Tackling clutter is a lifelong endeavor. Perfection is not the goal, and time is too often a rare commodity in a busy home. I have discovered that 15 minutes is a perfect amount of time to be productive and not feel overwhelmed by either the time commitment or the possibility of what can be accomplished.
Why 15-minutes? First of all, it is easy to work for 15 minutes without getting distracted by something else. It seems as if your brain has a secret pact with itself that you can do just about anything for a short and finite period of time. Second, it is amazing how many tasks only take about 15 minutes. It is possible to completely organize the top of a desk, fold all of the laundry and put it away, prepare for the next day, and the list goes on!
I have also found that 15 minutes is the ideal time necessary for doing one of my personal favorites: a mind dump. I take a pen, a piece of paper, and begin to simply write down everything that is on my mind — it is so liberating and productive. Even an overwhelming list of to-do items can seem manageable when you have it written down. There is a sense of feeling “on top of it” that comes with performing a quick, 15-minute mind dump.
To begin, it’s as simple as setting the timer on your phone. Then you can discover what length of time best fits your needs. You might find that only 10 minutes works for you, or maybe you need 20. Essentially, when you say, “I’m going to work on this and only this for [x] minutes,” you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish in such a short amount of time.
Neatly,
Jennifer Snyder, Certified Professional Organizer
Neat as a Pin Organizing Exerts