Have you ever caught yourself saying things such as…

• I’ve never worn this dress but I’ll keep it because it was expensive.
• I’ve bought another stapler because I couldn’t find the other one(s) I have.
• We need to move to a bigger home; we just don’t have enough space.
• We can’t invite people over; there are toys and laundry scattered all over the place.
• My desk is covered with piles of paper and I’m unable to use it.
• I’m still looking for my keys when I really should be out of the door.

Perhaps you haven’t taken the time to fix the problem. Or perhaps you’ve tried on your own but got stuck or lost the motivation. Whether you realise it or not, there’s a high price to pay for being disorganised.

Being Disorganised Costs You Time

According to a study conducted by a Boston marketing firm, the average American burns 55 minutes a day looking for things they know they own but can’t find. I’ve done the math for you: 55 minutes a day is roughly two weeks a year. I’m not sure about you, but there’s quite a lot I can do with two weeks a year!

Being disorganised also affects your productivity because you’re more likely to get distracted by the chaos around you and lose the ability to focus on one task at a time. And no, multi-tasking doesn’t help! In fact, according to The Journal of Experimental Psychology, it takes your brain four times longer to recognise and process each thing when switching back and forth between tasks.

Being Disorganised Costs You Money

According to a study published in Harris Interactive, 23% of adults say they pay their bills late [and, as a result, incur late payment fees] because they lose them. I have countless examples from the work I do with my clients: cheques that have not been banked in on time, vouchers that haven’t been used before their expiry date, or fines that quickly escalate because mail hasn’t been opened. It can sometimes add up to several thousands of dollars…

Disorganised people typically buy stuff they already have but can’t remember they have it or can’t find it when they need it. They end up with multiples of the same item; over time, it does take up space and we all know how expensive space is in Singapore. Sometimes they have so much stuff that they can’t keep it at home and need to outsource it. The self-storage industry in Singapore has grown from one facility in 2003 to 47 in early 2015! People end up paying monthly storage fees for stuff that they’ll, more often than not, never use again.

The Saddest Thing Of All: Being Disorganised Costs You Your Health

According to a study conducted by Extra Space Self Storage in Singapore in late 2014, 45% of Singaporeans admitted that clutter caused them stress, and we know that stress over extended periods of time can lead to serious health problems.

I’ve seen family relationships being deeply damaged because of arguments over clutter and tidiness.I’ve seen people’s image being affected at home, at school or at work in their own eyes or those of their family, boss or colleagues for the same reasons. How many times have I heard words overwhelmed, frustrated, worried, and stressed come out of a client’s mouth?

Apart from wasting time and money, clutter and disorganisation simply take their toll on people’s happiness and well-being. So what do you think? Can you really not afford the time and money to get organised? I know it’s not always easy to ask for help, but being disorganised is not a character flaw. And I’m not here to judge but to help. So don’t wait: contact me now and let’s discuss your organising needs. I can guarantee you’ll already feel better after taking this very first step.