Practice Tip: Finish What You Start

One of the best best ways to create order in your life is to get in the habit of finishing what you start.

I know when I am slacking off on this habit. All of the sudden a memory card is stuck in the computer, a camera on my desk, plates from lunch on the end table, 5 pairs of shoes on the floor, and grooming supplies on the bathroom counter.

It is sooo much easier and faster just to clean as you go. It’s a rarity now that I leave the house before everything is put back into the cabinets in the bathroom. I used to say I didn’t have enough time, but it take less than 30 seconds to put stuff back.

During the summer when the kids and I are all home, we try to do dishes throughout the day. We don’t have a dishwasher, so it can be long, hot chore if we wait until night to do them all. Not to mention, have you ever tried to clean the blender from a smoothie that you forgot to rinse out right away? Dishes are much faster and easier cleaned up right away.

To help you create this habit, you can start by looking at a room before you leave it. Before you leave the living room check for your purse, cups, shoes. Before you leave the kitchen take a look around and put things away. Don’t leave anything out when you are done with the bathroom.

You can do this when you are doing a task as well. Before you jump to a different activity, take all the pictures off that memory card, put the card back into the camera then put the camera away. When you are doing bills, put the paperwork, receipts and stamps back when you are done. Before you rush off to another task, check that you’ve finished what you were doing before.

Now, most people can’t do this all the time, but when you can your life becomes much simpler. Finishing up those tasks, putting things away when you are done and not leaving things sit will free up more time. Because then you aren’t always cleaning up old messes and hunting for things left where they shouldn’t be left.

Anything you need to finish up?