Surroundings, spaces, clutter can affect you in many ways.  Stress can, and often will, take on a physical form.  That space that causes you anxiety whenever you see it, could also affect you in a physical way – muscle aches, back pain, a cold.  The specific physical manifestation can differ for each person.  For me, every time I am stressed about something, I get a rash just behind my shoulder.  I’ve come to understand this as my body’s sign that I need to initiate some self-care and figure out what is causing the stress.  Without fail, once the “stress” is gone, so are the symptoms.

 So what does this have to do with organizing?  It is understanding how things can affect you, listening to your body, then taking action.  If your time management feels out of control and you can’t get rid of this flu – maybe your body is telling you to slow down.  If you walk into a room and it makes you feel anxious, overwhelmed, and you spend as little time there as possible – listen to what your body is telling you.  Understand that our surroundings affect us in many ways – both positive and negative.  Think of how different it would be if you walked into that same space and instead of anxiety, you felt a sense of calm.

 There is a connection between our physical health and our surroundings.  Learn to listen to your body.  It can tell you a lot about yourself and your surroundings.