The Number 1, Single Most Effective Decluttering Habit of Them All: And You Can Begin It Today!
What if I said that this one habit used consistently could change your life in many positive ways? Would you be tempted to try it out as a challenge for today?
As children we learned, or at least heard over-and-over, the number 1 most single best decluttering habit of them all from our parent/s, teachers and other adults around us, but somewhere along the line, many of us didn’t quite get it. Often it was delivered to us as a warning, a challenge, a command or a scolding:
“Clean up your mess after you’ve finished!”
Maybe, some of us haven’t carried it into our adult lives as we are rebellious and independent in nature and don’t like to be told what to do. However, this single habit will make you even more independent. Maybe it’s time that we realise how powerful this habit is to choose to live by.
When we walk through nature, we must do our best to leave little evidence behind us for the benefit of wildlife, and our fellow travellers. There are continuous opportunities to put things away as we move through our day. If we leave little evidence of our activities as we move through our own personal environments, we maintain a calm and helpful space for ourselves and others. Many of us don’t clean up after ourselves making the excuse that we’ll be returning to the space soon and will do it later when we are completely finished.
The Benefits of this single habit are very simple and very clear:
There is much less to clean and tidy in your life, saving you time for more enjoyable experiences.
You often end up enjoying the habit you practice most, especially when you see the immediacy of its positive impact.
You exercise and practice the habit of discipline which can have a knock-on effect in many parts of your life.
You feel some pride in your capacity to maintain order.
You keep things visually calm and less distracting which aids in your concentration.
You maintain a clutter-free day.
TAKE ACTION TODAY With These Challenges:
Make your bed as soon as you wake up before you do anything else.
Hang your clothes up, return them to your closet or drawers or put them in the dirty laundry as soon as you have taken them off.
Clean and tidy every surface you use, every time you have finished a task, before moving on to the next; this includes eating surfaces and work surfaces.
Clean your tools before you begin and as soon as you have finished. This includes your laptop, keyboard, screen and all your digital devices.
Wash your mugs, glasses, dishes and cutlery as soon as you are finished drinking and eating.
Creating A Lifetime Habit for Tidying as you Go
Compartmentalise your tasks and write them on your calendar. Schedule up to 10 minutes transition time to tidy what you have completed and set-up your next task.
If you haven’t completed a task, store it out of site in a file or cabinet space until next time. Resist the temptation to move it temporarily onto another surface such as a table or on the floor.
See all waist-height worktops, countertop surfaces and the floor as clear spaces, not storage areas.
Learn the following as a mantra: Clean up, Put away and Wipe down.
“A good traveller leaves no tracks” Lao Tzu
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