Shae Gilstrap designer
Being in college comes with a number of different responsibilities and deadlines. Many students at Pittsburg State University have jobs, clubs, and bills that they have to keep track of. As a student myself, I am president of ASL Club, have two jobs, rent an apartment, and own a car. Each of those facets of my life comes with a number of responsibilities, all on top of the school work I have to do, too. I also happen to be a bit of a messy person, so getting organized this semester was a necessity. Let me tell you about how I did it.
According to the Jed Foundation, “Clutter actually affects our brains and it’s hard to concentrate when you’re surrounded by too much stuff. In fact, a Princeton University study found that the presence of ‘task-irrelevant objects’ can make it substantially more difficult to focus.” My desk at home is where I do homework, play computer games, make crafts, and do my makeup. Therefore, it is often covered in clutter. With a messy desk, it’s hard for me to find a spot to set all of my homework materials without them getting lost in the clutter. I’ve noticed, however, that when I take the time to keep my desk organized, it makes doing homework feel much more streamlined. There are less distractions, less stuff in my way, and more space to arrange my homework so that it’s easy to follow along with.
Along that same vein, having a cluttered room creates a stressful environment. Your room is supposed to be a safe and private space that makes you feel good. When the floor is covered with laundry and the surfaces are stacked with objects, it automatically makes the room feel smaller. Waking up to a messy room sets the tone for a messy day. It can be incredibly hard to organize your thoughts when everywhere you look reminds you that you have to do laundry.
Keeping your room clean can feel like a last priority when you have a plethora of assignments and paperwork to keep up with, and many of us justify this disorganization by saying “I know where stuff is.” Being organized is not just memorizing where your things are–it’s keeping things sorted, too. There are a number of ways you can choose to sort things, by function, color, shape, or size, but my personal favorite method is organizing by use. For example, I could choose to keep my scissors with my knives since they share the function of cutting, but I’d rather store my scissors next to my craft supplies since I typically use them together. This means that everything I need to perform a task is already altogether and ready for use. You don’t have to organize this way, but I find it saves time and provides the most convenience.
Don’t let the hubbub of adulthood turn your life messy. The mess will continue to build over time, and it might get so bad that it overwhelms you completely. Take the time to respect your space and cater it to your busy life. You’ll thank yourself later!