1. think before you act

(# 1 of 6 principles to help you organize -- your work, your home, your family, your life...)

“This is what being organized is all about: thinking things through logically before you act.” - Deniese Schofield - The Confessions of an Organized Homemaker

Remember the old story of the woman who always cut the end off her roast or ham. When her husband asked her why, she replied because that’s what her mother did. So they asked her mother the reason for this, and she replied because that’s what she’d seen her mother do. When they asked her grandmother about it, she replied, she always had to cut ends off because her roasting pan was too small.

Thus Ms. Schofield says “Think before you act – even before doing routine jobs. The way you perform simple, basic tasks is usually the result of habit, not logical thought.”


Some Examples:

Hers: During baking or meal preparation, instead of just letting the dirty dishes pile up on the cupboard, take the time to fill the sink with hot soapy water. As you finish with each dish or utensil, put it in the water to soak. By the time you’re finished the job, the dishes will have practically washed themselves.

Mine: When setting and clearing the table, use a tray to transport dishes, condiments, and food. It will save you many steps from the kitchen to the table.