Doris Puls

At some point when I was growing up, I saved a copy of “Golden Rules for Living” which can be applied to any chapter of our lives. There are many versions of it when I looked it up, but no one knows where it originated. Here is one version:

If you open it, close it.

If you turn it on, turn it off.

If you unlock it, lock it.

If you break it, repair it (or some versions say “admit it”).

If you cannot fix it, find someone who can.

If you borrow it, return it.

If you use it, take care of it.

If you make a mess, clean it up.

If you move it, put it back.

If it belongs to someone else, get permission to use it.

If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.

If it doesn’t concern you, don’t mess with it.

These rules can easily be applied to organizing and decluttering our living spaces. Following these rules keeps everything in its place. It can also make us take care of what we have rather than cluttering our homes with more stuff. Many of these lines can be taken to another level like throwing objects away that cannot be repaired instead of storing them.

You can probably add your own lines to these rules. Some I read in other versions include:

If you start it, finish it.

If you don’t need it or don’t plan to use it, don’t buy it.

If you commit to doing a task, do it well.

If it has no value to you, get rid of it.

If you drop it, pick it up.

If you sleep on it, make it up.

If you empty it, fill it. (Toilet paper rolls)

If you don’t need it, don’t bring it home (even if it is free).

If you don’t use it or love it, donate it to someone who might.

Maybe we all need to post these rules in a prominent place in our homes to remind ourselves and those we love of some good habits to start or maintain.

Doris Puls, of D&O Decluttering and Organizing, is a professional organizer whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of the people she works with in homes and businesses. Contact her at organizealpena@gmail.com or at 989-356-9545.