How to get organized
My research on habits and happiness shows that for most people, outer order contributes to inner calm. Getting control of your space doesn’t require a major overhaul. The right strategies, applied consistently, make a real difference.
Two strategies to try today
These are the organization ideas I come back to most, share most often, and hear the most about from readers. Both are free, take no special supplies, and work immediately.
DAILY HABIT
The One-Minute Rule
If a task can be done in less than one minute, do it immediately. Hang up your coat. Put the dish in the dishwasher. Reply to the text. File the paper.
Most clutter is cumulative. It comes from repeated decisions to put something down instead of putting it away. The one-minute rule interrupts that pattern without requiring a scheduled block of time or a burst of willpower. You just do it only takes a minute.
People who try this consistently say it makes a bigger difference than they expected.
Weekly Ritual
Power Hour
Some tasks have no deadline, no accountability, and no natural pressure — which means they almost never get done.
One of my Secrets of Adulthood is that something that can be done at any time is often done at no time.
That’s where Power Hour comes in. Once a week, block off an hour on your calendar and use it exclusively for these nagging, indefinitely-postponed tasks like dropping off a box of donations or throwing out old paperwork. Keep a running list so you’re not spending the hour deciding what to tackle.
Make organizing fun
Not sure where to dive in on organizing your space? Download one of my free bingo cards to and have a little fun while you tackle clutter.
Dealing with clutter
Often, the most challenging part of tackling clutter is emotional. People don’t want to get rid of something they might need some day, or they may feel guilty because it was a gift.
One way to make decisions about what to keep easier is to apply a simple test: Do you use it, need it, or love it?
If the answer to all three is no, you have your answer. Sometimes we love things we never use. Sometimes we use things we’ve never loved. But if it’s not needed, used, or loved, why hold on?
☆ FEATURED ARTICLE
Paperwork is one of the toughest forms of clutter to vanquish. Here’s how to get it done.
Article
How to help a friend clear clutter
Article
New ideas for organizing
PODCAST EPISODES
A quick way to decide whether to keep something or get rid of it.
Episode 530
Hacks, Products, and Tips for Spring Clearing & Organizing
Little Happier
Keep and empty shelf—and also keep a junk drawer
Tools for Getting Organized
Outer Order, Inner Calm
With clarity and humor, Gretchen Rubin illuminates one of her key realizations about happiness: For most of us, outer order contributes to inner calm. And for most of us, a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t work.
Memento Journal
Perfect for those who want to preserve souvenirs, but are overwhelmed by souvenirs or the prospect of scrapbooking. Recalling happy times can boost happiness in the present, and mementos are a powerful way to keep those memories vivid.
The Happier™ App
The groundbreaking Happier app puts transformation within reach, by taking happiness from the abstract to the concrete. How? Habits. Research shows that around 40 percent of behavior is repeated daily, so when we change our habits, we change our lives.
Gift guides for getting organized
You don’t need to rush out to buy new bins or storage systems in order to get organized. In fact, you probably shouldn’t. Often, the best place to start is by taking inventory and figuring out how to use what we already have.
How to build habits that stick
Habits are the invisible architecture of life. Whether you want to be more organized, get more sleep, or strengthen your relationships, your habits are what will make it happen.
But not every habit strategy works for every person. Explore my 21 Habit Strategies to discover the approach that works for your personality.