer. Start in the places that are bothering you the most before moving on to other problem areas.

a minimalist basket with books and a candle

Sleeping better, making healthy food choices and reducing your stress levels are all great ways to improve your overall health and organizing can help you get there!

Do you know you need to get more organized in your home? Be sure to check out our home organization course here, to help you get organized and decluttered.