Nancy Nemitz
Research shows there is something to be said for creating habits as a means of reducing the chance for failure in your life.
“The brain is always trying to automate things and to create habits, which it imbues with feelings of pleasure. Holding to the tried and true gives us a feeling of security, safety, and competence while, at the same time, reducing our fear of the future and of failure,” wrote brain researcher Gerhard Roth, of the University of Bremen, in his book Personality, Decision and Behavior.
Putting things away in the same place lessens your anxiety because you know where to find what you are looking for when you need it again. It saves energy for more important decisions you need to make throughout the day.
I have a client who always eats the same thing for lunch Monday through Friday and when I asked him about it, he replied, “Having the same thing for lunch during the week reduces my stress because it’s one less decision I have to make.”
You probably wouldn’t want to eat the same thing for lunch every day, but maybe there is another habit you can create to reduce your stress. Don’t try to fix all your organizing problems at once. Create one routine today, and stick with it until it becomes a habit. It can be as simple as always putting your clothes in a dirty clothes hamper or tossing junk mail right away.
If you need help creating routines in your business or personal life, call Nancy Nemitz for a consultation at (480) 223-8939, or send an email to nancy@createthespace.com. Her company, Create the Space Professional Organizing, helps businesses become more efficient and productive.