Piles to Smiles: the Psychological Benefits of Being Organized

Community Manager — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:48:00 GMT

For many, organization means never fruitlessly searching for a crucial document that has somehow gone missing. But did you know that the benefits of being organized extend far beyond merely retrieving a slip of paper in a snap? Being organized can lead to a happier, more productive, and even longer life.

Yup, you read that right. Being organized can extend your life, posits Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin, authors of The Longevity Project. Martin and Friedman conclude that the key factor in living longer is "conscientiousness" which they define as being organized, responsible and thinking ahead.

The landmark study of 1,500 hundred people, spanning more than 90 years, concludes that the people who live longest:

§ Work hard. Successful careers and habitual engagement in "pursuing goals" were hallmarks of people with long lives.

§ Lead active lives. Time devoted to hobbies, leisure pursuits and enjoyable activities also characterized lives of longevity.

§ Are socially connected. Happy marriages and strong friendships, which all require time to nurture, are also hallmarks of long lives.

In our busy, 24/7 always on world, carving out time to nurture careers, lead active lives and to nourish our critical relationships, requires extraordinary time-management skills, the ability to prioritize and nuts-and-bolts organization.

Our Beyond Folders blog offers a host of resources to help hone these skills. The following posts offer a good starting point for those in search of an "organizational" overhaul.

Do you derive satisfaction from being organized? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Beyond Folders : time management, organization tips

Piles to Smiles: the Psychological Benefits of Being Organized