known doer

Imagine that no one knew who you were. What things would you no longer feel you needed to do? Could it be that many of those things are not necessary even though there are people who know who you are?

artifact

A to-do list does you no good if you never look at it and forget it exists.

peak clutter

Mentally replay the time of day that has the most pressure for you to move quickly or work productively. Then look around for the obstacles that could get in the way.

axis

When the world turns, it doesn’t shout about it.

less-on

You will find a way to do something you didn’t think you could do or a faster and easier way to do something you do regularly. This will happen when you are ready and focused.

unday

Some of the things you do every day are things you may not need to do at all.

sundial

“If you follow the classical pattern, you are understanding the routine, the tradition, the shadow ― you are not understanding yourself.” ― Bruce Lee

steam

If you are often tired late in the day, plan your most important work for the morning.

commercial-free

Write a short list of changes you would have to make in your routine to go through an entire day without seeing or hearing an advertisement.

closer to home

If there is something in the outside world that regularly annoys you, look for its reflection among your material possessions or in your habits and routines. It is easier to shift your experience by changing the energy in your immediate surroundings than by remaking the world at large.

discovery

When you discover something of yours that you haven’t seen in years, its meaning has probably changed. Many of the things you rediscover will have lost all meaning during their years in hiding, so that you can simply throw them away. A few rare items are more meaningful than ever when you find them again, and they may become a part of your regular routine in a way that they never were before.

straight line

Identify the routine activities in which you face hassles or obstacles almost every day. Then find a way that one of those activities can go more smoothly.

pot of gold

No one is more wealthy than a person who can afford to live a clutter-free life.

old is new

There is nothing you have been doing for so long that you can’t find a better way to do it.

morning power

At the start of the day, do things that will help build momentum for the day. To the extent possible, save potential distractions like email, social media, news, and shopping for later in the day.

calendar drop

A schedule prepared in advance can guide you only until something unexpected happens.

vigilance

Today, notice how much time you spend watching the news or your inbox. Compare this to the amount of time a person in your position would need to spend to live up to their responsibilities.

one set of sheets

It might seem that each bed needs at least two sets of sheets, but perhaps one is enough, if it does not take a full day to wash and dry the sheets and return them to the bed.

never the right time

Throw away something that you are not likely to use on a weekend or on a weekday.

automatic

Make your daily routine so simple that even on a bad day you can get through everything that is needed without major compromises.