Staying Organized to Suppress Anxiety
When I was a kid I was known by my messiness and disorganization. My mom used to get so upset with me about how messy and gross my room was that she would clean it. True story: One time while she was helping me clean my room we found a whole pork chop bone under my bed.
I was constantly losing things, breaking things, or just leaving important things lying around- CONSTANTLY. I left things everywhere!
As I got older, and through therapy, I realized that my disorganization and dysfunction not only caused me grief when I was looking for something I had lost. It was also causing me to be unnecessarily stressed and was actually enhancing my anxiety.
In an effort to eliminate things from my life that cause me anxiety, becoming more organized and responsible has become one of my top priorities.
If you are anything like I was and you want to take some steps to become a more organized person, here are some of my top tips.
Start Small:
Your success in becoming more organized and STAYING organized is by taking small steps and staying consistent. Figure out which areas are most important to organize first, choose one and stick with that until it becomes habitual.
Invest in a good planner:
For me, being consistent with using a day planner was one of the best decisions I have made on my quest to become a more organized person. I am able to put all of my appointments, meetings, blog content schedule, and household to-do list in one place. I look at my planner in the morning before I get my day started so that I have a clear overview of what I need to do for the day. It helps me stay mentally organized about what I need to do for the day.
Make your bed:
Do not underestimate how good and accomplished any small task can make you feel. Making your bed is one of them.
De-clutter:
We all have acquired a lot of items that we no longer need, use, or want. But for whatever reason, we hold on to the items because we imagine them to have sentimental value in our lives. Most of the time, that is not the case. Holding on to things that we should have long thrown out causes clutter in our homes and minds. Let that stuff go and allow yourself to the freedom to not be weighed down by clutter.
Manage your phone apps:
A lot of us spend unconscionable amounts of time mindlessly scrolling through apps on our smartphones. While there is nothing wrong with using social media, sometimes we don’t need it at our fingertips at all times. Go through your apps and see what you can get rid of. Also, TURN OF NOTIFICATIONS. There is no reason that you have to be connected every second of every day, or feel pressured to respond immediately.
Put things away:
This was a skill I clearly lacked as a teenager and young adult.
Everything in your home should have a place and should return to that place whenever you are done using it. No matter how tired or lazy you feel that day, keep this practice a priority.
Take time for yourself:
I cannot stress enough how important it is to take time out of your day, every day, to show yourself self-care. Whether it’s just taking five minutes to journal, or going for a walk in the evening, taking the time to care for yourself sets the tone for how you will approach and present yourself in the world. Organize your thoughts and mind, then organize your world around you. If you need some ideas about free ways to show self-care, check out one of my latest blogs here.
Becoming more organized in your day to day life is a decision and action you take for yourself. It's something you may fail and restart multiple times, but the point is to never give up. Always remember that self-improvement isn’t a race, it is a marathon and you have a chance to take a new step every day.