6 Tips for Organizing When Dealing With Chronic Pain

Keeping a home organized reduces stress while providing a feeling of accomplishment. However, staying organized when dealing with chronic pain and fatigue is a daunting task that can seem overwhelming. There are several steps that can help make organization simpler, which can save energy.

Six tips for organizing when dealing with chronic pain include the following:

1. Assign a place for everything. Everything in the home, such as car keys, medical bills, paperwork, extra batteries, medication, etc., should be assigned a designated space. Keeping items in their place not only reduces time and energy spent searching, but also prevents clutter and the need for an organizational overhaul.
2. Break large organization projects into smaller tasks. Attempting to organize the entire basement or a jam-packed closet in one day may contribute to chronic pain and deplete energy levels. Choosing to organize one shelf in a closet or one kitchen cupboard each day can ensure the task is not overwhelming and pain and fatigue do not increase.
3. Use organizational tools. Utilizing organizational tools on a regular basis makes it simpler to get and stay organized. Examples include file folders, clear containers with labels, planners, storage bins, and drawer dividers.
4. Decrease clutter. Excessive items in the home means more things to organize and clean, which takes precious time and energy. While decluttering, evaluate items and decide whether to keep or get rid of them. If you cannot decide what to do with something, place it in a separate box to go through at a later time.
5. Place a basket at the bottom of the stairs. Living in a two-story home and making multiple trips up and down the stairs contributes to pain and fatigue. In order to stay organized while preventing unnecessary trips, keep a basket at the bottom of the stairs. Place anything that needs to be taken upstairs in the basket throughout the day and take the basket upstairs at the end of the day.
6. Avoid relying on your memory. Chronic pain, fatigue, and brain fog can make it easy to forget a doctor’s appointment or an important item at the grocery store. Making regular use of tools, such as physical or digital calendars, smartphone reminder apps, note pads, planners, and sticky notes, can help you keep your schedule and shopping list organized.

Additional sources: Bustle and Fed Up with Fatigue