BY: GRETCHEN RUBIN
In my study of happiness, one thing that has surprised me is the disproportionate effect of clutter. In the context of a happy life, clutter seems trivial — yet over and over, I see how drained I am by the presence of clutter, and how cheered I am when I get clutter under control. For most people, to a surprising degree, outer order contributes to inner calm. To a surprising degree.
One of my Secrets of Adulthood for clutter is: Put things away near where they want to be. When I find myself moving an item from Point A to Point C, over and over, it's time to figure out if I can store it at Point A or at least at Point B.
Instead of storing my passport in my "important documents box," which is inconvenient to get to, I keep it in my beside table. Instead of putting large envelopes in a box of office-supplies in a closet, I keep them stacked on the bookshelf next to my desk.
This rule sounds laughably obvious, but I often forget to follow it.
Being able to put your hands on the supplies and tools that you need as you work is deeply satisfying. It makes work more pleasant, because I feel that I'm working efficiently and smoothly. Little annoyances stack up quick.
A little thing, very little, but as Samuel Johnson observed, “It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery, and as much happiness as possible.”
Do you have any quick, easy ways to keep clutter under control in your office and home?
If you're interested in clutter-busting, I write more about it in The Happiness Project,chapter 1, and Happier at Home, chapter 1.
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I continue to be staggered by the response to the 21 Day Projects. If you want to make some concrete, manageable changes in your life, I hope these Projects will be helpful. Curious about the breakdown?
Know myself better is in the lead; De-clutter my life is next; Cope better with difficult people; and Quit yelling at your kids.
Intrigued? Of course you are! Learn more and sign up here.
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Gretchen Rubin is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. She writes about happiness and habit-formation (the subject of her next book, Before and After) at gretchenrubin.com. Follow her here by clicking the yellow FOLLOW button, on Twitter, @gretchenrubin, on Facebook, facebook.com/GretchenRubin.
One of my Secrets of Adulthood for clutter is: Put things away near where they want to be. When I find myself moving an item from Point A to Point C, over and over, it's time to figure out if I can store it at Point A or at least at Point B.
Instead of storing my passport in my "important documents box," which is inconvenient to get to, I keep it in my beside table. Instead of putting large envelopes in a box of office-supplies in a closet, I keep them stacked on the bookshelf next to my desk.
This rule sounds laughably obvious, but I often forget to follow it.
Being able to put your hands on the supplies and tools that you need as you work is deeply satisfying. It makes work more pleasant, because I feel that I'm working efficiently and smoothly. Little annoyances stack up quick.
A little thing, very little, but as Samuel Johnson observed, “It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery, and as much happiness as possible.”
Do you have any quick, easy ways to keep clutter under control in your office and home?
If you're interested in clutter-busting, I write more about it in The Happiness Project,chapter 1, and Happier at Home, chapter 1.
+++
I continue to be staggered by the response to the 21 Day Projects. If you want to make some concrete, manageable changes in your life, I hope these Projects will be helpful. Curious about the breakdown?
Know myself better is in the lead; De-clutter my life is next; Cope better with difficult people; and Quit yelling at your kids.
Intrigued? Of course you are! Learn more and sign up here.
+++
Gretchen Rubin is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. She writes about happiness and habit-formation (the subject of her next book, Before and After) at gretchenrubin.com. Follow her here by clicking the yellow FOLLOW button, on Twitter, @gretchenrubin, on Facebook, facebook.com/GretchenRubin.
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Jasmine LewisAnimator, Storyboard Artist
Makes complete sense. Right after I clean my room, I feel so much better and I actually feel like being productive...now if only I could make the time to clean up!
Makes complete sense. Right after I clean my room, I feel so much better and I actually feel like being productive...now if only I could make the time to clean up!
Tim Pero, PMPProject Manager at Copper River IT
i just painted my home office this weekend, which means everything had to come out. It was a thrill to only put half the stuff back, and throw away or donate the other half. there is power and rejuvenation in de-cluttering your life....
i just painted my home office this weekend, which means everything had to come out. It was a thrill to only put half the stuff back, and throw away or donate the other half. there is power and rejuvenation in de-cluttering your life....
Holly WolfAccomplished Chief Marketing Officer ►Process Improver ♦ Corporate Communications Expert ♦ Motivating Leader
Way back in the 90s, when Total Quality Management was all the rage, I learned this important lesson. If you have to keep reorganizing it--there's a deeper problem that you have not addressed. So, if you organize a closet one way and a week later it's a mess--it means it's not organized in a way that works for you. My spices are now organized in way that makes sense to me Italian, Pumpkin Pie, Hot, Salt and Interesting. It might not make sense to anyone else, but it works for me.
Way back in the 90s, when Total Quality Management was all the rage, I learned this important lesson. If you have to keep reorganizing it--there's a deeper problem that you have not addressed. So, if you organize a closet one way and a week later it's a mess--it means it's not organized in a way that works for you. My spices are now organized in way that makes sense to me Italian, Pumpkin Pie, Hot, Salt and Interesting. It might not make sense to anyone else, but it works for me.