There are probably few people who can truly say that they enjoy doing the washing up. It isn’t the most exciting of household jobs.
However, faced with the grim sight of a sink full of dirty dishes, sometimes the best thing is to just get on with it. So here are a few ideas for making it a little bit more enjoyable.
1) Accessorize
Brighten up your kitchen sink with some fun accessories that will be a pleasure to use. A bright washing up bowl; a sleek brush instead of a damp old sponge; a smart soap dispenser and some cool tea towels can make all the difference.
2) Challenge yourself
Put the kettle on, and challenge yourself to see how many dishes you can wash up in the time it takes for the kettle to boil. Then next time, see if you can beat your personal best.
3) Time to think
Washing up is a fairly mindless activity so why not use the time to think, formulate new ideas and make plans?
4) Listen to music
Put on some of your favourite high tempo music. Listening to songs you love will put you in a better mood. And working to the rhythm of the beat will help get the job finished quicker.
5) Learn something new
Turn a monotonous chore into something far more productive. Use the time to listen to a podcast or an audio book. You could even learn a new language in preparation for your next holiday.
6) Exercise
It might look rather funny, but why not get fit while standing at the sink? Shape up and strengthen your legs with some calf raises and squats.
7) Time to talk
Washing up can be a great opportunity to catch up with your significant other; and sharing the task will get it finished in half the time.
A clear desk is like a blank piece of paper: a space for new potential, possibilities and ideas.
But standing between us and that ideal working environment is paperwork. Clutter creating and time consuming, it stifles creativity and productivity.
There’s an almost mysterious process as it gradually morphs on your desk, and you’re suddenly faced with a threatening mass invading your workspace. So daunting, that often the temptation is to try and ignore it, in the hope it will simply disappear (by trying to hide it with yet more paper on top).
Then one day, the inevitable happens. You need an essential document and are forced to spend ages rummaging through the chaos in order to locate it.
How can we prevent that overwhelming paper clutter and the stress it brings with it?
What is the secret to having a clear minimalist desk where we can work more efficiently and with a sense of calm?
The solution – you’ll be happy to know – is in fact quite simple and just takes a few easy steps:
- Tackle your pile of paper one piece at a time, starting at the top.
- Handle each piece of paper just once and sort them into four separate piles: Action, File, Forward (anything that needs to be sent to someone else to deal with) or Bin.
- Once completed, immediately dispose of the Bin pile; dispatch everything in your Forward pile and place anything to file in your filing system.
- Sort your Action pile in order of priority then place in a file off your desk, but close to hand, in a drawer or on a shelf.
- Only keep on your desk the paperwork you are working on at that particular time.
- When you need to jot down memos and ideas, don’t leave your notes scattered around your desk to begin accumulating again. Instead, use a memo or notice board kept on a corner of your desk or hung above it.
And to make sure your clear desk stays that way, all you need to do is ask the same question each time a new piece of paper crosses your desk – Action, File, Forward or Bin?
Photo credit Laure Wayaffe
