Charlottesville Organizing just celebrated 10 years in business, growing from being a solopreneur to having five additional staff members and numerous community partners and connections. The organization has been in over 440 homes in the Charlottesville and Central Virginia area and has focused on a one-on-one approach but also does lots of group projects now as well.
As a woman-owned and all-female team, the business strives to provide top-notch service and owner Keri-Anne Byrne was happy to give us her take on how making your home’s organization a priority can contribute to your overall wellness.
Can you explain how organizing our home or office can impact our overall wellness?
Studies have shown that clutter can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Researchers have also found that visual clutter leads to cognitive overload, which affects our ability to focus and be productive. Studies have shown that people don’t sleep as well in a cluttered space, leaving them sleep-deprived. Finally, having too many possessions or having them out of order can leave spaces full creating trip hazards.
What are some of the biggest wellness benefits of having an organized space?
Lower stress, more energy, and a physically safe environment. As we mentioned, not adding to our level of cortisol is probably the most important benefit of getting and staying organized, as well as getting good sleep, leading to more energy, therefore being more productive.
Finally, having a physically safe environment, free of tripping hazards is another wellness benefit of getting and staying clutter-free and organized.
For those just starting out, what would you say is the first step to creating an organized home or office?
First, start in a space that contains easy decisions, and will allow for being able to see a measurable difference in a short period of time. Beyond that, first steps are removing anything that doesn’t belong in a particular space and putting “like with like.” For instance, if someone were organizing a home office, they might remove any children’s toys, cleaning products, trash, exercise equipment, etc – things that belong elsewhere in the home.
Then putting all “like” things together such as all papers, pens, office supplies, etc in piles. Once these groupings are made, one can see the space needed to store that category of items, such as one drawer for office supplies, two filing drawers for paper, etc.
Are there specific organizational methods or systems that you recommend for promoting focus or reducing stress?
It’s always helpful to have a buddy while working on decluttering or organizing projects. A buddy helps with accountability in staying focused in the project at hand. If working alone, stay hydrated, be well-fed, play music and/or have your favorite drink on hand.
Do the things that you would to create a productive environment for you, which may differ from person to person. If working in a pleasurable environment, your mind is more likely to associate that task with a pleasurable experience, or at least hopefully not a miserable one!
What are the most common items or areas in a home that tend to cause clutter or stress? And how can a person prevent it from becoming disorganized?
One of the most common areas that gathers clutter is the entryway/mudroom space of a home. With often several people coming and going, hands being full, things placed there so that they don’t get forgotten, it can all quickly gather. The best way to keep this and other areas in control is to create zones and containerize. Designate a space for bags/totes, shoes, jackets, keys, seasonal items, etc.
Create labeled bins for hats, gloves, etc, add a platter or bowl for keys or small things that collect, hooks for keys, and designated shoe spaces for each person. Also, if this space is small, keep only the shoes and coats that are being used right now in this season should be stored here. Ideally, all other shoes and coats can be stored elsewhere.
How can organizing our homes or offices help with time management?
As Benjamin Franklin stated: “For every minute spent organizing, one hour is earned.” Think about how much time some people spend trying to find an item, and then if not found, buying a new one. So much time and money can be saved if “everything has a home” and items are actually put away in their homes!
Is there a mantra or motto you follow when it comes to creating a wellness-focused, organized space?
Everything has a home and the floor is never a home.
If you’re looking for more tips or help with organizing your home to optimize your space and your wellness, contact Charlottesville Organizing for all of your organization needs.
As Benjamin Franklin stated: “For every minute spent organizing, one hour is earned." So much time and money can be saved if “everything has a home” and items are actually put away in their homes!