Let’s assume you’ve followed the advice in my previous posts and have created a ruthlessly downsized and well-organized space. Great! But in limited spaces, a little untidiness that might be overlooked in a big house will seem messier and will get in your way. The only way to keep your home presentable and maneuverable is through daily maintenance—to ensure everything stays in its place, out of the way, when it’s not in use.
Ideally, a home would be pristine.
In reality, we have to live, right? We have papers and ongoing projects we want to put our hands on easily, clothes we want to wear again that don’t belong in the drawer or the laundry basket, and borrowed items we want to by the door so we’ll remember to return them.
As a solution, one must find a compromise between necessity and space; keep your space neat, but accept that some messes will have to remain, gobbling up space. Most importantly, if you see a mess, fix it then, not later (assuming you’ve no guests or appointments who would find your timing inappropriate). This habitual tidiness requires discipline—first to learn to spot problems and then to have the strength of will to delay previous intentions to take care of it. (I can’t claim consistent mastery of this solution, but it is effective when I apply it!)
Develop habits such as follow:
When you change clothes, set them in the laundry basket or in a single spot to be worn a second time rather than scattered across the bed and floor.
During meal preparation or after you’ve eaten, wash the dishes as soon as possible.
You may need to have piles of reading material or papers laying around—but make sure they’re neat piles, set out of the way. Be sure to keep bills in a separate area so you can’t lose them below other piles and neglect to attend to them!
Start projects in a space you won’t need for a while, work efficiently, and clean up as soon as you’re done so you can clear the space for other uses.
If you start consuming a bottled drink or a snack, make a point of placing the unfinished item in only one or two easily-findable places. Then, discipline yourself to not start a new bottle or snack until you’ve found and finished any already-open ones and until you’ve put old empty containers in the trash or recycle bin.
Take out the trash and recyclables promptly! Not only does this keep your house more sanitary and better smelling, it also reduces clutter.
If you notice dust has gathered heavily over your vents or that someone has tracked in mud or sand, clean it up then, not later.
Good luck, and keep it up!
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