Need extra motivation to Clear the Clutter from your life? Consider the various ways it could be costing you…Clutter costs us money, time, energy and peace of mind.
There are many ways that clutter can cost you financially that can add up fairly quickly: misplaced gift cards; paying late fees on bills or buying something you already own because you can’t find it. Some of us even accumulate so many things that we have to rent a storage unit. Even for a small 5 x 5 storage unit, it can cost around $50 per month. Could you better use those funds for retirement savings or to put towards a family vacation?
Before buying something, remind yourself that it isn’t just the cost of the item. Once at your home, you then have to store it, clean it, repair it and insure it. Is it really worth it?
At the office, almost everyone feels they could be better organized. The average worker spends 30 minutes per day and 150 hours per year just looking for items such as documents and tools.
Can you find that file the boss wants immediately? If not, you may be costing yourself a future promotion. If your desk or work area is cluttered with boxes, files, or personal items; your boss might assume that you can't handle the responsibilities of your job or additional work. When the opportunity for a promotion becomes available, your clutter could eliminate you from even being considered.
An often-overlooked problem created by clutter is the effect on your personal health, both physically and emotionally. Clutter can create physical hazards in your home. It can also obscure household maintenance problems, such as leaky pipes, from view. This could lead to flooding and/or mold.
Clutter can also have an effect on your emotional well-being and increase your stress level. Think of how you feel when you arrive home and enter a cluttered space. Is it a welcoming and relaxing feeling, or is it just a reminder of one more thing you need to do? Does it seem overwhelming? This can add to your stress level, drain your energy and clutter your mind. Clutter can also be a source of family conflict or a source of embarrassment when others see your cluttered space.
There is hope! Getting organized is a process that takes time, but creating a habit of de-cluttering for 15 minutes per day goes a long way to help maintain your spaces. Just focus every day on doing something toward your goal. In the end, you will be rewarded by having more time and money, less stress, pride in your space, increased productivity and greater self esteem. Give it a try. You have so much to gain!
If you would like help with clearing the clutter from your life, please contact an Iowa Professional Organizer. Visit www.iowaprofessionalorganizers.com to find an organizer near you.
Donna Schoeppner
Schoeppner Organizing Solutions
Council Bluffs, Iowa