Keep things the same place

Have you ever wasted time looking for something you knew should be there, but it just wasn't? That usually results from not keeping things always in the same place.

Always put things the same place. Habit is the key here. Form a habit of always putting things in the same place. The picture to the right is a simple example of what I'm talking about. Here you see our remotes and our cordless phone. My wife insists on always keeping them in the same order and in the same spot. Because of that, we never have to look for a remote or for the phone. It is always where we expect it to be, unless we are using it in a different chair at the time or charging the phone overnight. Now, granted it is not that hard to find a remote if it is a little out of order, but the principle can be very helpful in other more complicated areas. For example, always keeping tools in the same spot will help you find it the next time you need one. If you have several drawers or places where you keep tools, it can be difficult finding the one you want when you need it. There are several places to keep a garden tool. If it is always in the same spot, it will be easier to find. You won't be kicking yourself when you can't find it. Even simple things such as pencils or pens, note paper, the phone, books, shoes, toys, CDs and DVDs are easier to find when you always keep them the same place.

Don't put off putting things away. One of the major reasons things are not where we expect them to be is because we don't put them back right away. It is so easy to be lazy and not do it right away. I'm guilty of that at times. In fact, one of my wife's nicknames for me is "Lazy Man." Fortunately that is not one she uses real often. She has some much nicer names she usually calls me. The point is, put things away right away and always the same place. If you don't do it right away, you will forget. Out of sight, out of mind. Then the garden tool may still be outside and get rusty from the rain or dew, and you won't know where it is when you need it the next time. Don't be a Lazy Man like me! You won't like the nickname.

Discipline yourself. Teach yourself to put things back right away in the same place. When you catch yourself putting something down instead of putting it away where it belongs, gently remind yourself that is not what you want to do. Then take the extra minute to put it away. You might be surprised how many times you will catch yourself being lazy. Or you might use the excuse that you are in a hurry. It is better to spend the extra minute now than waste a lot of time later when you might really be in a hurry, or lose something for good, or ruin something because it was left out or got broken because it shouldn't have been there.

Reward yourself. When you catch yourself putting things back, compliment yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back, or a good old 'attaboy! or 'attagirl! It's not as good as a compliment from someone else, but it still feels good. And it will help you want to do it next time because it feels good. And it saves time. Why not compliment yourself for a job well done? If we wait for compliments from others, we may never get any, because people get pretty wrapped up in themselves. But there's no reason we can't compliment ourselves a hundred times a day. Maybe I'll start a self-compliment club. Want to join?

Putting things back - examples

Spring work: A couple of days ago, I went over to my son's place to help with some spring stuff. I took some tools along for the spring maintenance on their lawnmower - changing the oil, sharpening the blade, cleaning the air filter. And of course, I had to have my 4-year-old grandson help me. He loves to help Grandpa. As I finished the first task, my daughter-in-law asked, "While you're at it, could you check the weed eater and blower." Then I got in on some trimming that was too high for her to reach. It was one of those perfect spring days, so being outdoors was enjoyable and the work was satisfying. Accomplishment feels good. I ended up spending so much time there that I didn't get my own lawnmower cleaned up. I got that done yesterday.

Put them back: The point I'm getting to is about putting things back when you are done. As soon as I got home I took the tools out of my temporary tool box that I use to transport tools and put them back where I store them. A while back I didn't do that, then couldn't find some tools I wanted to use. I finally remembered they were still in the transport tool box. By taking them out right away and putting them back, I will be able to find them next time I need them. I sometimes feel lazy and want to put it off until later. Then I forget. It is much better to do it right away.

This includes toys: When I came back home, I brought the 4-year-old with me. We played a while until the rest of the family joined us for dinner. Then we went for a walk which included a tricycle and wagon. At the end of the night there were toys out in various places. My wife reminded me that they needed to be picked up. Suddenly that seemed like a lot of work. I was tired from the outdoor work. I wanted to pretend that I didn't know where all the toys are supposed to be. But in the end, they were all put back. Now the grandsons will be able to find them when they come over next time. Because they always expect them to be in the same place. They know right where to go to find something. My wife is very organized, and her "insistence" that the toys be put back helps keep our house neat and tidy. And it is a safety thing. If we get up in the middle of the night, we won't be tripping over toys. So I'm not complaining. (My wife just read this and said, "Not complaining! The whole thing looks like whining to me!") She just doesn't understand. :)

Organize your tools

I like tools. Any kind of tools. Whether it is another set of screwdrivers, or another power drill, or a new air tool, it takes a lot of self-discipline to not add tools to my shopping cart every time I walk through a tool department or shop online. Having lots of tools, it can then be equally difficult trying to find the tool that is needed unless tools are organized.

I started organizing my tools with a small tool box I received for Christmas many years ago. At that point, all my tools would fit into it. It was easy finding what I needed because there was only one place to look. But as I added more and more tools to my tool-treasury, it became more difficult to store them.

Another Christmas present helped that out -- a much larger tool chest. My wife is good at picking up on my wishes and needs. The new tool box has four small drawers, two large drawers, a storage compartment on top, and a nice large storage compartment at the bottom. That worked great. I kept it out in the garage where it was always handy for working on my cars, or helping my son work on his. He had a habit of starting a project on his car while I was at work. When I would get home he would ask me to help put it back together. These were more difficult projects that I was always afraid to try on my own car. But he had the courage to just dig right in and try things. That's probably why he knows so much more than I do about just about everything and is so successful at what he is doing. See his creative abilities at work at Toolbarn.com. This will also show you I got some of my tools.

But I digress. Back to organizing tools. As I began adding more cordless power tools and drill bit sets, I soon ran out of room again. I stuffed everything I could into my tool chest. But with the drawers filled to overflowing, it was hard getting at the tool I needed. My solution to better organize my tools was to put some peg board on the wall in our utility room. I used a couple of Home Organizer Peg Hook kits and I was in business. I could hang many of my most used hand tools up where I could see what I had and find them easily. I added two cabinets underneath -- one with three drawers and one with two doors. That holds many of my power tools. My tool chest still holds a lot of my miscellaneous tools. Now the important thing is to just put them back where they belong and I can find any tool when I need it. Refer to my previous post "Organize by putting things back" for a tip in that area.

Have fun organizing your tools. Next time you need one, you'll be glad you did.