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Feeling “stressed” is a common complaint these days — in fact, many people have started to think of stress as an unavoidable part of life. But stop and think about how many of your stressors are rooted in poor organizational habits. Disorganization puts tremendous pressure on both the mind and the body — just taking the time to organize your life can lift a great weight off of your shoulders.

Clean Out Some Clutter

The first step in your journey toward stress-free organization is clearing the decks. I’ll bet that if you looked around your home or office right now, you’d find at least 20 bits of junk you could easily live without — a used-up bottle of shampoo, a pen that’s run out of ink, a raggedy pair of socks, a cracked teacup, or a piece of junk mail. Get rid of them! This small, simple act will inspire you to dig a little deeper into the piles.

Learn How To Say No

If you want to get organized, you have to set healthy boundaries — simply knowing your limits (and sticking to them) is a great stress-reducer. It’s not required that you participate in every activity, serve on every committee, or personally handle each problem that comes your way. You’ll feel a lot less overwhelmed if you lose that knee-jerk reaction of saying “yes” every time you’re asked to do something — it’s better to tell someone “no” than to hit your limit and do a crappy job.

Deal With Paperwork Right Now

How much do those stacks on your desk or countertop stress you out? Daily mail, magazines, solicitations, bills, school papers, memos, projects you’re working on — it’s just too much! Rather than adding to the pile, sort incoming paperwork as you receive it. Recycle the junk mail, envelopes, inserts, and group the rest according to what you have “to do” to it. If you make time in your schedule each day for tackling paper, you’ll find the job much easier than you ever would have imagined.

Plan Your Day The Night Before

Do you feel as though you’re always at loose ends? Forgetting appointments, running late, having to come back three different times for your purse/briefcase/lunch? Stressful! Take a minute at the end of each evening to plan for the next morning — gather up anything you need to take with you for the day, pick out your clothes, locate your car keys, and remind yourself of your first appointment. You’ll start off in a much more centered and relaxed mood without all of the rushing around.

Make Time For Yourself Every Day

This is a hard one for most people. When I say make time, I don’t mean time for chores and errands — I’m talking about time for relaxing and doing something you truly enjoy. It doesn’t have to be a long break — 30 minutes and a soak in the tub or cup of tea on the back porch might be plenty. Just don’t blow yourself off just because you get busy. You have to respect your time as much as you do everyone else’s — getting organized (and reducing stress) means learning to treat yourself as a priority.