Recently, I have been watching some of the Tiny House shows on DIY. Beyond the construction and innovative designs of these micro living spaces, there is a message that grabbed my attention - Do I really need all this stuff?? The answer was yes right off the bat. [I mean, how would I ever part with the 732 kitchen gadgets I have accumulated over the years?
] But after REALLY thinking about it, I don't. I'm not a hoarder by any stretch of the imagination, but I now see there's definitely room for improvement. Improvements that can lead to a better, more efficient lifestyle. And not just at home, but work as well. That gave me reason to look into organizing a little more, and I found this post below in a blog from a local professional organizer (Ellen Delap). It brings up some helpful points that I will probably be putting to use soon. -------------Have you heard of the 80/20 rule?  It's also known as the Pareto principle.  The concept is that  roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. It's seen as a short cut to being more focused, more organized and more productive. Here's some statistics that show the 80/20 rule. At home, we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.At work, 80% of a company's profits come from 20% of its customers.When you volunteer, 20% of the volunteers do 80% of the effort.What are the benefits you can find in applying the Pareto Principle to your life?Pare down 80% of your clothes.Our closets are jammed and we have nothing to wear.  It's time to  use the hanger trick where you turn your hangers around of the clothes you wear and you see what's been worn and what's not. It's a study in what you truly wear.  Once you see this, you are ready to let go of your unworn clothes.  When your closet is filled with only what you wear, it's easy to get ready.  Spend 80% of your time on the most important 20% of your projects, tasks or action items.Prioritize the most important projects for work and home. It might seem like everything is equally important, however it's not possible.  Drill down what's your priority by aligning with your goals and values.  Schedule time for these during a high energy time so you can maximize your efforts.  Write these on your calendar to ensure success.  File and scan documents using the 80/20 rule.Have you created files and never went back to these?  Where can you find the information, when you need it, most easily?  Know what to keep and keep what you need.  You might be keeping 80% more than you need so pare down ruthlessly.Rethink 80% of your activities and engage in the 20% you love.We are busy! We find ourselves joining more than one book club. Our kids are in multiple activities.  It's time to rethink 80% of our activities. You will find that you are less stressed and enjoy your commitments more.Where else can you apply the 80/20 rule at home, at work and to your life?  You will find that it's one of your most referenced math equations to help you manage your time, your priorities and your stuff. http://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/category/productivity/ 4951