Organize by putting things back

A big time-waster is looking for things we've misplaced. Just a few days ago, I found a water nozzle on top of the air conditioner. I had intended to put it away when I was finished putting the hoses away for the winter. Several weeks later, it was still laying outside. If I had wanted to use it in the mean time, I would have had no idea where to start looking for it. Whether we are in a hurry, feeling lazy that day, or whatever excuse we want to use, it wastes time later. Or things get ruined in the rain, or simply lost forever. All this is because we didn't take a few seconds to immediately put it back where it belonged.

This can all be avoided if we simply discipline ourselves a little more. Teach yourself, remind yourself, train yourself to put things away immediately. Tell yourself you will never wait until later. If you discover you didn't put something away, gently remind yourself that you want to put things away immediately. Then put it away now.

So, when you get done with the garden tool, put it away. Hang up the car keys where they belong as soon as you get home. Put the screw driver back in the tool box. Hang up the towel. Put the pen in the drawer. Replace the book on the shelf. Put the DVD or CD back, file the paper you want to keep, and put the cordless phone where it belongs. This one bit of organizational discipline will pay off in time and equipment saved. You will have been good to yourself.