If one of your resolutions for 2024 is to finally get organized, the new you might be more than just a tidier, more structured, less cluttered version of yourself. You also might get to enjoy some improved mental health.
It should come as no surprise that being organized is good for your mental and emotional wellbeing, with scientific studies over the past 15 years offering confirmation.
If you actually get around to being more organized in 2024 (and we have tips to help you make good on that resolution), here’s what you can expect:
Organization reduces feeling overwhelmed—when you have order in your life, you’re better prepared to manage responsibilities and tasks, which reduces your stress and anxiety.
Because having an organized life puts you in a better position to stay focused and productive, and because you’ll likely be in a better mood, you can expect to have improved self-confidence and better relationships with those close to you.
There are also physical benefits. People who are more organized with their space and their time are more likely to get sufficient sleep, eat nutritious meals, and exercise.
Getting organized sounds great—but when your home or office is full of junk and your calendar is chaotically overbooked, it’s hard to determine where (and how) you’re supposed to start.
Don’t feel as if you have to change everything all at once. As with many other aspects of healthy living, there’s nothing wrong with taking small steps!
With that in mind, here are the seven best stress-reducing, mood-boosting, mental-health-saving small steps you can take to be more organized in 2024:
1. Take an hour to walk through your house with a box or laundry basket and gather any belongings you know you don’t need or want. If you have more time later, you can dedicate an hour to each room of your home.
2. Make the investment in storage solutions that fit your space. Whether you need shelves, cabinets, containers, hooks, pegs, or bins, let yourself spend the money. You can even get smaller organizers to compartmentalize spaces like drawers and shelves.
3. Determine which tasks you can manage on a daily and weekly basis and set realistic times you can accomplish those tasks; e.g. take 15 minutes after dinner to sweep high-traffic areas, sort bills, and put away any items on your kitchen counter or entryway table.
4. Set a rule regarding new items: When you buy something new, you have to discard something old. Determine a favorite charitable organization you can donate unwanted items to.
5. Go digital with all your paperwork. Invest in a scanner or use your smartphone to transfer all paper documents to the digital realm.
6. Swap out and store seasonal items when appropriate: holiday decorations, summer clothing in winter, winter clothing in summer, athletic equipment, and items for hosting or entertaining.
7. Maintain a calendar, whether you prefer analogue or digital. Set reminders for yourself and pay attention to whether you’re overbooking. If you’re managing a calendar for more than one person, use color-coding.
