Keeping a neat environment is extraordinarily underrated and beneficial for your overall well-being. If school or work feels like its making you crazy, knowing that other aspects of your life are in order can keep you sane. It’s normal to get derailed every now and then, but there are a few things you can do to keep your head above water and feel like a (somewhat) organized adult. To ensure that you don’t drown in your own surroundings, here are a few tips to keep it together:
1) Make Your Bed – Going to bed in an unmade bed kind of feels like going to a job interview in a wrinkled suit… it doesn’t set the stage for success (in this case, success in falling asleep,) and it most definitely doesn’t make you feel good about yourself. I’m not saying you need to come home to a five-star-hotel worthy bed spread, but at least take the 15 or so seconds to pull your sheets back up over your bed and straighten up the pillows.
2) Wash the Dishes – Taking five minutes after you make dinner to wash the dishes is a lot nicer, and less smelly, than washing dishes that have piled up over days of use. Besides, who wants to cook in a dirty kitchen? Keeping it clean will motivate you to unleash your inner culinary genius.
3) Hang Up Your Clothing – It really isn’t cool to wake up in the morning and worry about finding a clean pair of pants to wear to work, that aren’t wrinkled up on the floor being used by your dog as a chin rest. It’s so easy to hang up your clean clothes and toss the dirty in the laundry, you don’t even need to think about it. Also, do your laundry. On a regular basis!
4) Sort Your Mail – I am horrible with mail. I always have been. In college I got a call from whoever it was that handled our mailboxes to please come pick up my mail as the mailman couldn’t possibly fit anything else into the box. These days, my husband is nice enough to sort through our mail, and I am able to overlook it even when he places it right on top of the book I am currently reading. I’m trying to get better, as I can clearly see how annoying it is to have stacks of unopened mail cluttering our dining room table. I will work on this one!
5) Keep Your Car Clean – Not only for yourself, but because you never know if a friend, family member, or co-worker will need a ride, and it’s really embarrassing to have to explain the 2-day old smoothie cups in your cup holders. It takes little to no effort to wipe down your dashboard, and give your interior a quick vacuum every now and then. Also, try to keep a carry-in carry-out policy, and that way you won’t end up with a car that looks like a recycling center for used water bottles.
