Touch it twice rule

Have you heard of the “touch it twice rule”?  In essence, it means that you touch an item or project only twice – do it and be done.  Complete a task right away or deal with an email or paperwork.  By doing this, You eliminate the need to go back and complete the task at another point.  Don’t “touch it” more than twice and elongate the process.  You won’t always have time to complete a task so put it on the “to do list” and plan an appropriate length of time to complete the project.  Don’t let items sit out waiting to be put away – put them away immediately.  You will only have to touch it twice and not move the bags and items around continually.   This rule can be applied to multiple tasks – laundry, mail and paperwork sorting, etc.  Choose an item, complete the task associated with the item and then either put it away or purge it.  Don’t pick it up, move it to a new spot, half complete the task and then start the task again at another time.  Touch it twice and be done with it.

Why good enough really is good enough

The enemy of organization and efficiency is perfection.  We have a notion that we have to do everything “perfectly” but that is self-defeating.  Doing laundry, putting away groceries, picking a gift, making a meal, completing most projects – this is when good enough really is good enough.  Every meal is not going to be a four course masterpiece, every wall paint color is not going to be show home worthy.  The point is that we understand when good enough really is good enough and perfection is not needed.

We waste time trying to make the best, the perfect and the optimal choice so that we rarely get anything done.  Focus on doing some things perfectly – taxes, your work, your finances – that’s where it’s important.  For most tasks, do it once and be done is the perfect way to get organized and find more time.