Wednesday’s Dose of Sunshine: Boost Your Health by Getting Organized

Yesterday, via the miracle that is Twitter, I came across a wonderful article on the blog of LA’s uber organizer, John Trosko. He found a study published by a Los Angeles based health care company, Health Net, that uncovered the health benefits of getting organized and shared it with his readers. It just’s one more good reason to get your spring clean on. Enjoy! Read more about the study here.

The study, coordinated by Ian Shaffer, M.D., chief medical officer and staff of MHN, Health Net’s behavioral health subsidiary, says the energy needed to clean and dust not only provides a portion of the physical activity we need daily, but provides a “bounty” of other benefits. Shaffer points to three:

Reduced time pressure:

“Among the greatest sources of stress is time pressure, i.e., so much to do, so little time. While being organized doesn’t add hours to the day, it does enable you to make the most of the 24 hours in each day. Organized individuals don’t waste time wondering what work project is due when, or where a needed item — from an unpaid bill to an uncashed check — might be hiding. The time saved can be spent on any number of stress-busting activities, such as exercising or preparing a healthy meal.”

Disorganization makes it hard to see things in their components:

“Failing to see the parts leads to a few of the whole that can be very overwhelming and at times will lead to immobilization and people failing to act and move forward.”

No disorganization domino effect:

“As a general rule, disorganization creates a ripple effect, impacting not only the offender, but also those around him or her. If you’re disorganized, the fallout can extend to family, friends as well as co-workers, and a tension-filled environment can become the order of the day. Conversely, while organization doesn’t guarantee harmony and happiness, it unquestionably helps.”