The Secrets of My Aunties Who Always Have Tidy Houses
I have two aunts who have houses that are always ready if someone pops by. They don’t clean all day, they just keep up a steady pace. Auntie Lil and Aunt Jaq pretty amazing at living life, and between cocktails they taught me the secrets of how they keep their homes so orderly. If you're one of us who struggles to maintain an orderly home, Lil and Jaq's advice will up our neatness game.
They have a cleaning schedule. Along with their busy work schedules (yes, they have full-time jobs), they have a cleaning schedule in place. Auntie Lil's is set up by room (Monday is the dining room, Tuesday is the kitchen, etc.) and Aunt Jaq does it by surface (Wednesday is dusting day, Thursay is vacuuming day...) with tasks like laundry and washing the dog mixed in.
They know how to get rid of stuff. Auntie Lil likes to quote William Morris: "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." If you're not currently using it, throw it out or donate it. Aunt Jaq is just ruthless.
They have a place for everything and everything in it's place. When they are done using an object, they put it away.
They clean as they go. They fold the laundry and put it away as soon as the dryer is finished. They wipe down kitchen countertops when they are done cooking. They do the dishes when the meal is over. They clean the sink and faucet after brushing their teeth. They make the bed when they get up. You get the idea.
They delegate tasks. Auntie Lil says that unless you live alone, everyone in the house is contributing to the mess. She give her kids an allowance for doing chores. Aunt Jaq just has expectations.
They think about cleaning differently. Auntie Lil listens to her favorite podcast while cleaning - it's her way of keeping herself entertained while cleaning. Aunt Jaq treats it like a workout, increasing the step count on her fitness tracker.
They make organizing look pretty. They consider drawers, closets and pantries as part of the decor, not just a place to put things. Clothes are oranized by use and color, pantries are organized to see everything. Aunt Jaq says if she doesn't have enough room in her closet, she doesn't need a bigger closet, she needs fewer clothes.
They set aside time to organize and they don't get distracted. Thirty minutes once a week and they tackle one thing at a time. I asked about the junk drawer. All of those miscellaneous, small and occasionally useful items of little value have to go somewhere, right? Aunt Jaq just throws it in the bin. Lil organizes it with colorful boxes, but definitely trashes those leftover items like allen wrenches from Ikea, unsharpened pencils and that weird looking screw that fell out of something a long time ago.
They help eachother. Every season, they have a cleaning party. I used to think it was an excuse to drink Gin & Tonic and giggle together, but they're actually going through each other's stuff and asking "Why do you have THIS?" It almost always results in a few boxes destined for donation and a teenaged designated driver.
I asked to get in on it, but Lil and Jaq said I had to start my own club. Fair enough. I'm just happy to have their secrets and a new way to think about the junk drawer.
What does this have to do with digital media? Well, tidying up your digital files and cleaning up your software is no different. Please for your own sake, do this:
Once a week, delete unused files or archive them.
Empty your trash.
Update your apps.
Keep your files, passwords, and contacts in order. This goes for your photos on your phone and in the cloud.
Neatness game on!