The results of a study by researchers at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute show that physical clutter in the home or office can have a negative impact on your ability to process information and focus on tasks that require mental aptitude. Several other studies have also shown that clutter can have a negative impact on productivity.
Decluttering is the easiest solution to this problem. However, it isn’t always possible to get rid of all our belongings in an effort to have a clutter free environment. Some items have sentimental value while others are important though not used regularly.
If you’re looking for an easy way to clear up space and reduce clutter in your home or office, you should consider storing your belongings in a self-storage unit. Units such as those that you can access from Uselfstorage.com provide an easy and safe option for storage of items that you’re not quite ready to get rid of or that you don’t use often.
While storing away items is a great way to declutter a space, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pay attention to the storage space. It is important to ensure that the space is well organized. This will not only save time when retrieving items from the space, but it will also give you a lot of energy sifting through all the clutter.
- Organize items
Before you begin stuffing items into boxes, you’ll need to organize them. Categorize items in a way that will make it easier for you to find them later. This could be in terms of application, like items, rooms the items were removed from or who the items belong too. The options are infinite.
- Box-up items
It’s important to keep items contained. You can do this by placing them in boxes or bins. This will not only ensure items remain organized in the storage space but also protect them from exposure to external conditions. This extends the life of the items you’re storing.
- Label containers
Label containers/boxes to make it easy to identify items that you have stored when you want to retrieve them later. This will save time and energy when retrieving stored items. Ensure that the labels are clear and easy to read and identify. They should provide adequate information about what is in the container to eliminate guess work. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use short codes for your labels. Simply ensure that you’ll be able to identify the boxes and what they contain easily even after years in storage.
- Store items vertically
One of the best ways to save space in a storage unit is by storing items vertically. This may require the purchase of a freestanding shelf or strong boxes that can be stacked. Storing items vertically has the added benefit of ensuring items are easy to identify when you want to retrieve items.
- Store like with like
If possible, store like items together. This may mean storing items of similar sizes, similar applications or items that were taken from the same room together. This will make it easy to track down items when you need them.
Keeping items organized in a storage space makes it easy to retrieve items. Be sure to apply the tips above when planning the storage of your items.