Organizing habits are the key to maintaining a sense of order and calm in your home. Over the years we have shared our favorite organizing habits including, “don’t put it down, put it away”, “touch things only once”, “have a spot for everything” and “push things to their final destination.“
Lately, I have been reading a lot about the power of the habit loop, a concept popularized by Charles Duhigg in his book, "The Power of Habit.". Every habit, be it good or bad, functions in the same way, and consists of three components: the cue, the routine, and the reward.
Once you understand this habit loop, you can apply strategies to reduce or eliminate negative habits and promote positive ones. Many people use this to eat better or exercise more. But we’re here to tell you how it can be a powerful concept when it comes to organizing as well. Here's how it works:
Cue: The cue is a trigger or signal that prompts you to engage in a particular habit. In the context of organizing, cues can be things like seeing a messy room, feeling overwhelmed by clutter, or having a specific event or deadline approaching.
Routine: The routine is the behavior or action that you perform in response to the cue. In organizing, it could be tidying up, decluttering, creating a to-do list, or establishing an organizing system.
Reward: The reward is the positive reinforcement you receive from completing the routine. It reinforces the habit loop and makes you more likely to repeat the behavior in the future. In organizing, the reward could be a clean and organized space, reduced stress, increased productivity, or a sense of accomplishment.
A basic habit loop could be when seeing dirty socks on the stairs you are prompted to bring them to the laundry room on your next trip upstairs, which rewards you with seeing a clutter free staircase.
To create a habit loop for organizing, determine specific actions or behaviors you want to engage in when the cue arises. This could include decluttering for a set amount of time each day, creating a weekly organizing schedule, or breaking down tasks into manageable steps.
You can employ strategies to make organizing more enjoyable to reinforce the habit loop like playing your favorite music while organizing, involving a friend or family member to make it a social activity or setting up small rewards after completing milestones.
Habits take time to develop, so be patient with yourself. Start with small, achievable goals and gradually build upon them. With persistence and consistent practice, you can establish a habit of organizing that will become a natural part of your routine. Try it out and let us know how it goes.