In one of my favorite Louis C.K. skits, he describes children (accurately) as buckets of disease, and tells a story about his daughter coughing literally into his mouth. Like, aiming her germs at the back of his throat.
At least, this used to be one of my favorite Louis C.K. skits. It’s not quiiiite as funny these days, mostly because it’s just what actually happens. All. The. Time. Right in the mouth.
Anyway, I’m sick. And I spent yesterday in pajamas in an effort to magically cure myself before today’s nine-hour drive to Ohio, which means that I had a lot of time to do things like file and clean out drawers. All very boring stuff, I’ll grant you – I’d rather talk about sangria recipes and New Year’s Eve outfits, too – but I mean it when I say that getting organized is THE BEST. Literally. The best.
Mostly because it lets you have conversations like this with your significant other:
“Honey, do you remember that random piece of paper that I handed you eight months ago without telling you what it was or what I wanted you to do with it?”
“Yes dear, of course. It’s filed right here in an appropriately titled, easy-to-access folder. May I get you a photocopy?”
And then you win for the day.
If you’ve got a few spare hours this weekend, I have some suggestions for you. And you’re not going to want to do them, but I promise: if you do, you will be happy you did. And that happiness that these actions create will extend on and on into the future, possibly up until December 2014, when I will urge you to do them again.
First, organize your closet. The JITH segment above contains some of my very favorite (easy) solutions for those with less-than-large living spaces.
Next, start a file to keep track of all those documents in your life that say things on them like DO NOT THROW OUT.
It’s unbelievable what spending just a few minutes on this every week can do for your peace of mind. Also, it’s easy. Click here for my how-to.
Next, organize that nailpolish drawer (this is so satisfying, I can’t even tell you).
Get that Tupperware under control.
And while you’re in the kitchen, tackle those drawers (click here for more kitchen organization tips).
My son may have coughed in my mouth, but my Tupperware is super tidy. There’s a plus side to everything.
