Our brain loves to compartmentalize, why not use this to our advantage?
Organization 101:
I was taking laundry out of the dryer recently, and it spilled out as a messy pile of clothes and towels, initially overwhelming me. To tackle the chaos, I sorted one piece of laundry at a time, resulting in several neatly stacked piles. This experience got me thinking: Why do we sometimes feel deterred by seemingly simple tasks, and what makes them appear overwhelming?
I realized the human brain naturally tends to compartmentalize or categorize things as a survival mechanism. It seeks efficiency in assessing whether something is beneficial or detrimental, useful or not. When faced with a disorganized mess, like a jumble of laundry, our brains struggle to make these distinctions.
So, what's the solution? We can harness our brain's preference for basic shapes like circles, rectangles, triangles, and squares, which are easier to process and manipulate (think of Tetris). By transforming disorderly piles into recognizable shapes, we can make it much easier to reorganize our surroundings and simplify our tasks.
The Benefits of Compartmentalization
Compartmentalizing helps with organization because it simplifies complex information or tasks, making them more manageable and easier to process. Here's why it works:
Simplification: When you break down a larger task or a cluttered space into smaller, distinct compartments or categories, you simplify the overall structure. Each compartment represents a specific aspect or group of items, reducing the cognitive load.
Clarity: Compartmentalization provides clarity by giving each item or task a designated place or category. This clarity makes locating, accessing, and managing items or tasks easier.
Prioritization: Categorizing allows you to prioritize. You can identify what needs immediate attention, what can wait, and what can be delegated or discarded. This helps you allocate your time and resources more effectively.
Efficiency: Once everything has its place, you can efficiently organize and reorganize. When you need to find something or complete a task, you know where to look or start, saving time and reducing frustration.
Reduced Mental Load: Compartmentalization reduces mental clutter. Instead of constantly juggling and remembering every detail, you can focus on one category or compartment at a time, reducing mental stress.
Decision-Making: It simplifies decision-making. You can make decisions more quickly and confidently when you have a designated place for each item or a clear category for each task.
In a nutshell, compartmentalization taps into our brain's tendency to simplify stuff. It's like breaking down big, messy tasks or spaces into smaller, clear-cut chunks. This setup makes things easier to handle, leading to better organization and more efficiency.
Your turn:
Everyone has their preferred methods of organizing. This guide is here to teach you how to unlock your mind so that you can get started. And trust me, starting is often the most challenging part of any task or project. Follow these steps to get you from inaction to action in no time.
Assess: Begin by looking at the task or space you want to organize. Understand the big picture and identify the parts. For example, if you're organizing a cluttered room, identify the main categories of items present, such as clothes, books, electronics, etc.
Define Categories: Once you've got a handle on things, figure out the unique categories or sections. These should match up with what you're organizing. For example, your categories might be "Clothing," "Books," "Electronics," "Decor," and so forth.
Gather supplies: Depending on the task, gather any supplies, such as bins, boxes, labels, or storage containers. These will help you physically separate and categorize items.
Sort and Group: Start sorting one item or category at a time. For example, focus on one category, like "Clothing," when organizing the room. Gather all clothing items and group them in one area.
Label: Use labels or markers to mark the containers or sections for each category. This will help easily identify where items belong.
Put Away: Now, pop your items into their designated compartments or storage spots. Make sure each category is well-organized within its designated space.
Rinse and Repeat: Continue this process for each category until all items or aspects of the task are organized. Take your time, and don't rush through it.
Maintenance: Regularly maintain your “compartments” by returning items to their designated spaces and occasionally reassess and reorganize them for efficiency and convenience.
Enjoy the Benefits: Embrace the benefits of your newly compartmentalized organization. You'll find it easier to locate items, complete tasks, and maintain order.
Final Thoughts:
Compartmentalizing to organize involves dividing larger blobs of laundry, tasks, rooms, or sets of items into smaller, more manageable categories or sections. It’s a practical tool that can be used in many areas of your life, from decluttering physical spaces to managing complicated projects. It simplifies the process by breaking it into manageable parts, making organization projects more attainable and sustainable.
Take charge of your life, and you will start to see miraculous things begin to unfold!
Amor y Canela,
Monica
