Quick Habits that Lead to Organization

Gretchen Rubin says that “habits are the invisible architecture of daily life. We repeat about 40 percent of our behavior almost daily, so our habits shape our existence, and our future.” Here are a few ideas for new habits that would quickly add up to a more organized life. Pick one that resonates with you and give it a try.

• One Minute Rule - Do anything that presents itself, right away, if you can do it in one minute. Examples: Sort mail, put junk mail in trash or put your clothes back on the hanger. 

• Power Hour - Set aside one hour each week to do something that you regularly put off that weighs on you mentally (bills, paperwork, dealing with clutter pile.) Put the planned hour in your calendar. Psych yourself up and then work as hard as you can on that thing for 1 hour. Give yourself a reward when the hour is done whether or not the task is completely done. 

• Each day look for just one old or unused item in the fridge and toss it. 

• Do something you’ve been putting off right after you get a big win on something else. Use the energy of a success to make a phone call you’ve been putting off or to file papers for 15 minutes. Let positive energy get you over the hump of starting a chore. 

• Each Sunday pick one extra chore to deal with during the upcoming week. Return something, take something to get hemmed, give back a borrowed book, send a birthday card. Once you decide what it is, say out loud to yourself, “This week, I’m going to return this book I borrowed to my coworker.” Then go put the item in your car, in your work bag or by the door.