ScholarSmarts essay by Vallory:
As I sit gazing out upon the disaster area that I have come to know as my bedroom, a sense of anxiety and doom overtake me. I know that somewhere under the piles of books, bags and clothing, some clean, some not so clean, there is the room that I was inspired to meticulously paint and painstakingly decorate in a celestial theme not so long ago. It was a room that I was proud of, one that filled me with energy and enthusiasm to work in, to relax in and to entertain in. Now that same room has become a sad, anxiety-filled place, one that I often avoid altogether. My once inspirational refuge now evokes feelings of tension and dread.
Yes, I know all too well through my own experience the type of emotional stress a cluttered, disorganized space can create. The feelings of frustration when every work surface is covered by teetering stacks of paper and the sense of being overwhelmed and irritated when a key piece of information needed to complete a project cannot be located are unfortunately all too common. The stress caused by these conditions is not only emotionally upsetting, but also extremely counterproductive. I put off starting required projects because the negative energy brought on by the clutter makes me feel less capable of getting the projects done. This procrastination results in there being less time available to meet deadlines and consequently, a rushed, and maybe not as well prepared project. I find that I often can’t concentrate because I am distracted by the chaos. Creative thinking is aided by a clear mind and the clutter is not conducive to clarity. After all, how can I organize my thoughts necessary to complete a successful project when I can’t even seem to organize my desk?
I know now that I am not alone in my grief. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between clutter and productivity. Specifically, they have shown that productivity decreases when levels of clutter and the resulting chaos increase. The Small Business Administration has indicated that the biggest burden for small business is the inability to properly service customers due to mishandled paperwork. This results in lost time, lost customers and hence, lost profits. Studies have shown that the average person wastes over 4 hours per week searching for papers. Additionally, studies have shown that the average executive loses one hour of productivity per day just searching for missing information. The mountains of clutter do not merely cause aggravation and frustration in the workplace. The increased stress caused by the endless clutter causes lost productivity in the way of missed work time also. Statistics show that 75 percent or more of doctor visits are stress related. Stress has a negative physical impact on the immune system which can result in more frequent illnesses in addition to the mental and emotional effects.
My plan? I know that by organizing and de-cluttering my life with a Morgan Hill, CA self storage unit not only will I become more productive, I will also be potentially happier, healthier, less stressed and better able to take on the challenges that lay ahead for me in my college years.
