Fall is quickly approaching, and you probably are already begrudgingly swapping out summer clothes for warmer layers. If you need added motivation to get organized this fall, cleaning up and decluttering actually helps improve your mental clarity and concentration and removes stress.
From your closet to your email inbox to your workspace to your fridge, it’s time to hit refresh for the fall season. A new season is a time to change and evolve. Fall is the perfect time to reorganize and reassess everything from your spending habits, your exercise routine, to your diet.
Here’s how organizing and regrouping this fall will lighten the mental and emotional load you are carrying, according to a professional organizer.
Clear Space, Clear Mind
Crystal Johnson, professional organizer and founder of Nesting Godmother, LLC, lives by the motto “a clear space equals a clear head.” It is also a life-hack that she teaches her clients.
“Creating and maintaining clutter-free, organized spaces is quintessential to your mental wellness,” Johnson said. “Most tasks, worries, and concerns that clutter our brains begin with what we see.”
By creating systems of organization and maintaining clutter-free spaces, Johnson explained that you will be more apt to mentally process resolutions (or close mental tabs). Getting organized for the fall will usher in more efficiency and order into your life.
“For a woman, this is optimal for relaxing her mind,” Johnson added. “More often than not, a woman is carrying emotional and cognitive loads of her own, while also carrying those of her workplace, partner, and/or children.”
Establishing and maintaining a clean space helps create an order of priority. Also, as you get organized for fall, this process will help you set realistic expectations for yourself and others. It will allow room for self-care and increased self-awareness.
Reset for the Fall
As summer is quickly fading away, women looking to reset can follow Johnson’s hacks. When reorganizing a specific area like your closet, your living room, or your workspace, consider three things:
Timestamp Items
To start, it’s important to consider the life of the items that you are storing away from summertime. For example, when organizing your closet, items from your summer wardrobe may not work in your fall wardrobe. (Think bright summer colors, light-weight fabrics.) Swap out decor in your living area or workspace to reflect the season change.
When reorganizing, ask yourself: Do these items serve a purpose beyond the summer seasons? Do these items show too much wear and tear? Is this item a trendy choice or is it timeless? Does this item require further action or can I get more use out of it? For clothing, are you comfortable with the overall fit?
If an item serves no purpose for the next season or is worn or feels out of style or outdated, consider tossing it or donating. Avoid storing items in the “just in case” pile. This is how clutter piles up.
Keep What Works
When it comes to resetting for a new season, don’t immediately skip to tossing everything. For example, when it comes to a woman’s summer wardrobe, she may have pieces that can seamlessly transition or enhance her fall wardrobe. So, before tossing or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, just storing everything, consider what makes sense to keep for the cooler season.
Make Purging a Pleasure
Create a vision for the fall season. It helps to have an idea of what your aspirations are for your personal fall and your living space is prior to purging. Also, you can have fun with determining what you want by making a vision board or creating an online collage of fall inspiration.
“This makes the process much more pleasurable and decisive,” Johnson explained. “When you have a clear visual of the goal you are seeking to reach, you are better able to decipher what must stay or go.”
Hacks for the Woman Who Doesn’t Enjoy Organizing
Johnson encouraged women to embrace the process of organization. First, start by taking it slow.
“Do not feel like you need to do a huge overhaul in a day,” she said. “True organization takes time, so start small.”
When organizing a closet or another area of your life, start with the thing that you’re most decisive about first. Next, tackle the other items one section at a time.
Johnson also advised to enlist the help of a friend that you trust.
“She’ll need a friend who gives her unfiltered honest opinion,” she added. “It may be hard to hear, but it is necessary.”
Of course, when reorganizing becomes too much, trust the process to the professionals. Professional organizers love to support clients in creating clutter-free solutions for their spaces.
The Impact of Organizing
Johnson has seen a seasonal organization significantly impact her clients. The organizational systems that put in place positively impacts the efficiency and ease that it brings to the ebb and flow of their physical and mental spaces.
“The lasting effect that organizing has on my clients’ lives and mental wellness is the greatest reward for what I do,” she said.
After organizing their spaces, Johnson shared that her clients often change their approach to their daily lives.
“They are more decisive, clear on what they need and want, and able to locate things much more quickly,” she explained.