In our modern environment and age of technology, our lives have become extremely fast-paced and reliant on our gadgets. The assumption that most of our day is spent engaged in one form of media or the other is not a farfetched idea. Have you ever entered a messy office, eager to start a new project, only to quickly leave because the clutter interfered with your ability to focus?

The mess we create in our office spaces and rooms are symbolic of the congestion in our minds. We wake up in haste, scramble through our pile of clothes intending to clean it up the very same day, without noticing there was no peace no serenity in our morning routine. The entire day continues like this, in a flash, in a hyper-anxious state.

You’re not alone if you feel stressed about the never-ending list of things you need to tidy up around your house. In fact, when working couples conducted tours of their houses, the women who used more adjectives to describe mess and disorder also tended to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is indicative of emotional distress.

On the other hand, people who talked about how peaceful their homes were or how lovely their outdoor settings were experienced less stress and reported feeling less depressed throughout the day. Have a ton of things on your desk? Work may become more challenging as a result. This is because a congested workplace might make it much more difficult for your brain to digest material and more likely to become frustrated. So, taking a break to arrange your area may actually end up saving you time.  

10-30% of the people living in the world suffer from insomnia. In addition, research is beginning to show a connection between hoarding and insomnia, which experts have long known to be related to each other. When clutter deteriorates to the point where a room is hazardous and unworkable, a diagnosis is made.

There may be a link between hoarding and sleep for the following reason: Decision-making, including decisions about buying (or selling) things, is hampered by lack of sleep. Consider this for the other people who deal with “too much stuff” syndrome rather than hoarding disorder: Less possessions equal less decision-making during the day. And that could mean using less effort to attempt to make the best choices.

In order to ensure that your living spaces are tidy enough there are several small changes you can make to your lifestyle. At the completion of each session, clean both your personal and computer desktops. At the end of each day, allot 10 to 15 minutes to put stray things away.

Extra objects should be packed up and hidden away. Refresh your memory of good sleeping habits. Instead of using social media or TV to unwind, try relaxing with a cup of herbal tea and a good (physical) book. Consider your health, create enjoyable get-togethers with family and friends, and maintain a calm and well-organized living environment while thinking about how to take care of yourself.

As for the workplace, there are many changes you can make for a more welcoming and professional environment. Clutter develops when you don’t have a place to store things like folders, pens, calculator, and other materials. A desk with drawers is a fantastic place to start, but you can also store all the little things your business needs to function efficiently in filing cabinets, shelves, and even storage cabinets. Typically, a cluttered desk gets worse over time.

Try the following strategy to minimize desktop clutter:

• Place any paperwork or objects that are typically on, in, or near your desk in a box.
• Take something out of the box when you need it and put it back on your desk.
• Anything still in the box after a week must be either discarded or moved to another storage location.
• It would be beneficial to remove anything in your workstation that hasn’t been utilized in a week.

Have you ever heard the expression, “There is a time and a place for everything, and everything in its right place”? It’s true! Put the objects back as soon as you are through with a task. Hang your garments as soon as the washing is done. Don’t forget to put your keys away when you get home. Sounds straightforward enough, doesn’t it?

You’ll notice items are simpler to find and your environment is less cluttered once you find a place for everything on a regular basis. Making your bed when you wake up tells your brain that you’ve finished the first task. After that, you’ll be more motivated and ready to take on more duties during the day. Making to-do lists, deep cleaning your room every week are just some of the minor habits one can adopt for a more organized lifestyle.

In the crux of everything mentioned, we can safely presume that the most neat, tidy and organized your living spaces are the more beneficial it is for us as people. A clean work and living space results in a calmer mindset throughout the day, less anxiety and it maximizes our ability to work efficiently as well.