Prompt #77 - Find Time by Finding Things
More time and less stress by closing your loops.
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I wish I had more hours in the day. Like most people, I wish I had more time to create, more time to sleep, to read, to do yoga. There is no lack of productivity literature out there to help get more things done in the 24 hours that we have.
The truth is, however, that I actually don't need to learn how to read faster, produce quicker, or multitask better. I'd gain a ton of time, if I didn't have to spend endless minutes every single day, trying to find my phone, my headphones, or the TV remote.
I'll literally bring my phone downstairs, put it down, go into the kitchen, make a cup of tea, and then spend 5 minutes trying to find the phone that I JUST put down somewhere. Shortly after, I'll spend another 10 minutes trying to find my headphones, so I can listen to a podcast while I go on a dog walk. It's exhausting.
I once learned about the concept of "closing your loops” to reduce the amount of micro-stressors in our everyday life. Closing the loop means putting the scissors back in their place after you used them, or paying the bill right away when you open the mail.
Maybe you're a very organised person. Maybe you always know where everything is. I am not that person. So in my case, there is indeed a lot of time to be gained, and stress to be avoided, if I get better at closing my loops. If you're a bit like me, then this prompt is for you.
The Activity: Make a home for an item you never find
Step 1 - The Item
When it comes to "where the F has it gone again”-items, I have a list of usual suspects. The aforementioned phone and headphones, my wallet, the TV remotes. Then there's the screwdriver, a mechanical pencil (ridiculous, I literally have 5 of them), and the pencil for my iPad, matching socks for my kid. I estimate that I could win back at least 20 minutes a day if I could find these things immediately.
What are your usual suspects? The things you spend at least a couple of minutes looking for every day?
Step 2 - Make it a home
Now, let's create a nice homebase for one of the items on your list. Ideally the one you waste the most time looking for. Using any craft materials of your choice, create a place you can return the item to after you're done using it.
It could be a little box or a bowl that you paint and decorate. A hook to hang something on. If you're into the yarny crafts, you could knit or crochet a little pouch to keep it in. Or maybe you want to make an old-school-but-make-it-craftsy little chain for your glasses, so you can hang them around your neck?
The creative options are endless, so don't hold back.
Step 3 - Put it back
The important thing is that you can put your item back to it's home base whenever you're done using it, or whenever you see it lying around somewhere it shouldn't be.
From now on, every time you return your item to or pick it up from it's homebase you can have a little moment of gratitude for how much time and energy you saved.
My Example
I was actually already working on a different prompt in my head today, when I head to - yet again - spend 30 minutes trying to find the pencil for my iPad.
I can't add up how much time I spend looking for that thing. I keep putting it away “in a safe space” so that my daughter won't mess with it. It's safe from her alright, but also safe from me and my shoddy memory. So I decided to make a little homebase for it on my desk.
I made this cute pitcher from air-dry clay that will hold my pencil. It's inspired by a pitcher my parents have in their bathroom. So not only will it save me a ton of time, it will also remind me of home whenever I look at it. 💜
What item do you need to build a home for?
Have a great week my friends.
Love, Lorena
Not kidding, this actually saves me sooooo much stress. After a few times when I got locked out of the house because I forgot my keys inside, I started to do a bit of this. Always go out with my backpack, because it usually has everything I need in it. Always use the same pocket to bear your keys so you don't have the "oh shit!" Moment every time you look in the wrong pocket, ALWAYS always always always always put the pens back into the case.
Small things but they give so much peace inside.
Next prompt: identify all your drawers in a creative way so you actually remember what's in them. XD
Good one! ;)