Alternative Health Blog

The kindergarten teacher stood in front of a group of new parents for the first time. She was smiling and making eye contact with pretty much all of us. She appeared calm and organized.

At some point, the teacher explained a point that still sticks in the mind to this day, as those same kindergarteners embark upon sixth grade.

“The word ‘discipline’ comes from ‘disciple,’ she explained. “It means when we discipline children we show them the way, be role models.”

This kindergarten teacher and her memorable clarity about why discipline is not about punishment came to mind when a new health study recently popped up on the computer screen. A 50-years-long study conducted at the government’s National Institute on Aging in Baltimore reports that adults who are active, emotionally calm and organized tend to live longer that people who are chronically angry or anxious. The study, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, calculated the aggregate benefit as living an extra two to three years on average.

While not exactly counter to common sense, the findings affirm that staying physically active and keeping stress in check have quantifiable value. The bit about being organized syncs up with research showing that lack of control in situations at work and home create the most anxiety and stress in modern life.

“Being organized is not about overplanning everything,” said Anne Quigg, a Seattle-based clutter coach who helped the Post-Intelligencer stage a “Clear Your Clutter” reader contest in this column space during 2004. “It’s much more about taking one thing at a time. Too often my clients are trying to do too much.”

So Quigg’s definition of taking control of your life equates to slowing down when it’s possible. It might mean simply sitting in your car for a brief meditative moment before picking up a child or attending a meeting.

Maybe you give yourself five to 10 minutes for a walk during lunch. You can be creative—how about turning off the TV early or not even switching it on?—but be sure to build some down time into your week, Quigg said.

“At first slowing down, even for short times during the day, will feel odd,” noted Quigg. But she said the payoff will be “not feeling so exhausted all of the time.”

Quigg has several suggestions for developing more calmness and personal organization into your life.

-- Try to leave your office “kind of on time.”

-- When you arrive home after a busy day, insist on 10 minutes of alone time or quiet time for yourself. No exceptions. “I don’t call it being ‘self-centered,’ ” said Quigg. “I call it ‘self-centering.’ ” If upon arrival doesn’t work, pick another time. But don’t get up a half-hour earlier than everyone in the family just for the peace and quiet. Make space for yourself during everyone’s waking hours.

-- Stop acquiring any more planners or notebooks. Don’t be afraid to “feel things” or face your less-than-perfectly-organized self.

-- Don’t give yourself away, said Quigg, “I know it sounds kind of awful but you are actually giving people a gift if you do things for yourself” and not so stretched or scattered or both.