Why Get Organized?

“I’ve been reading your blog for about a month, and I love it, but I could never do all the things you do. I’m just not an organized person.”

I hear many variations on this comment, and it may surprise you to know that while I have the ability to organize, I’m not a naturally organized person either. My husband teases me all the time about the “nest” of books and clothes on my side of the bed, and I have a tendency to let the house get very messy before I clean it up. The point is that I do always clean it up, because cleanliness and order are priorities for me.

While it’s true that organization comes more naturally or easily to some people than others, anyone can get and stay organized. You don’t have to be an organized person; you just have to make organization a priority in your life. If you need motivation, here are some very good reasons to get organized:

1) Order is an attribute of God. When God created the world, he brought order out of chaos. If order is important to God, it should be important to you.

2) You'll have more time to enjoy life. When you first begin organizing, it'll feel like you spend all of your time sorting and cleaning, but once you have your organizational systems in place, you’ll be amazed at how much time they save.

3) You’ll have less stress, and therefore, better health. You'll be free of guilt caused by procrastination, and anxiety over mismanagement of finances. You won't be frustrated over time pressures, missed deadlines, late fees, and forgotten appointments.

4) Your life will be less complicated. Organized rooms, closets, files, and purses save time, energy, needless repetition, and frustration.

5) Your children will benefit. A study at the University of Pennsylvania found a clear association between disorganized, noisy and cramped homes and lower childhood intelligence. Children who live in chaotic homes also have a higher incidence of depression and anxiety.

6) You’ll save money. Good recordkeeping, budget planning, and price tracking allow you to control your cash flow, and take advantage of sales.

7) You’ll be a more thoughtful person. I always remember the birthdays and anniversaries of my friends and family, because I have those dates recorded in my greeting card organizer (more on this to come).

8) You’ll reach your goals. Being organized helps you make daily progress on projects, so you actually finish them, instead of just spinning your wheels. No more endless to-do list!

9) Your husband will be happy. My husband always says how much he loves our home, and how there is no place he would rather be. Our calm, orderly home is a peaceful respite for him after a long day of work.

10) You’ll feel better about yourself. Disorganized people who gravitate toward blogs like mine, do so because they desperately want to be organized. They may say things like "a clean house is a sign of a wasted life," and "I don't clean--I have a life," but they don’t really feel good about the way things are. Usually, they don't know how to start getting their lives in order, and the task seems so insurmountable that they just give up altogether.

Recently, a friend sent me an actual, handwritten letter, thanking me for inspiring her to get organized. She had become very discontented and frustrated with the lack of organization in her home, but after organizing just one small space, she was so encouraged, and was inspired to do more. So, if you’re having trouble getting started, here’s my advice:

Just start. Anywhere. Pick a kitchen drawer, or your purse, or one file in your filing cabinet. Just do something, because that one thing will lead to more, and before you know it, your whole house will be neat and orderly. Like they always say on PBS, doing something feels a whole lot better than doing nothing.