Cleaning Up is Peace of Mind
By: Monica Mendoza
Tags: Cleaning, Organizing, Family Time

By Monica Mendoza

Sometimes life can be frustrating, fast paced and difficult both at work and at home. After a long day at work, who wants to come home and clean? Definitely not me! I tend to sometimes be an anxious person, and have found that having a messy home adds to the anxiety and stress I feel. As a result, I have learned that I need to be organized and clutter free, as much as possible, for myself, as well as for my family. Being organized is important as it helps create a structure in my home, but more importantly, because it reduces stress, allows me to save money and spend more time with my family. Therefore, keeping organized has become a norm in my house and here are some pearls of wisdom I have learned along the way.

Declutter. Organizing can seem overwhelming at first, especially if you haven’t purged useless items in a while, but it must be done in order to give yourself the restful time you deserve.

· Start small, like a drawer, then work your way up to a pantry or closet.

· Eliminate belongings you haven’t used in six months or more by either donating them, throwing them away or having a garage sale.

· Organize by color in the closet, or by items in the pantry or drawers, so that you can easily see and find items you are looking for.

· Put items in their designated spaces right after you’ve used them, this way, the house continues to look clean and organized.

Stress Reduction. Having a home that is clear of clutter allows for stress levels to decrease. Once the house is clean and organized and you continue to keep up with the cleaning and organizing, it becomes much easier. If you make this practice a habit, then there is no need to stress out if unexpected guests show up or you’re just tired after work and just want to rest. A cleaner, more organized home allows your brain to rest along with your body, and who doesn’t want that?

Save Money. Organizing items in the pantry, medicine cabinet, closet, etc. allows you to see what you have and don’t have so that you do not purchase an item that you don’t necessarily need. Avoid purchasing and spending more money on unnecessary items by simply organizing and being able to see what you already have in stock. Remember, extra items lead to extra clutter, so you can avoid the afore mentioned by simply organizing.

Family Time. We all work hard throughout the week, so why would we want to continue to work hard during the weekend by cleaning our house on Saturday or Sunday? By keeping your house organized and tidy, you will be able to spend time on you and with your family. The weekends are meant to relax from the hustle and bustle of the workweek, so by staying organized you can just do a quick tidying of your house and then go out and do something for you or something with your loved ones. Take advantage of this opportunity. Time is short, so do what you love with the people you love.

Organizing takes time, discipline and consistency in order to make it a habit. But once you’ve created these routines, life becomes a little easier and definitely much more enjoyable as you decrease stress, save money and enjoy more time with your family.