Four Coats On A Three-Hook Hanger

An organized living space is essential to your well being. Amidst the bustle of day-to-day life it becomes far too easy to succumb to a heap of mismatched socks on your floor or that stack of two semester-old books taking up valuable desk space or a dollop of hardened oatmeal on the kitchen counter, left over from the morning’s hurried breakfast. A vast collection of material possessions may indeed enrich our lives and provide others with a snapshot of who we are. But when scattered about they deprive us of potential and productivity. That mess, what started as an Xbox controller strewn across the carpet or one too many hangers swaying from the shower curtain rod, soon begins to feel like a metaphor for your life.

Stepping into disarray after a hard day’s work robs us of the power needed to break free of normality. Each morning instills a sense possibility, an energy that is soon wrung dry upon mere thought of the daunting and equally exhausting notion of laboring over a mess. The problem is, most of us do maintain some degree of organization and only realize what we've gotten ourselves into when it’s too late. Next time you’re walking across wherever it is you reside, ask yourself: did you have to alter your path to get to your couch, chair, bed, etc.? If so, pick up whatever it is that rerouted you, and find satisfaction in one of the day’s small victories.

It’s surprising, the ease with which simplistic but sometimes difficult goals can be achieved once the silent cacophony of discordant objects has been removed. Inert they may be, but finding your place is a downhill battle when living among possessions that have theirs. Getting out of bed early? No problem, when it’s stepping into a well-organized home that sets the pace for a structured day. Budgeting time becomes easier, too. When you don’t have that persistent “I need to clean” notion in the back of your mind, it’s far easier to accomplish daily tasks and actually enjoy your free time afterwards, guilt-free. With a clean, well-organized space, the possibility of having company (perhaps even last-minute guests) is no longer awash with the anxiety of needing make your home presentable in the final hour.

I tip my hat to the person who consistently maintains a clean, uncluttered living space. But if you’re at all like me, the thought of picking up that mess is more difficult than the act itself. So next time, if your life is starting to feel a bit cluttered, start by putting that fourth coat on your three-hook coat hanger back in the closet. You might be surprised how easily the rest begins to fall into place.