7 Physical And Mental Health Benefits of Organization
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Everyone loves to hate Monica Geller’s obsessive need to clean and organize her home in the iconic sitcom, Friends! And sure, such people are annoying and can get on your nerves quite easily. Who likes to be constantly told to organize and keep things in order? That’s nagging!
However, those who stay organized and maintain an order in everything they do are likely to lead better lives. That’s because this meticulous habit has multiple health benefits including letting you have plenty of me-time.
In that spirit, let’s explore the many benefits of staying organized-
1. Alleviates Stress And Depression
Women with cluttered homes or half-finished projects turn out to be more depressed, tired and with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their bodies (1). That’s not a surprise really. If you have too many pending tasks or a home that doesn’t induce a sense of calm, you’re bound to feel stressed and tired.
2. Helps Improve Diet
This one might be a little hard to believe. As per research, individuals who worked in a clean and neat environment for as little as 10 minutes were two times more likely to pick an apple for a snack rather than a bar of chocolate (2). This was in comparison to those working in a messy office, who would obviously choose the bar of chocolate. Stress can induce the brain to choose comfort foods over nutritious ones.
3. Helps To Follow A Strict Workout Regime
Individuals who set short-term goals for themselves, make a plan to achieve them and even track their progress have higher chances of continuing with their exercise regime than those who don’t. The organizational skills of such individuals make them aware of how much they’ve progressed, thereby motivating them to carry on. So if you find it difficult to exercise, make a plan for it!
4. Improves Your Interpersonal Relationships
A life of disorganization can keep you from enjoying happy times with your friends, family, and partner, while one with organization can do the opposite. Couples can fall apart due to the conflict and stress caused by clutter in their homes. Additionally, searching for lost items can also prevent couples from spending quality time together. Moreover, a messy home can make you drop the plan of inviting people to your place as you are likely to be embarrassed by the way your house looks. Unless you want to lead an isolated life, you might want to start cleaning up!
5. Enhances Productivity
Confirmed by mothers and now by popular belief, a messy workspace can prevent you from being at your productive best. The clutter on your desk can distract you and keep you from focusing on the task at hand. When you have too many things to look at in front of you, you hamper the way your brain processes information, as per a study in the Journal of Neuroscience (3). That being said, if you de-clutter your desk, you will see your productivity increase. Moreover, organizing your desk will also save you a lot of time, enhancing your efficiency. That’s an easy way to cut down on your work hours, isn’t it?
6. Aids In Weight Loss
When you’re organized, you become much more aware of what you eat. Since eating healthy requires a lot of planning and preparation anyway, your organizational skills can actually help you lose weight and stay healthy and active. Chances are that your skills will ensure that you include healthy food in your diet. Being lazy, on the other hand, will make you eat whatever is available, which is mostly obesity-inducing packaged food!
7. Improves Sleep Quality
A de-cluttered lifestyle is equal to a de-cluttered mind, which means better sleep! When your bedroom is spick and span, you will witness an improvement in your sleep quality. Studies show that who make their own bed every day had 19 percent higher chances of sleeping well (4). 75 percent of people also reported that they slept better on clean sheets as it increased their comfort. In addition to causing tension, an overall chaotic life can prevent you from cleaning your bed; and the double effect of both can adversely impact your sleep quality.
So, the next time an organized person asks you to buckle up and leave the sloppiness behind, take their advice. It might sound like you’re being nagged but it’ll only benefit you! Time to go and get your life organized then?
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