Many of my clients when they first come to me lead chaotic lives. They are usually on the run, can’t find things when they need them, and often seem to live being tossed from one drama to the next. Their lives are full of anxiety, stress, and unhappiness.
When I suggest bringing a sense of order to their lives, they often resist. It’s too hard! They don’t have the time! And, they feel that if they slow down for a minute all the things they are juggling will fall at once. But, they trust me and usually give it a try, only to find that order brings them peace and allows them to be more effective in the end.
You don’t need to be stressed or anxious to benefit from bringing more order and harmony into your life. We can all appreciate the peace and contentment it brings. When we feel peaceful our lives flow more naturally and we gain a sense of freedom.
Yes, freedom. With systems set up and things in their places our minds no longer have to worry about these little pieces of day to day living. We are free to focus on the more fun and creative aspects of life.
Just imagine what you could do and how different you would feel with your life in order.
I know that the tools of order don’t sound exciting. Many people put a lot of energy into avoiding them, but they have a special appeal and can be sexy in their own way.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Cleaning, de-cluttering, or putting things away. It’s amazing how good this feels.
- Creating simple systems that keep my finances, calendar, and other items on auto pilot.
- Choosing regular habits that keep me healthy and feeling good.
- Following daily and weekly routines that become just part of who I am and don’t require thought anymore.
- Structuring my work and calendar so that I have breathing room and never feel rushed.
To some of you this may seem boring, but that is far from the truth. I live a very full life of work, volunteering, and spending time with my family and friends. I can do more with less stress thanks to these tools that bring order to my life.
We can also benefit from creating a sense of order internally.
This happens when we are clear about who we are and our intentions for our daily lives. While having order in our external world is a part of this, there are a few other ideas to consider:
Morning Practices that Inspire You: Allow time to journal, sit quietly, or read something motivating before your day begins.
Plan Your Day: Review your goals and set intentions for what you want to do and how you want to be.
Pause: Give yourself space throughout the day to pause, breathe, and be thankful.
Cultivating inner peace through an orderly life will soothe your soul and bring a new sense of joy to your days. I encourage you to embrace structure and order as a foundation for the life you want to create. It will feel really good.
If you feel that you would like to have the support of a professional life coach through this process of cultivating inner peace, I would love to talk to you. Contact me here.
Related Posts:
How to Bring Balance to Your Relationship with Time
How to Spark Joy in All Areas of Our Lives (Not Just Clutter)
Image courtesy of Pixabay
You must have been reading my mind. I am doing a bit of research on clarity; who has it, where to find it and how do I get some.? Thanks for your post, it has opened a few more questions to be answered.
I have read experts who say that a cluttered physical world reflects and can contribute to a cluttered mind, so when I want clarity cleaning and organizing is one of the things I do. Clearing space also allows room for answers to come. Good luck with your research. I would love to hear how it goes.
Great post Linda. I really need to start taking a few minutes in the morning to relax, have a cup or tea, and read something inspiring or uplifting. Usually I am checking email, working on a post, posting on social media, then getting ready to jump in the car and head to work. I do need some peace in my life, lol. I need to learn to take time for me. Easier said than done, but need to try. Thanks for the reminder.
Yes Samantha, sometimes it is easier said than done. Your morning practice doesn’t have to be long. What if you went to bed 15 minutes earlier and got up 15 minutes earlier? I understand feeling the need to jump in to work and social media, it calls to me too, but I have learned that I can do more with less stress when I start my day slowly.
I love morning rituals like I sit and play my game before getting ready for work…but this is also a lot of the reason I am usually late to work..lol =/ Although I have gotten better with balancing that, too! De cluttering is so important and it makes you feel way better.
Hi Shannon: Does your game bring more order and meaning to your life? I find quiet practices like journaling, reading, or listening to music work best for me. Maybe you could set an alarm on your phone to tell you when it’s time to go to work.
clean space, clean mind…i’m LOVING spring cleaning this year (:
Jessica: I was thinking about spring cleaning, too. It’s the perfect time to create order in our lives.
I love this! I totally agree with all you say in this article. And, while I prefer order, at times chaos creeps in! Thanks for the suggestions for making sure order is established for each day!
Glad you liked it Maribeth. I’m picturing you being calm and relaxed as you go through your days.
I have a mixed marriage. My husband is “organizationally-challenged.” I’m neat and tidy. Somehow we’ve managed to make it through, but my soul loves the sight of that wonderful closet! You’re giving me ideas…
Isn’t it lovely. I like the colors, too. I had another image at first but when I saw this one, I knew it was right. I’m glad you and your husband are living in harmony with your order differences. For some reason it seems to be true that opposites attract.
Thank you for these wonderful tips. I find that I work the best, and I’m more calm and less stressed after I’ve de-cluttered and cleaned. I need to work on my organization skills though x
I think we all can work on our organization skills. Or, at least most of us. It’s called being human and perfection is not the goal.
My father-in-law (who will be 96 in June) moved in with us unexpectedly in mid-March. Chaos? Turmoil? Oh, yes. And he’s even a nice, polite man! But as we gave him our downstairs master bedroom and we moved upstairs into the guest room, I found a big source of stress was a couple of boxes I had set out in the upstairs hallway, containing all my personal items from our former bedroom’s vanity area. Nothing was where I expected to find it. However, yesterday I took time to create physical space for these things upstairs. Now everything is in its (new) place, and I don’t have to feel depressed and helpless, walking by those boxes anymore. Indeed, I do feel peaceful for the first time in weeks.
That happened to me when i moved. There are still things in boxes in my spare bedroom, but I plan on giving them away if I don’t need them in the next couple months. I’m glad that you were able to take the time and create order during this interesting time in your life.
Great points on how organization frees the mind and relieves anxiety. I have a few people I need to share this with!
I think we all need to be reminded of it at times. Please feel free to share it in any way you like.
Absolutely. Great and unstoppable post!