Lemonada. I'm Gretchen Rubin, and this is a little happier. One thing I've thought a lot about,

but still find a bit puzzling is why I get so much energy and cheer from clutter clearing.

In fact, sometimes when I feel blue, I clear some clutter to give

myself a boost. Why, I wonder, do I find such satisfaction in clearing clutter? After all,

in the context of a happy life, having an empty shelf, a tidy coat closet, or a neat sock drawer

isn't very important. I realize that for me,

and I think it's true for most people, outer order contributes to inner calm. I feel more in

control of the big things in my life when I feel in control of the small things, like knowing

where to find my sunglasses. And I get a real sense of accomplishment

when I get rid of things that don't fit, don't work, are never used or are jammed into cupboards.

To help me stay on top of clutter, I've developed a few rules. I observe the evening tidy up.

Each night before bed, I take 10 minutes to tidy up. No heavy cleaning.

I just shut closet doors, hang up coats, put books on shelves, put newspapers in the recycling,

etc. When I take care of those little tasks the night before, my morning feels much calmer.

I also follow the one-minute rule. Throughout the day, if I face a task

that can be done in less than a minute, I don't allow myself to procrastinate. If I can scan and toss a

letter, if I can put the toothpaste back at the cabinet and close the door, if I can file a reminder

in the right place, if I can RSVP to a party, I do it right away.

Following the one-minute rule seems like a trivial effort, but it makes a surprisingly big difference in my life.

All those little tasks accomplish so easily in just one minute can pile up to feel overwhelming and never-ending.

Together, these two rules allow me to take care of small tasks and manageable doses,

and in that way, keep myself feeling freer.

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