Living a fast-paced lifestyle brought about by advances in science and technology has made our daily existence full of stress. Almost everyday, new discoveries and inventions grab the headlines. People have become so busy with so many things going on at the same time that they have allowed their homes, offices, and even cars to become so messed up.



Some people just have to look around inside their house to see how the clutter is so overwhelming. That kind of stress can make people more vulnerable to potential health problems. When we encounter stress, the body releases chemicals like cortisol that actually decreases the body's immune function making you prone to illness.

A chaotic household environment can have a lot of impact on growing children. Kids who were raised up in homes where there are a lot of disorganization and chaos come to school a lot more stressed, hyperactive, and a lot more upset in general.

Life's annoyances and frustrating situations can build up and cause stress and anger. More high-energy forms of physical activity like boxing, martial arts, or weight training can provide an effective release of these negative emotions, turning these otherwise potentially unhealthy emotions into motivation for increased health and well-being.

The same is true with getting things organized. It takes a lot of physical energy to clean up clutter, lift those boxes and move around things. The problem is, people usually don't know where to start when it comes to tidying things up. You see so much disorganization everywhere. Garden tools are piled next to books and boxes filled with everything from old sewing patterns to family memorabilia. You practically have to climb over piles of clutter before you get into the house.

Ruth Phillips, a professional household organizer for seven years, describes most of her clients as being overwhelmed by clutter. Nearly all of them experience stress because of it. To help them get started and focused, she said she abides by this guiding question: Are you keeping it or tossing it? Her suggestion is to start in the first two feet and start moving around the room until everything is covered and done.

According to psychologist Mark Crawford, families should tackle the chaos together. ?Get everyone to see the benefits of keeping your home and environment a little less cluttered and a little more organized,? he said. Just like Phillips, his strategy is to get going by taking one area such as one corner, one desk, and one drawer. Once done, pick the next small task.

In doing so, you might be able to find things you have misplaced or have been looking for. Make it a point to assign each thing or item a ?home? where you can always put it back after its use.

As more and more people become health-conscious, being organized can be an extremely effective stress reliever. It minimizes stress hormones like cortisol, and allows for the release of endorphins, your body's ?feel-good? chemicals, giving your mood a natural boost.