4 Ways Being Organized Benefits Your Health

by Jasmin Barrantes

Have you ever considered how your environment affects your health? Research in the field of mind and body has shown that there are definite links between our surroundings and our wellbeing. A positive environment does more than just improve our mood, it can affect our immune system and physical health. As a Professional Organizer, I have seen first hand the immediate positive impact being organized can have.

Less Stress and Depression

A study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that people whose environments were cluttered and disorganized were more depressed, fatigued and had higher levels of the stress hormone Cortisol than those whose environments were in order. An organized environment can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Being surrounded by clutter and disorganization is like dragging heavy baggage around with you all day. Getting organized will help you to experience a sense of freedom and control.

Better Sleep

Recent studies on sleeping disorders showed that people who sleep in a cluttered room took longer to fall asleep and are more tired due to restless sleep. Experts warn that, as a result, they are more likely to suffer from memory loss, poor concentration, and slow thinking, thereby compromising their cognition. In addition to affecting your mood, lack of sleep can impact your overall health and make you prone to serious medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Eat Better and Lose Weight

Psychology Journal found that when your kitchen is organized with healthy ingredients in easily accessible places, you will naturally make healthier choices. Clean kitchen counters will also make healthy meal preparation more likely, as it increases your creativity. According to WebMD, you will be more likely to choose to exercise as a result of extra time and energy.

Better Relationships

We are social creatures and relationships are important to our health and wellbeing. Benjamin Franklin once said, “For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.” When our surroundings are chaotic, we lose a lot of time looking for things. This takes away valuable time that could be spent with the people we love. Clutter can also cause tension and conflict with others. Further, the embarrassment of clutter or a messy home can keep us from seeing friends or being social. More importantly, clutter and disorganization could be keeping us from having a meaningful relationship with ourselves. Being disorganized takes away our self-esteem, feeling of being in control and joy, in general.

Who knew that being organized was just another part of healthy living? Though I only listed 4 ways, the benefits are endless. Become organized today and start experiencing great changes in your health and life. In the words of the great mind of Deepak Chopra, “all great changes are preceded by chaos.” So don’t put off your good health and well being a minute longer.