Convenience and Easy Organizing

When trying to start a new habit many people overlook the importance of convenience. What do I mean by that? Well, think about it like this – if you have something you use often, you want it close by and easy to access. The same is true when organizing. If you have to go through a cumbersome process just to put something away you’re less likely to do it. 

Make it Easy

For example, let’s say I already have a system in place for sheets and bedding. My system involves not only folding them, but also containers and lids. The advantages are that the bedding is sorted and will not get dirty while being stored. The downsides are the containers take up extra space and I have to hunt through them if I don’t want what’s on top. Now, I could use a vacuum pack to save space, but that adds even more steps, both storing and removing.

To increase convenience, what I’ll do instead is get some shallower open containers (or just remove the lids for now) and store them in a closet. This way I can just throw things on top when I’m done folding and get on with my life, like a champ.

This is also applicable in the living room or office. Using hooks, shelves, or pockets to store remotes or controllers instead of putting them in a drawer will make it more likely for you to put them back when you’re done with them. Also, for gaming or other hobbies it doubles as a display. For controllers there are even wall chargers you can find.

Some Other Practical Ideas

• Magnetic knife blocks
• Hang pots/pans
• Magazine holders
• Open containers
  • Toys
  • Bedding
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Toiletries
• Trash cans wherever you spend the most time
• Magnetic chargers

Convenience Is Not Just Physical

But this convenience principle doesn’t just apply to physical objects. Keeping a calendar where you can see it, whether on your phone or a physical calendar, will help you to use it. Or if you’re trying to lose weight by tracking your intake, keep your journal in your pocket or add a widget to the home screen on your phone.

When on a computer taking some time to learn new shortcuts for the programs you use most will save you an enormous amount of time over the long run. Many programs have common shortcuts that are applicable over different programs. The most common example being cutting/copying and pasting (Ctrl+x/c and Ctrl+v). However, most browsers also share a number of shortcuts, such as changing tabs (Ctrl+Tab), opening downloads (Ctrl+j), or reopening a closed tab (Ctrl+Shift+T). Sometimes, if you use a feature frequently enough, and it doesn’t have a dedicated shortcut, it may be worth making one yourself. 

Breaking Bad Habits

The reverse is also true when trying to break a habit. The harder it is to go back to the old way the more likely you are to stick to it. When you lapse, it is important to do what you can to make it harder to do so again. Whether that is ignoring alarms or eating junk food. In the case of alarms, set more than one on different devices and make sure they are out of immediate reach. For food, you can portion it into separate containers, so when you get hungry you’ll be less likely to eat too much.

A couple questions to ask yourself when trying to make things easier to organize are “How far did I have to walk to do that?” and “Was that significantly harder than just throwing it on the floor?” Depending on the answers, try to think of ways to make it easier on yourself. If you are storing things far away from where you most use them, move them closer. If you took more than 3 steps to put something away or take it out, consider how to reduce that.

With that in mind, what are some other ways we can add more convenience to our lives? Perhaps you already have a system in place? Please share some of your thoughts in the comments below!