Dec '24 (edited) • General discussion
The "Cascading Threshold"
I hit a point about two years ago where everything went from being very straightforward and easy to keep clean and tidy, -> to struggling, to have bare minimal functionality. Every single week, no matter how many times I "caught up".
What happened?
Like a boiling frog, I hit a point I now call the Cascading Threshold, clueless as to the cause.
I had acquired more things than I had room to place them in a nice way. Suddenly, things no longer had their own dedicated space. Where they would be easy to acquire, easy to put back, and easy to find.
Too much stuff and not enough storage leads to chaos. The moment you cross this line - the Cascading Threshold - your organization system collapses like dominoes.
When storage spaces overflow, items end up in random spots, creating a cycle of clutter that's increasingly harder to manage.
Some tips:
--The 1:1 Rule
Every item needs a dedicated home. Common mistake: creating "catch-all" drawers or spaces. Don't get me wrong, I think it's good to have a staging area. A "catch all" of sorts, but only when they are transitory. What you don't want to end up with is what I have growing up. Not only a junk drawer, but a junk garage, and a junk closet, and a junkified just about everything else. 😂 Instead, assign specific locations for categories like bills, tools, or electronics. Think of things from a systematic perspective, like a well-oiled machine. Everything should serve a purpose on a regular basis. And something is only as valuable as you actually use it.
--Zone Defense Strategy
Divide your space into clear zones based on function. The kitchen should only contain kitchen items. Office supplies belong in the office. When zones mix, chaos follows. Maintain strict boundaries between areas to prevent cross-contamination of clutter. Make it visual. One of my favorite techniques is to outline the tool where it belongs on the shelf, making it obvious even to visitors where the tool belongs.
--Be Generous
Two things can be very liberating and freeing. The giveaway box, and the trash can.
Oftentimes, we hold onto things, thinking that they are too valuable to get rid of, even though we rarely use them. A good friend helped me recognize the faulty thinking I had by saying that storage space is valuable and it's like rent. If something's not worth paying rent for it to live there, then make it go away.
It's amazing how much stress we can hold on to by holding on to things needlessly.
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The "Cascading Threshold"
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