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The Health Benefits of Home Organization

Here on the Wow Professional Home Organizers Blog, we spend a lot of time giving tips on how to stay organized. In fact, we also give examples of ways that being organized can improve your life. Most of us sense that being organized saves time as well as increases productivity. But did you know that home organization can improve your health?

It’s true. The health benefits of organized life are many and varied.  It ranges from a raised likelihood of making better-eating choices (you read that right) to a better love life (yep, seriously)! 

reducing stress with healthier foods

Declutter to Destress

To begin with, clutter increases cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone. In animal populations (including humans) cortisol is one of the hormones released by the adrenal glands when danger is present. The adrenal glands are responsible for the fight or flight response in animals. (Fun Fact: Fight, Flight or Freeze is a fuller description of the response though fight or flight contains fewer words.)

In the wild, fight or flight is a very useful reaction. It allows animals to respond to danger. But stress in the modern human world tends to be a lot different. Whereas in the wild being flushed with cortisol can be helpful in fleeing from a predator. Furthermore, the flood of stress hormones for people does not help in solving a complex intellectual issue or emotional conflict. Freezing, fighting, or fleeing tend to all be pretty poor choices in those situations.

Cortisol is also the hormone that tells our body to hang on to fat. More cortisol in the body over a prolonged period of time causes weight gain in humans. So if you’re looking for a way to lose a few extra pounds, instead of putting down the cookies, color-code them. Kidding – please don’t take that as medical advice. But, cortisol really does increase weight gain.

weight loss from decluttering

Home Organizing Helps Make Better Food Choices…

When you are in a more organized environment, you are more likely to make healthier food choices. In a study  published in August 2013 in the Journal of Psychological Science, psychologists 

Kathleen D. Vohs, Joseph P. Redden, and Ryan Rahinel found that participants were more likely to choose an apple over a candy bar when in an orderly space. Conversely, participants were more likely to choose the candy bar in a cluttered space.

On the surface, these findings can be surprising. Further studies suggest however that we seek out higher calorie choices when stressed. Comfort food? It makes sense when the body is stressed and cortisol is telling it to hang on to fat, you’d also be seeking out more.

And since we now know that clutter increases cortisol, it stands to reason clutter would cause us to make better food choices. 

thanksgiving dinner prepared

Get Organized to Energize

In addition, to help with weight and food choices, good organization can help your body in another tangible way – it increases energy. Spending a few minutes toward home organization has been found to give a natural boost of energy.

Plus, good organization leads to better sleep which of course gives your body more energy. Having a decluttered bedroom makes people more restful as well as relaxed. No to mentions, keeping your time organized so that you aren’t doing last-minute tasks before bed further reduces stress and makes sound sleep more likely.

guest bedroom organized

Kids Bedroom Decluttered & Organized

Home Organization is Good for the Heart – Literally! And Metaphorically!

Research published by Swedish scientists points to evidence that people who perform more home organizing related tasks are less likely to have cardiovascular disease. Too much release of stress hormones can be bad for the heart. And we’ve already learned that clutter increases stress hormones. 

But the organization isn’t just good for your physical heart. 

WOW Professional Organizing Company

Besides, the time saving that good organization provides which leaves more time to spend with those we love, there is an even more tangible benefit on the love life of organized people.

Research has shown that women who live in spaces that are organized and live with men who are more willing to help with general housework have higher libidos than those in disorganized space. So while the way to a man’s heart may be through his stomach, the way to a woman’s seems to be through her organized home! So if you’ve been looking for a way to get more help around the house, feel free to share this blog!

Organize Your Way to A Happier, Healthier Life

With all of these benefits, a person has to ask “if my house is cluttered, if my belongings are hard to find if my home has no rhyme or reason, can I afford not to hire an organizer?” Give us a call! And if you want any more details on the information contained in this article, ask you your questions below!

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