3 Rules to Help You Get and Stay Organized 🏡
Issue #18 : These rules will help you to get control over your day and your life.
Do you know? The average adult will WASTE 1 year of their life looking for lost or misplaced items.
I used to always struggle to find my house key, AirPods, wallet, etc. I wasted so much time finding my stuff. I also experienced decision fatigue with clutter and a lot of things.
But that changed in March 2022 when I attended Andrew Mellen's "Calling BS on Busy" workshop at SXSW in Austin, TX. He shared three rules for organizing the house and life.
Rule #1: One Home For Everything
Define one place (home) for each thing (key, wallet, AirPods), and it should always be there.
Earlier, when I was not using my AirPods, I would put them on the desk, in the kitchen, on top of the TV console, or in my pocket. Then, I defined the top pocket of my backpack as its home. Now, that's where my AirPods will be when I am not using them. And it made my life so much easier.
Following this rule will help you find anything in less than 30 seconds.
Rule #2: Like with Like
Organize all the stuff in your house, desk, backpack, or office by putting the like with the like.
Keep all your charging cables organized by type: USB-C cables together in one bag, old USB cables in another bag, etc.
If you have AAA or other kinds of batteries, make sure they all are in one bag or box.
Rules #3: Something In, Something Out.
Previous rules will help you get organized. This rule will help you stay organized.
80% of the stuff that we hoard will NEVER be used.
Define what's "enough" for you and try to stick to it. For me, it's two weeks of clothes (14x). So if I buy a new shirt, I'll donate an old shirt.
If you have things you haven't used in the last year, think about donating them. If you might think that you will use them "someday," then label a medium/large size box and name it "someday." Put those items in this box. Once this "someday" box is full, it means time to donate/recycle those items.
It's very liberating to have a clutter-free life.
Since following these three rules…
I can find my key, wallet, AirPods, etc., in less than 30 seconds.
I get more time and cognitive energy to focus on other essential tasks.
I feel good after cleaning my clutter and keeping just enough stuff that serves a purpose and value.
I encourage you to watch his free YouTube video to learn more about these three rules and other productivity and organization tips from Andrew Mellen.