Picture this: you’re ready to start a day of work or school assignments, armed with a massive to-do list (or time-blocked schedule), but your desk is… disorganized, to say the least.  Or, you arrive home at the end of a busy day, eager to relax, and your bedroom is just as bad.  I find that a messy work or living space is a major contributor to my stress.  Because I’m a college student, my work and living spaces are usually the same, which can worsen the effects of the clutter.  I have no escape if my dorm room gets messy, and since my school work is all mixed in with ‘free time’ stuff like games and non-school books, it’s easy to get distracted regardless of what I’m doing. 

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Fortunately, this problem can also be one of the easiest to tackle, and therefore one of the easiest ways to reduce your anxiety.  You might think that clutter isn’t a big deal because you always know where everything is, or maybe you wish your desk or bedroom was cleaner but you feel like you don’t have time to address it.  However, keeping your working and living spaces organized is so important, and making that change doesn’t have to be a stressful or time-consuming task.

Several psychology studies suggest that people with more cluttered living spaces are more stressed, more likely to be depressed, and less productive; on the other hand, more organized people tend to sleep better and can even be physically healthier.  It doesn’t surprise me that staying tidy can be highly beneficial.  When my work and living spaces aren’t at least somewhat organized, it’s just one more thing to worry about.  I start to focus on everything that’s out of place, and it creates a negative vibe.  When my desk and bedroom or dorm room are clean, I definitely feel more at ease.  It helps me feel more in control and less distracted.

Furthermore, taking ten minutes or so to get organized when I do let things get cluttered can be a nice break from more demanding tasks.  It doesn’t take too much time, and I feel productive while cleaning without having to concentrate hard or think intensely about a homework assignment.  I can either zone out if I need a real reprieve, or I can mull over an essay, practice an oral presentation, or reflect on some other problem while still taking a step back.  Sometimes, the best ideas or solutions come to us when it’s not the main focus of our attention.  Even when I need to devote a little more time to cleaning up, it’s worth it to find space in my schedule to do so.  

However, if you’re used to cluttered spaces, it can seem daunting to make a change.  I promise, though, it’s not that hard. As a kid I could be quite messy, and I’m not compulsively neat now, but I make an effort to stay on top of clutter because I know it will improve my mental state and make my schedule easier to handle.  

The Initial Overhaul

If you feel you’ve got a long way to go, set aside a few hours or even a day to get everything together.  If you can’t actually take that much time at once because it’s your workspace and you need to actually work, or you just have a lot going on, you can do it little by little too.  Just don’t draw it out too long, or it might become more overwhelming.

Separate all of your clutter into different categories and find ways to organize your stuff.  Get cute file folders and storage baskets to brighten up your space.  You can find inexpensive solutions on Amazon or even at a dollar store.  Keep less-used items out of sight in drawers or opaque bins — you don’t have to go totally minimalist, but keep things looking neat.  Next, arrange decorations and frequently-used items on shelves, desk surfaces, and dressers, but use organizers here too so everything has a place.  Finally, as you’re going through everything, get rid of things you don’t need or want.  Without getting caught up in the decision-making, take a second to think about each object and whether you should keep it or either throw it out, sell it, or donate it.  After the first few items, it will get easier to make these choices.

Once you’ve done this the first time, it’s smooth sailing from here.  Still, set aside some time once a season or even once a year to follow up.   

Upkeep

Now, all you need to do is keep your work and living spaces from getting too cluttered again.  That’s not to say you can never let one thing stray from its designated spot; that’s not realistic.  Find a system that works for you.  Personally, I try to take a few minutes at the beginning or the end of the day to take care of any glaring issues.  Then, inevitably, I get busy and some things get left out, and I get more cluttered throughout the week.  During the weekend or a stretch of free time during the week, I take about 10-15 minutes to really put things back in order.  It helps my state of mind to stay organized, and I enjoy being in my room and working at my desk so much more.  Help yourself out by getting uncluttered, and you’ll notice how much more relaxed you feel.

Several psychology studies suggest that people with cluttered living spaces are more stressed, more likely to be depressed, and less productive.

What if you really hate cleaning?

There are lots of ways to motivate yourself and enjoy cleaning!  Put on some music, especially upbeat music.  Play a podcast or audiobook, or even put Netflix on in the background if you can promise yourself you won’t get too distracted — I only recommend something you’ve already seen, so you can just listen and not really watch.  You could also put your phone on speaker and talk to a friend or family member.  Alternatively, pretend you’re on an HGTV show and talk about what you’re doing.  The silliness just might make it bearable.

If you’re at work, some of these are not viable options, but it’s still important to take a bit of time each day or each week to straighten up.  Use the time to think over something you need to do, or use part of a break to slip in some headphones to listen to a playlist, podcast, or audiobook.

Whether you’re a total slob or just haven’t thought about how your surroundings affect you, keep in mind that staying organized can really help with stress and can even brighten your mood.  At the very least, maybe in the process you’ll rediscover an old yearbook full of embarrassing photos, or some missing socks you thought had migrated to an alternate dimension.

Allison is a rising senior at Hamilton College who loves reading, writing, and animals.  She is majoring in Literature and minoring in Psychology, and she hopes to go into publishing upon graduation.