So I'm reading this great book called The Happiness Project. (You should read it, too!) For her own Happiness Project, the author, Gretchen Rubin, spent one year dedicated to understanding and increasing her happiness by tackling little parts of every aspect of her life.
Source: Gretchenrubin.com
Her first month, January, is dedicated to boosting energy. In order to accomplish this, she decides to completely reorganize and declutter her apartment -- and life. From experience I can agree with how fulfilling and satisfying this is. When moving to NYC, I gave away or tossed almost anything I wasn't going to bring with me. That Abercrombie jean skirt from freshmen year of high school? (C'mon, I know you all had one too..) While it may still have fit, there's about a bagillion percent odds that I am not going to be wearing that again any time soon... so it's gone! Easy.
Don't get me wrong, it's not always as black and white as your old Abercrombie gear, but going through your closet and doing a true spring (or summer) cleaning is weirdly exhilarating.
Another great idea Gretchen has is her one-minute rule.
Essentially, her rule is that anything that can be done in a minute, you should do now. No postponing. Whether it's putting your laundry basket away, turning off the light, hanging your coat, or the like, just do it. All of these little tasks add up quickly, and the satisfaction of completing these small items throughout the day can actually do a great deal for your peace of mind and happiness. Or if you're a little OCD like me, it lets you check some items off the (never-ending) to-do list!
Think about it. How many of you have come home after a long day of work and felt like you had a million little things to accomplish?
Probably all of us.
We rushed out in the morning and didn't have time to make the bed. We left our cup of coffee or tea on our desk. The blanket on the couch is still unfolded from last night's movie. Our mail is opened on our desk, along with all of those other little papers that just haven't been put away yet. Maybe it's just me. Maybe you are awesome and do everything right now, when it needs to get done. More likely than not, though, there's quite a few of us out there that fall into this category.
So this is my summer resolution (who needs to wait until New Year's? Is anyone still keeping those anyways?):
Live by the one-minute rule.
I challenge all of you reading this to join me. Don't let something go that can be done in a minute (or two, or three). Put the cap back on your toothpaste. Subscribe to our blog. Put your shoes back in your closet.
Whatever it is, just do it.
(Especially that subscribing to the blog idea... that seems like a pretty good place to start!)