Posted on 1 January 2012 - No comment
One of the basic laws of thermodynamics states how things inevitably get disorganized over time. But you didn't need to study thermodynamics to feel this law in action in our everyday lives. If you don't do anything, our homes and cars and desks get cluttered over time. Even if nobody lived in your home, given enough time, the law ensures that the house will end up as a disorganized pile of debris.
I use cleaning as a trick to get myself started on days when you know you have a lot to get done but just can't seem to get motivated enough. The act of cleaning, whether dusting, wiping, sweeping, mopping if done by physical labor helps get my mind organized while performing the not so demanding task of cleaning. As a result, most of the time, I am clear and motivated about the tasks I have to get done and have it prioritized as well. At that stage, the cleaning is abruptly put on hold for the time being and task number one is tackled. The beauty of this technique is that in the process of getting your thoughts organized, you have also gotten some physical exercise and got your house partially cleaned.
So, the other day, I decided that my desk drawer needed organization. It had been accumulating stuff for several years and had gotten to the point of being a sort of black hole. Luckily for me I came across a simple and cheap plastic box with dividers. It was indeed very satisfying to put things into various compartments and be amazed at what all I had. There was even a small compartment for jewelry items that I had picked up from the street. Not only did my drawers clean up, I now knew what I had and could use them all and be more productive.