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Start Small, Think Big © 2002, Pam Hughes
Ever wonder how those cupboards got so out of control, or how that pile of papers grew into a mountain? Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In her book, The Overworked American, Juliet Schor reports that Americans are working 164 more hours per year than we did 20 years ago. This is the equivalent of one extra working month per year. What can we do about it? Well, how about starting small, but thinking big! Organizing the little things one step at a time can easily bring you a sense of relief and accomplishment. Today I’d like you to pick a single drawer that has gotten out of hand. Okay, now dump it out and sort through everything you find. Toss those old gum wrappers and bent nails. Put the things that are still good, but that you’ll never use again in a box to give away. Now, decide whether what’s left really belongs in this particular drawer or not. If it doesn’t, put it where you’ll use it and look for it. Okay, now you know what belongs in this drawer! Wipe the drawer out, get dividers or bins if they’ll be useful, and start putting away what’s left. Congratulations you’ve started the process! Now it’s time to think big! Keep the momentum going by scheduling a time to do another small task — one drawer, one desktop, one cupboard at a time. Before you know it, you’ll have completed a whole room! And remember, one secret to maintaining the order is to consider the areas you’ve already worked on as “sacred” or off-limits to any “creeping clutter.”
“Work is either fun or drudgery. - Colleen Barrett |
