Why it’s helpful to create a place for things in transition, how to create accountability if you’re introverted or shy—and do you have strong views about how to load a dishwasher? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin.com; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/133; 774-277-9336.
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Try This at Home
Create a place for things in transition. Having a system for things in transition helps a household or office to be more efficient, and also removes the visual clutter of having stuff out. Here’s a photo of my “spot of transition.” Library books to return are on the left, books to give away are on the right, and there’s room for other things in transition. Elizabeth and I will work on her spot of transition when I visit her in L.A.
Happiness Hack
As I describe in my books The Happiness Project and Happier at Home, I love my system of organizing my daughters’ paper-based mementos (birthday party invitations, our family Valentine’s cards, school photo, etc.): years ago, I bought two durable, slightly-more-attractive-than-cardboard file-boxes, added a file folder for each school year, and now I add anything worth saving. It’s organized, visually appealing, space-efficient — and it’s so satisfying to know exactly where to put the official camp photo or the special birthday card. Above is a photo of Eleanor’s box. You could choose any kind of file-box, but if you’re curious about the one I used, it’s here.
Know Yourself Better
Do you have strong views about the right way to load a dishwasher? I’m astonished by how passionately people will argue about this topic.
Listener Question
Jenna is an Obliger who is shy. She wants to create the outer accountability that she needs as an Obliger, to meet her inner expectations — but doesn’t like meeting in groups. I suggest that she might consider joining an accountability group on my free “Better” app.
Gretchen’s Demerit
I’m going too fast. I remind myself, “Go slow to go fast.”
Elizabeth’s Gold Star
Gold star for whiteboards! At home and at work.
Free Resources
- If you’d like a discussion guide to one of my books, you can email me or go to the Resources section.
- If you’d like to get the free “Moment of Happiness” email newsletter, with a great quote about happiness or human nature, sign up here or email me.