How to Use Quick, Easy Habits to Create and Maintain Outer Order.

Know exactly what you expect:

• Have an exact place for items (keys, sunglasses, batteries, etc.)
• Know who's responsible for what task. Avoid the  problem of shared work.

 Set aside time to create order:

• Do any task that can be finished in less than one minute, without delay.
• Make a list of all the tasks you’d like to accomplish, and once a week, for just one hour, steadily work on these chores.
• Every time you transition from one stage to another, take ten minutes to clean up your space.

Take advantage of new beginnings to foster outer order:

• Clear before you move. Moving is a great opportunity to clear clutter.
• If you're not moving, make a mock move: Ask yourself, "If I were moving, would I bother to wrap this or would I give/throw it away?”
• Use beginning to create orderly habits:  when starting a new job, shape habits related to filing, tossing, archiving, etc.

Pair an activity you like to do or must do with creating outer order:

• Listen to a podcast while you're creating outer order (doing laundry, returning files to their places)
• When tackling a big job, play fun music, have good food, ask a friend to help you  (pairing the task with enjoyable aspects makes it becomes easier).
• Allow yourself to watch your favorite TV show only if do speed-clutter-clearing during the commercials.