Clutter and disorganization are problems we attempt to solve, but often fail at doing. We succeed in cleaning up and rest on our laurels, yet the mess creeps back up on us without our knowing. It is important to have a philosophy behind our attempts at cleaning and organizing in order that our efforts will last longer. A clean and organized home helps to decrease stress and worry and contributes to more productivity and focus. A messy home contributes to a cluttered, confused head filled with worry-inducing thoughts, while a clean home contributes to a clear and precise mind.
It is important to distinguish the difference between clutter and disorganization. Clutter is the amount of useless, inessential stuff that we possess, while disorganization is the lack of categorization and accounting for of the stuff we have. It is important to get rid of the meaningless clutter in our homes as well as organize the meaningful things.
These tasks can be daunting without a guide. I propose that we organize our homes in a similar way cities are designed and run, as a visual aid in tackling the daunting obstacles in getting our homes in order:
Conserve open space (like a park). A cluttered home contributes to a cluttered mind. Even if your household is small, conserve open and clean spaces. Keep out visual clutter, let in as much natural light as possible, and regularly clean it. Treat these areas with respect. If you must do chores, like laundry, inside these areas, do not linger. Laundry is meant to be in the washer or in your hamper, not on your coffee table. The living room is a good place to utilize open space, as well as any other recreational areas in your home.
Keep pathways clear and straight (like roads/highways). It is important to keep mobility and movement around the house as streamlined and simple as possible. This point might seem obvious, but how many times have you encountered an entrance to a house littered with shoes and bags/backpacks on the floor? Or hallways that must be navigated like a maze due to protruding decor or piles of laundry? It is important to keep trafficked areas as decluttered and straightforward as possible, in order to keep everyone moving with ease and celerity.
Have stations for mail, calendars, chore lists, etc. (like police stations/fire stations/town halls). The point of this rule is to keep in mind that everything ought to have it’s own place. Every item and possession ought to have a designated area in the house for it. This is the most important rule in keeping your home organized. Besides this, having “stations” for things, such as a mail spot near your door, calendars and chore lists in the kitchen to keep everyone in the household updated, is important in keeping order and simplicity in life. Keep everyone you live with informed in these rules, so that they are on the same page and will help keep everything clean and organized too.
Keep your home clean (like municipal sanitation). Now that you’ve organized and decluttered, keep everything clean. It is important to not save all your cleaning for big purges weekly, but to clean small things here and there. Wipe down your bathroom and kitchen counter after each use, spray down your shower with a cleaner each morning, dust surfaces during commercial breaks. These small bits of action accumulate into a spotless and immaculate household.
