The Mental Health Benefits of Staying Organized

It sometimes seems like organization is a never-ending uphill climb, at least for some. Modern society has no shortage of distractions and stressors that are challenging to keep track of, and quick shifts or sudden changes can make staying organized difficult. Nevertheless, evidence suggests a significant link between personal organization and mental health. This article will discuss some of the ways that organization supports mental well-being and recommend evidence-based organizing strategies that you may find helpful.

Defining organization

Organization can occur in many domains. Many people think of physical organization, such as keeping a tidy workspace, but what it means to be organized can have a much more broad definition. Organization typically refers to keeping something orderly, be it your workspace or living area, finances, schedule, to-do list, or social contacts. That means that organization not only encompasses skills like decluttering, but also skills such as time management, prioritization, and proactive self-care.

In some ways, organization is much more about mindset than practical skills. Staying organized mentally requires developing a cognitive skillset similar to the systems you might use to organize a physical space. Organizing is a problem-solving and categorization process that can be applied to many different domains. Some organization skills might also apply across different domains, potentially making them easier to apply.

Organization and mental health

Although organization can be applied in many different ways, it's important not to overlook the obvious: physical organization. Decluttering and maintaining a clean living area and work area can significantly boost mood and focus. Workspace decluttering likely also improves productivity by making resources easier to access and reducing the cognitive load of the busy space. In addition, as with many other forms of organization, an organized physical space significantly is known to significantly reduce forms of stress and anxiety, To explore more and find out all the things by visiting at ADHD Clinic London.

Improved efficiency may be the ultimate goal of organizing, but the stress relief of staying organized may be the most significant mental health benefit. While an organized space is known to lower stress, so too is an organized schedule. Evidence suggests that daily routines significantly lower stress levels by reducing uncertainty. Humans generally prefer predictability; most people like to know what's coming. Regular routines help make the day predictable and reduce some of the cognitive load of planning.

Developing routines and increasing the predictability of one's schedule are among the reasons that prioritization is considered an essential organizational skill. Knowing which tasks to prioritize is necessary to determine how much time should be spent on each task or activity. Adequate prioritization also offers an opportunity for additional planning, such as setting a prioritization “cut-off.” A cut-off means that tasks below a certain priority are disregarded for a certain time period, potentially opening up room in the schedule.

Good time management, another critical organizational skill, is perhaps one of the most important habits to develop. In essence, time management refers to making decisions that optimize how your time is utilized. It might mean allowing yourself extra time to complete a task, setting frequent reminders on your phone, or arriving early to an important appointment. When time is managed well, evidence indicates that life satisfaction and mental health are significantly improved.

Finally, social relationships are another area where organization can boost overall well-being. Positive social interactions are considered essential for stress reduction, mood improvement, and overall mental well-being. There are also positive effects on physical health. Good organization skills not only create more time for socializing but may also bolster your social relationships. You might consider keeping a journal or note that lists things like gift preferences, special interests, or other unique pieces of information.

Evidence-based organization strategies

Strategies for staying organized often overlap and sometimes need to be used together. They also often compound, with broader skills enabling more specific ones. For example, a decluttered space often makes finding necessary items like a phone or keys easier, lowering the amount of time it takes to find things compared to a cluttered space. This makes time management easier by reducing the amount of time spent hunting for daily items.

There are many ways to stay organized, and it's important to choose techniques that work well for you. Some strategies are very simple, such as carrying a small notebook to record important information, while others are considerably more complex. A few common strategies are summarized below:

The two-minute rule

A powerful and often-used organizational strategy, the two-minute rule is easy to implement and requires little effort to follow. The rule is simple: if a task can be done in under two minutes, do it right away. Often, starting a task is more difficult than continuing it once you’ve already started. Using the two-minute rule increases your efficiency by getting small tasks off your to-do list, potentially increasing motivation and flexibility.

The 5S system

The 5S system is adapted from Japanese management philosophy. It is starting to become popular as a personal organizational tool in addition to an organizing and management system in the workplace. The five components are listed below:

1. Sort. Eliminate unnecessary items from what you are going to organize. For example, when decluttering, choose unneeded or unhelpful items to dispose of at the start of the process.
2. Set in order. Organize things in such a way that they are easy to find and use. That might mean having easy access to supplies in your workspace or color-coding your calendar to make different types of appointments stand out.
3. Shine. Maintain the organization you have already accomplished. That might mean daily light cleaning of your space or making sure your to-do list is up-to-date.
4. Standardize. Come up with systems and procedures to help maintain your organization. That could include labeling specific areas in your space to ensure the same items are put back in their proper place or using the advanced features of a calendar app to help keep your schedule in order.
5. Sustain. Sustaining organizational behaviors means engaging in habit-building practices that make it easier to maintain and improve your organization over time.

Habit stacking

Habit-building is an important part of maintaining good organization routines. Although organizing may seem like a constant burden at first, once it becomes a habit, staying organized typically becomes much easier. One way to help facilitate the habit-building process is through habit stacking. In short, habit stacking involves linking a new habit you’re trying to develop with a habit you already have. Because the preexisting habit is already established, it boosts the likelihood of the new one becoming permanent.

The Eisenhower matrix

The Eisenhower matrix is a powerful prioritization tool that can help you quickly determine which tasks need your attention the most. It involves placing each task on your to-do list into one of four categories: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and not urgent or important. Urgent tasks are those that require your immediate attention, while important tasks are those that don’t require your immediate attention but help you achieve long-term goals. Tasks that are urgent and important should be done first, tasks that are important but not urgent placed on a schedule, tasks that are urgent but not important should be delegated, and tasks that are neither urgent nor important can be deleted.

Seek extra help

You might want to consider reaching out to a therapist or other professional for guidance, especially if you are challenged by factors that can make organization difficult. For example, those with an ADHD diagnosis might benefit from the help of a therapist or The ADHD Specialist Clinic, who can provide guidance on specific strategies that typically work well for those with the condition. Even if you don’t have underlying factors making things more challenging, a therapist or counselor can help you fine-tune organizational strategies and engage in proactive methods of organization.