Recent studies show there is a direct correlation between clutter and stress. It has been found that clutter can lead to health problems including stress, weight gain, and germs from an unhealthy environment.

A few statistics give us great insight on the effects of clutter.

-According to the American Demographics Society, Americans as a whole waste 9,000,000 hours per day searching for misplaced items.

-According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, 80% of the clutter in your home is a result of disorganization, not lack of space, and getting rid of excess clutter would eliminate 40% of the housework in the average home.

-Harris Interactive states that 23% of adults say they pay bills late (and must pay fees) because they lose them.

-The US Department of Energy says that 25% of people with two-car garages don’t park any cars in them and 32% park only one.

Clutter is an irritating distraction that can make it difficult to relax or focus on anything. Even people who seem to be blind to their surroundings are often aware of everything in their environment on a subconscious level. The thought of removing such clutter often creates anxiety because it seems like an unattainable goal, and it is much easier to try and ignore it. However, ignoring clutter simply creates even more stress. According to a poll done on about.com, over a third of their readers avoid going home because of the overwhelming mess and not knowing where to begin cleaning. By ignoring the task of de-cluttering, we allow feelings of hopelessness and anxiety to creep into our thinking. Studies show that anxiety and stress can also then cause medical problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80% of our medical expenditures are now stress related.

So, how can we reduce clutter,  reduce stress, and begin to relax and enjoy our homes?

Your home did not get cluttered overnight and it won’t get cleaned up over night either. Begin by setting small goals. A good start would be devoting 20 minutes a day to de-cluttering. As you get momentum add time to each session, but never exceeding more than 3 hours at a time. Remember to leave time for taking out the trash, putting away boxes, and cleaning freed up space.

Begin imagining what your ideal clutter free home would look like. Look through magazines, brochures, and websites for organizational ideas. Ask friends and family how they keep their space clean, then begin to realize what will or won’t work for you and your family.

Shelving, boxes, closet organizers, and cabinets will help you to get a system in place that will work for you. Custom cabinetry companies such as Get Organized, Inc. and Park Avenue Kitchen design group in Orlando, Florida, can help you design a space specific for your needs. Allowing you to choose all aspects of the design from hardware, to counter tops, they will create a beautiful working area. These companies will take an inventory of your belongings and help design areas that will help you to organize and eliminate clutter.

Once you have a plan in place and you have de-cluttered your home, begin a daily maintenance program. Set up a ten to fifteen minute daily routine to clean up areas and reorganize sporadic clutter. We know that it’s going to get messy in any household from time to time, but having a system in place and having a plan of action will help to deal with temporary clutter without anxiety. The good news is, once you learn good systems, habits, and tools, change becomes easier, as does bouncing back from any unexpected mess.

So, take the challenge today of de-cluttering your life and reducing unnecessary stress. Make it a family event and get everyone involved. This will help you to accomplish both spending time with your family and being productive at cleaning up your home.

-Beth Kangootui

www.getorganizedinc.com