Ten Compelling Reasons to Get Organized Now

There is a joke that the shortest diet book ever written is one page long, and it simply says, “Eat less. Move more.” Getting your home organized is also very simple: “Buy, do, and keep less. Live more.” Bringing these simple truths into reality is easier said than done, and the key to achieving these is motivation.

In our Clutter Diet® program, we talk about education, motivation, and support as being necessary to make personal change. Education and support can be provided by other people, but motivation must come from within you… from the heart.  You must have a compelling reason to get organized and stay organized, a WHY that pushes you through the effort that is involved and the discouragement that may occur.

Here are the ten best reasons to commit to reducing clutter, buying less, and creating workable systems and routines for your home right now:

1. You will feel less stress and be more relaxed.
   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state unequivocally that 80% of our medical expenditures are now stress related. Getting control of your home and your belongings reduces stress.
2. You will have more energy for your family.
   Seeing a chaotic and cluttered environment every evening when you come home drains your energy. Come home to a serene and streamlined space that soothes you.
3. You can provide a better example to your children.
   Teaching your children good organizing habits will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Children look to you every day for guidance on how to live.
4. You can easily entertain and celebrate with family and friends in your home.
   Relax when the doorbell rings and open your home to people without embarrassment.
5. You will leave your family with a simple estate.
   If you were to get hit by the proverbial bus, what kind of ordeal would your family go through to disposition your belongings and understand your finances? The last thing people need in times of grief is an overwhelming mass of confusing clutter. 
6. You can sell your home faster if you are trying to downsize.
   When you make the decision to downsize, you’ll want to sell a larger home quickly and move into something simpler. An organized space says that the house is cared for, spacious, and ready for a new owner. 
7. Your family will be prepared for whatever life throws your way.
   If someone wakes up with a cough, being organized means you have the cold and flu medicine handy. If a family emergency happens, your bills are already paid and you can leave quickly. Getting organized means you are ready to serve the needs of yourself and your loved ones, not just be a servant to your stuff.
8. You can maintain peace in your home by avoiding conflict over clutter and lost items.
   How many arguments ensue over where someone left the scissors, why the favorite cereal didn’t get purchased, or why you can’t find the keys? Having systems for everyday processes and homes for your items means that things run smoothly and there is less cause for friction.
9. You will save money by buying less and using what you already have.
   If your closet is organized, you’ll know that you already have a black turtleneck sweater and won’t buy another one. If you can see what is in your pantry, you are less likely to have to throw out stale food that you forgot you had. 
10. You will save time for the things and people that really matter.
    Living efficiently saves time. Not spending an hour locating your overdue phone bill means you have another hour to spend playing with your kids.

Getting organized takes commitment and effort, and motivating yourself with solid reasons to take action is the best way to get lasting results.

Lorie Marrero is the Chief Executive Organizer and founder of Living Order, a regional organizing service business.  She is also the creator of ClutterDiet.com®, an innovative new online membership program to help busy people get organized.

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