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Use Organized Living as a Tool for Happiness

December 23, 2015 Arley Hoskin, CMPS

As the New Year approaches, I realize how much I want organized living to a part of my life in 2016. Almost all of my stressful moments occur, to some degree, as a result of my disorganized life. I want to use organized living as a tool for happiness in 2016.

I can’t find my keys so I’m late to an appointment. My clothes aren’t put away or washed so it takes me twice as long to find something to wear. I haven’t set anything out for dinner so I’m scrambling to find something to eat. I have stress relief tools to help me deal with these situations, but all of these scenarios would be eliminated with just a little bit of organization. But how do I even begin?

Identify Areas of Organizational Weakness

Organized living means less stress and more bliss. I'm looking forward to a happier, more blissful year with organized living. You can too. Read this.

Sometimes I just throw my hands in the air and say, “I’m creative. My place will never be uncluttered. My life will never be organized.”

That defeatist attitude gets me no where. I’ve found the first step in solving any problem is to name it—identify what is truly causing the issue. My biggest problem when it comes to organization is that I don’t put things away and I don’t clean up messes right when they occur. I’m the mom that leaves the dishes in the sink over night or sometimes doesn’t even get them in the sink at all.

Procrastination is my default mode and clutter is my natural habitat.

Once I identified my areas of organizational weakness, I saw that they could be fixed. When it comes to organized living I am not hopeless.

Observe People Who Have Organized Lives

So, my second step in organized living has been to observe the lives of those who are organized. My friend Amy is my go-to. She has the organizational skills that make her destined to be a homeroom mom someday. When I decided I wanted to get organized I asked Amy specific questions: What’s your home filing system look like? What do you do with the mail right when you receive? Is there a secret potion I can drink to become organized like you?

But all joking aside, hearing how Amy stays organized gave me tangible steps I could take to get myself organized. I wish I could say it’s been easy, but it hasn’t. I have bad habits at home. I can manage multiple freelance assignments and stay organized with all of the clients I work with as a mental health peer specialist, but when it comes to my home life I’m just not motivated to stay organized.

Use Professional Help to Achieve Organized Living for Happiness

If I could afford to hire a professional organizer to whip me into an organized life like personal trainer, I would. But the life of a freelance writer and mental health advocate isn’t as lucrative as you might think. I do recommend that anyone who can afford these services utilize them.

Since I can’t hire a professional organizer, I recently purchased The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing on Amazon.

Here’s to organized living in 2016.

Find Arley on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

APA Reference
Hoskin, A. (2015, December 23). Use Organized Living as a Tool for Happiness, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, December 22 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/livingablissfullife/2015/12/use-organized-living-as-a-tool-for-happiness



Author: Arley Hoskin, CMPS

Dulce
December, 24 2015 at 11:32 am

Hi!
I wonder if the problem is about the meaning of control and organization are related to, since you also work as a mental health peer specialist, which may be a very stressing job. Probably, being the opposite at home, is a way to free yourself from job-related stress, but leaving you with the stressful consequences of not organizing your stuff. Addiction, Paradox?
I recommend that you would also observe how you feel when you try to organize your place. To change a habit, your start with another one, including visualization & emotions. One step at a time. You will receive the results for your emotional health as well.
Bye,
Dulce.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

December, 30 2015 at 12:02 pm

Thanks for the tip! I agree that home seems to be my refuge and unfortunately that doesn't include being naturally tidy. I'm hoping the Life-Chainging Magic of Tidying Up will help me change my habits from the inside out.

Kellie Jo Holly
December, 23 2015 at 10:51 pm

And don't be so hard on yourself. You wrote, "I’m the mom that leaves the dishes in the sink over night or sometimes doesn’t even get them in the sink at all."
So what? You have a family life and you deserve to enjoy it. If you're more comfortable doing dishes in the morning (or right before the next dinner!) then so be it. Your house, your rules. What you wrote sounds like a "should do this" based on someone else's life.
I love your articles. Keep writing.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

December, 30 2015 at 12:03 pm

Thank you so much for your kind words. We always seem to be our toughest critics.

Kellie Jo Holly
December, 23 2015 at 10:47 pm

Hey, you should check out FlyLady. I used her system years ago and it really helps declutter and clean your living space. I developed some great habits and my house feels lighter and better for it. It is free. http://www.flylady.net/

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