The Hidden Cost of Clutter (as seen on 6ABC)

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The cost of clutter goes much deeper than your wallet. I had the opportunity to sit down with Alicia Vitarelli, to chat about the lasting impact of clutter-and we are not just talking about money. Check out our interview below:

My advice, think F.A.S.T.

Frustration.  How many times have you gone looking for something you know you have, but can’t seem to find?  There’s nothing worse than spending valuable time looking for something that easy to find.

Anxiety.  You’re late to work, and you can’t find your keys. The kids are rushing to get to soccer practice, but can’t find their cleats. Whatever the scenario, you’ve been there and felt the anxiety rising!

Stress. Anxiety leads to unnecessary stress. You can’t find that report, and you need to turn it in ASAP!  You begin to beat yourself up, yell at your kids, affecting both your physical and mental health.

Time.  The average person spends almost an hour a day looking for things. Over the course of a year that amounts to almost 2 weeks! Think about it, you could take a vacation in the amount of wasted time resulting in clutter and disorganization.

The key is to assign a home for everything, rather than drop things where it’s convenient in the moment. If you take the extra 2 minutes (or less) to put things away, it will be seamless when you go to retrieve it. A little time spent on the front end, will save you hours of lost time in the long run.

For additional tips, insights and strategies, pick up a copy of my book, HOT MESS:  A Practical Guide to Getting Organized, wherever books are sold.