We can all agree that feeling unorganized adds an unnecessary stress to our day, but did you know how much clutter truly affects our day-to-day lives? Courtesy of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), the facts and tips below are great motivators to get yourself started on organizing.

Know the Facts

• 80% of what we keep, we never use.
• Getting rid of clutter eliminates 40% of housework in the average home.
• The average American burns 55 minutes a day - roughly 12 days a year - looking for things they know they own but cannot find.
• 50% of homeowners rate the garage as the most disorganized place in the house.
• We wear 20% of the clothes we own 80% of the time. The rest just hangs there, just in case.
• 80% of the clutter in most homes is a result of disorganization, not lack of space.
• The average American spends one year of their life looking for lost or misplaced items at home and in the office.

Get Organized

• Place low hooks in your child's room so they can hang their sweaters, pajamas, backpacks, etc.
• Bring your kids with you when you donate. This not only teaches them the concept of donating their items to others; it helps them learn how to part with items as well.
• Keep your garage organized with shelving. Consider using stackable drawers, hooks, pegboards or even floor-to-ceiling shelves.
• Take out everything from your closet that you haven't worn within the last year. Contrary to popular belief, you are highly unlikely to wear it again.
• For organization, hang similar items together in your closet; pants with pants, work tops with work tops, etc.
• Just like you did in your closet, store kitchen items with the same function together. Bakeware should go with bakeware and plastic containers should stick together. This will help you find items when you need them.
• Create a weekly menu that will rotate food through the pantry. This will eliminate having outdated canned goods pushed to the back of your shelves.

Once you're organized, be sure to donate the items you're no longer using to Goodwill. Your donations not only make your life a little less cluttered, they also create the funds that allow Goodwill to provide training and employment services for people with disabilities or disadvantages who seek greater independence.