Organize the worst first - yes or no?
In plenty of organizing articles and books you see that old motto, do the worst part of organizing or cleaning first, and the easier stuff last.
What do you think?
I’m not sure I prescribe to this motto. I think you should do the fastest task first; here’s why. Let’s use a home office as an example. Let’s pretend it’s a disaster, and needs some organizing and cleaning. In fact, we’ll pretend it’s my home office. I’d clean and organize in the following order:
- Pick up anything on the desktop (it would be rare for me to have a mess on my desktop, there’s likely just a pen or two sitting there, so super easy).
- Clean laptop, mouse, and keyboard.
- Dust top of desk and the bookshelf I keep next to my desk.
- Clean out current box.
- Take all extra files, books, and any other items that have ended up on or near my desk, and put them where they actually go. Note that all my extra files would need to be filed in my large filing cabinet, so it’d take a while.
This list starts with the easiest and quickest part of my desk clean-up, and ends with the most obnoxious part. Why I do this is because if I don’t happen to finish cleaning in one space in time, at least, hopefully I got the first 3 or 4 items on the list done. At least a lot of my office space is now clean, and more user friendly. I tend to do this with other tasks as well. I take care of stuff that’s fast and easy first, and put off the harder and longer tasks.
For me this works. That said, if you know that you ALWAYS put off the hardest tasks of organizing then maybe doing the worst first is going to be key to your success when it comes to organizing projects.
Now you tell me - which is better for you; organizing the worst or easiest first?
Tags: clean your home office, create a functional office, declutter home office, functional office, how to organize everything, organize-your-home, organized home office, organized life, organized office, work officeRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Organizing Basics
3 opinions for Organize the worst first - yes or no?
Mrs. G
Sep 20, 2008 at 7:55 am
I go for the easiest task first. That way, I get the satisfaction of finishing one chore immediately. It inspires me to move on to the next task on my list.
Roxanne
Sep 20, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I agree.. take on the smaller stuff that you can complete easily… then move on to the harder stuff. I love to organize stuff!
Jennifer
Sep 20, 2008 at 6:27 pm
It sounds like we all agree so far. I like to do that stuff that you know will be crossed off your to do list quickly, it makes you feel more accomplished :)
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