CREATEROUTINES

Routineshelpeverythingrunmoresmoothly

becausetheyremovethestressofthinkingabout

whatneedstohappennext.If youfollowthesame

sequenceoftaskseachmorning,you’llsave

yourselftimeandenergy.Theseroutineswilltake

timetocreate,butthebenefitsofdoingsoincludemoreenergyfor

thinkingaboutother stuff and a more relaxed household overall.

STAYONTOP OFPAPER

Loosepapershavea wayofcreepingintoourhomes. Mostofusdon’thave

anysystemforstoringpapers,sopilescanbuildupveryquickly.First,create

a systemandestablisha placeformail.Thenschedulea timeeachweekto

dedicatetosortingyourpapers.Bestrictaboutdealing with them all at the

7 assigned time, then reward your efforts afterwards.

9

10

8

SETUPA

DONATION

BASKET

Whenyoudecideyounolongerwantan

item,placeit straightintoa donation

basketratherthanbackinyourcloset.

Whenthebasketis full,popit inyourcar

andtakeit toa charitystore.Thisis a

greatwaytogetkidsintothehabitof

donatingthingswhentheyhave

outgrownthem,andis a reminderthat

movingitemsonandrehomingthemwith

peoplewhoneedthemis something we

should all do regularly.•

IFYOUCAN’TAVOID

ASMALLAMOUNT

OFCLUTTER,TRY

GATHERINGITEMS

LIKEKEYS,COINS

ANDSUNGLASSES

TOGETHERONA

BEAUTIFULTRAY

OR PLATTER.

SEARCHPINTEREST

FORWAYSTOKEEP

CORDS,PLUGSAND

DEVICESTIDY–

CLEVERSOLUTIONS

RANGEFROMBREAD-

TAGCORDTIDIEST O

DEDICATEDCHARGING

CUPBOARDS.

THINKBEFOREYOUBUY

Whenyoudeclutterandreorganiseyourbelongings,youwillbemore

familiarwithwhatyouhave,andthereforewhatyouactuallyneed.Before

youbuythatbrightshinythingthatcatchesyoureyeasyouwalkpast,

askyourself:“DoI loveit?WillI useit/wearit?”Behonest.Getintothe

habitoftakinga pausebefore you buy – you’ll be surprised at how often

you decide to walk away.

yhg| 135

M