cost of clutterLet’s be real, no one is perfect and very few people have everything perfectly organized, neat and clutter free. I have never preached perfection.  However in my more than a decade in the organizing business I am confident in saying that clutter and disorganization can result in some pretty hefty costs if not dealt with at all.  It can get out of control be too much.

From my experience here are the top 5 costs of clutter and disorganization:

#1 MONEY!  Yup cold hard cash. 

Clutter can cost you lots of money in lost sales if disorganization causes you to not follow up with clients, not get back to clients or truth be told piss off clients because you cannot get your shit together and you miss deadlines, you lose things or you straight up forget things because you have no system, too much on your plate and disorganization reigns in your life.

Disorganization can cost you money when you don’t pay bills in time- those late penalty fees can really add up

Clutter can also cause you to have to buy something again…because you just can’t find something you know you have but can’t find in all the clutter.

How much is your time worth?  Disorganization can cost you lots of lost pay time that is not billable, instead you spend time looking for things and digging through piles instead of on activities that actually bring in income.

#2 RELATIONSHIPS!  When working with a team or group, having someone (or the whole organization) be disorganized can cause friction and conflict amongst the team.  Miscommunication, dropped balls, and loss of productivity can all cause a team to not work effectively and ultimately can cost you those relationships, losing good employees due to frustration and conflict.

#3 REPUTATION! As mentioned above being disorganized and overwhelmed with clutter can cause you to drop the ball with clients, resulting in pissing them off to the point they will publicly give you a bad review.  Affecting your brand, your business and your bottom line. 

Another big issue I often see with my client is dealing with privacy issues.  If you are in a business where you deal with confidential information, having your clients files piled up around your office can possibly cause issues with privacy.  Not having a system to keep your client files secure and confidential can cause big issues with your reputation.

#4 FAMILY & PERSONAL LIFE!  Dealing with disorganization and clutter can be extremely time consuming.  It can take you longer to get things done and feel like you never can take time to just relax.  This can be extremely difficult for family members to understand.  Never having time for your significant other, your kids or yourself can cost you your marriage, your relationship with your kids and ultimately can lead to burn out. 

#5 HEALTH!  Clutter and disorganization that affects your life has a direct impact and cost to your health.  Living in a constant state of anxiety and overwhelm causes major stress on the body.  Studies have shown that stress and overwhelm can lead to many diseases and illness.  Yes folks…clutter and disorganization can actually cost you your life!

The decision to clear clutter and get organized often comes when the decision to not deal with it is worse than actually taking the steps to move forward and deal with it.

Are you ready to move forward?

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Eventbrite - The Organizing Basics For Your Office