We’re all looking for ways to add organization and a sense of ease into our days. Yet sometimes we feel so overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.
Start with the areas of your life that you interact with most often that you may not even realize are causing you stress. Consider these three ways to start infusing simplified habits into your days.
Take all garbage, bags, toys OUT of your car every time you get home
For most of us, our vehicles are places we engage with every day. Getting in your car to drive to work or take your kids to school in the morning and being faced with a mess can immediately invoke feelings of stress and disorder.
Every day when you return home make it a habit to remove all beverage containers, garbage, toys, bags, etc. Ideally, this would happen every time you park your car (if you are making multiple trips out of your house each day or you may drive around for work or kids activities).
An easy way to achieve this is to keep a bag in your car that is designated a “transfer bag.” It could be a plastic bag you’re going to toss anyway or a reusable bag you take back and forth. Fill it with finished drinks, papers, receipts, any items that don’t belong in the car and empty it inside. The key here is not to let this bag then just sit inside your house. If you’re using a reusable bag, put it by the door where you leave the house to replace it in the car or near your keys.
Clean out your handbag every day
Like with your vehicle your bag or purse can be a cause of anxiety every time you dig in it unable to quickly retrieve what you’re looking for.
After each trip out with your bag remove everything that doesn’t live there permanently. In my bag I have a makeup pouch of necessities like lip balm, hair ties, band-aids, etc. that holds all small items. That remains permanently. My wallet also stays. My planner moves back and forth between my kitchen counter and my bag.
If you’re interested in reading more about my planner check out this post I wrote about our family calendar system.
Any other items need to come out. Receipts, school papers, things gathered throughout the day running errands all should be removed and sorted each day. This simple act of clearing out your bag will help clear your mind to find the “permanent purse items” each time you need them.
Designate a “landing spot” for all things you need to sort/organize/complete
So you’ve taken all the things out of your car and your bag, now what?
Create a “landing spot” in your home for all things that need sorting, organizing, or completing. The area could be on your kitchen counter, a desk, a basket near your door, etc. where you can temporarily deposit these items.
The key is that this spot is a temporary location that should be thought of as a home where things spend no longer than a day or two before being tended to.
What about papers or things that are going to need to stay for longer than a day? Designate a basket or other container to neatly store things for a lengthier life.
It can be tempting to say you’ll do it later, or next time…BUT you will feel so much simpler and more in control by keeping your car, handbag, and home “landing spot” cleared out and organized each day.
Give it a try and see how much lighter you feel.
