Having a clean and orderly home is good for your mental and physical health, but maintaining a sparkling home is a lot easier said than done, especially when other life responsibilities are competing for your attention as well. Even though organizing your home can feel like an uphill battle, the good thing is that anyone can learn a thing or two about the habits of highly organized homeowners. And with a little practice, you can have the home of your dreams with little effort.

Why Organizing Your Home is Important

Clutter can have a direct impact on your mental health. According to a study published by the “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,” women who lived in cluttered spaces were more likely to experience symptoms of fatigue or depression.

This is because the accumulation of items can make your home feel chaotic, which leads to stress and anxiety. Plus, when your belongings are scattered all over the house, it can be difficult to find what you need when you need it.

Clutter can also carry dust, dirt, and even pests on the hunt for a suitable place to nest. This creates a safety hazard, especially for people with allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Fortunately, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from harm — both physical and mental — with the help of a few organization strategies. That way, your space is not only more attractive but healthier, too.

6 Habits of Highly Organized Homeowners

Forming a habit takes a lot of commitment, especially when it comes to organizing your home. But nothing is more satisfying than coming home to a clean and tidy space. And because of this, many homeowners have developed ways to maintain their homes in order to promote a healthier, happier environment.

If you want to become a more organized homeowner, consider incorporating these six habits into your cleaning routine:

Declutter consistently.

A quick and easy way to tidy up your space is by staying on top of clutter. It can be easy to forget to clean up belongings such as food waste, miscellaneous papers, and trinkets after you use them, but they can quickly accumulate and turn into clutter over time if you forget to clean your space.

To avoid this, be sure to clean up after yourself whenever you make a mess. This way, you can keep your space organized without exerting much effort.

Have a place for everything, and put everything in its place.

“A place for everything, and everything in its place” is a popular saying among the highly organized — and for good reason. Designating a specific spot to store your belongings — from appliances to clothing — is a great way to maintain a clean and organized home.

Schedule home maintenance.

Create a schedule to help you stay on top of important home maintenance tasks — i.e. changing air filters, landscaping, or cleaning gutters and downspouts. When you remain up-to-date with your household chores, you can keep your home in tip-top shape.

Plan your meals.

Eating at home is not only healthier but can help you save money as well. To make cooking and snacking at home easier, try planning your grocery shopping in advance. To do this, jot down food and beverage items as you think of them throughout the week. This way, you have a prepared list instead of scrambling to remember everything at the market.

Keep cleaning supplies stocked.

The key to maintaining a clean and organized home is to always be prepared. Having cleaning supplies stocked at all times is important for quickly cleaning up messes, which helps prevent mold, mildew, and other pesky bacteria from accumulating.

Assign household chores.

If you have family or live with others, you can keep the workload manageable by delegating tasks such as washing dishes, mopping floors, or taking out the trash to the other people you live with. Having multiple people pitch in to help can make maintaining a clean and organized home easier and more efficient.