action clapboard

Out of sight, out of mind

/0 Comments/in /by

The phrase out of sight, out of mind is very common. We fear that if we put things away we’ll forget about them. So, we leave tools on the counter to remind us to fix a cabinet. Borrowed things pile up on the chair so we don’t forget to return them. Paper litters our desk as reminders to take some action.

Leaving it all out won’t lead to fixing, processing, or taking action. It leads to piles, mess, and disorder. We have to prompt ourselves to take action and then act. This can be done by following 3 steps.

  1. Decide to act by considering alternatives. Question if the action is worth taking. Is the cupboard worth fixing ourselves? If it is not worth it, hire a handyman. However if it is worth it, we need to commit to completing all the required action steps.
  2. Make a choice of when to take action and schedule it.
  3. Do it! Complete the action.

Sort mail immediately

/in /by

The best way to stay on top of the incoming mail is to sort it immediately. Sort it into the 4 categories listed below and have a specific spot for each category.

  1. Junk – recycle or toss it
  2. Shred – shred or put in box to be shredded later
  3. Action required – take action or write down what action needs to happen on a sticky note (and attach)
  4. Delegate to another family member to open and process

 

Use containers as your guide

/0 Comments/in /by

Allow the container to determine the limit of how many you can keep. You maintain control of what you keep and the container serves as a guide for the quantity of what you keep. For example: use your shoe rack to help you determine how many shoes to keep. By only keeping the amount that will comfortably fit on the shoe rack you’ll be able to organize your shoes quickly and easily.

Need this paper?

/0 Comments/in /by

We tend to keep paper because we’re unsure what else to do with it. Ask yourself, ‘When would I actually need to present this document?’ Consider all possible situations where it might be necessary. If you can’t think of a good reason, it’s time to get rid of it.

Related tips:

Paper! What to keep and for how long

Recycle more paper

Paper discard list

What papers need to be kept

More is a 4 letter word

/0 Comments/in /by

Having more doesn’t always mean better. In fact, it often creates more problems, stress, and frustration.

  • More possessions fill up space, leaving less room to breathe.
  • More things require time—time spent maintaining, moving, sorting, and searching for them.
  • More spending on things leaves less money in the bank.
  • More clutter leads to less peace of mind, as the visual overload can be overwhelming.

Tips on how to embrace less:

Reduce clutter

Do you reduce?

Donating is easy