There are many benefits to maintaining an organized environment. Besides being more efficient (i.e., finding things more quickly) and more productive (i.e., completing tasks fully and on time), living in an organized home or office space keeps the stress at bay.

It’s no secret what stress can do to the body. One of the biggest side effects of stress is high blood pressure. Stress also affects your critical thinking ability, how well you sleep, and can even make you more susceptible to illnesses. Less stress = happier, more productive life.

Here are my top five recommendations for bringing a bit of order and happiness to your life.

1. Set Organizing Goals. Figure out what you want to accomplish, and put those items in order of priority. Sometimes it feels like our whole house needs help, and it might. However, you probably have specific areas that bother you the most. Start with those areas first.

2. Figure Out Your Peak Performance Time. Do you know when you are most productive? Are you an evening or morning person? When do you feel the most alert? Finding out when you perform at your best will help you knock off your to do’s more efficiently and with greater success.

3. Figure Out Your Learning Style. Finding out if you’re a visual, auditory, or tactile (or combination) learner will help you to understand why it may be more challenging for you to do certain things. In addition, your space can be structured so that it matches your learning style so you can be more successful. 

4. Plan Your Time Wisely. Schedule organizing tasks by putting them on your calendar with time frames. Be realistic about how long it will take you to complete each one and then do a little bit each day. If you spend just 10-15 minutes each day attacking a cluttered area of your home or office, you will get some (better than none) organizing done, and not feel overwhelmed.

After your 10 or 15 minutes are up (try for no more than 30 minutes), go about your usual day. If you’ve devoted a whole day to organizing, work in 30-60 minute chunks of time and take a 10 minute break before returning for another 30-60 minute session.

5. Relax! Once you feel motivated to keep up with your organizing tasks, you may forget one very important thing – YOU! We all lead very busy lives, and have families that need our attention, too. So, don’t forget to take breaks, to laugh, get a facial, take your vitamins, go for walks, take a vacation, make a healthy meal, etc. In other words, relax, have fun, and enjoy your life! When you’re having fun, there’s very little room for stress to take up your valuable time.