Invention vs. Methodologies - The other day I had an epiphany about how I work, what makes me tick. I am an inventor. I do not naturally follow other people's plans or methodologies. Of course, by necessity I have to (we all have to) learn to follow some prescribed methods: I have to obey the same traffic laws, ethics policies at work, and so on. But I was thinking about crafts and artistic endeavors when I realized that I love to collect other people's methodologies and recipes in books as reference guides, but I tend to invent on the fly as I create. I would rather learn some sound principles and then apply them in my own creative way.

Several times I've had friends say "You should write about book about..." and usually we were talking about self-motivation techniques, life-living principles, etc. And the idea that I would write a prescriptive book about whatever just seemed foreign to me. I *never* adopt someone else's complete methodology, why would I prescribe one for someone else? This was rolled into my epiphany moment: I love cook books, I never cook from a recipe. I love art books, knitting books, sewing books, pattern books, but I never make an object from a specific pattern. I prefer to spin (and invent) yarn more than buying yarn. I prefer to design a costuming pattern based on my measurements, the fabric I found, and drawings I'm aiming for as inspiration, rather than unwrap a costuming pattern and tack it to the fabric.

And I invent my own "Reduce my Clutter" Methodologies, although I may draw some inspiration from other people.

I have read (and re-read!) a couple of books by Julie Morgenstern, Organizing from the Inside Out and Time management from the Inside Out. One of the key points I picked up from her suggestions is to approach any habit changes from my own personal points of strength. Consider what things I do well, then apply that principle to the things I'd like to improve.

So, although I'm going to give this "6 Changes" methodology a try, instantly I'm adapting it to my strengths, things I already do well. I imagine that if anyone reading this is inspired to give it a try, please consider this one suggestion: Just because something works for me, it doesn't mean it will work for you. Find your strengths in the habits you do well, and apply those strengths to the habits you would like to build.

Reduce Clutter: Forming the Plan - Some ideas are coming to me, so it's worth writing these down. I'm trying to think of general rules and questions to ask myself like "If I don't *love* this thing, why am I keeping it?" Then as I evaluate what I want to keep, I can decide how I want to clear out the clutter. It's not really about "cleaning house" or "organizing these shelves" because I rarely toss everything out when I'm cleaning. I can easily picture one shelf in my bedroom where I've just been batching or grouping jewelry in one place: But not everything on that shelf is something I *love* and want to keep. So why not start removing them from my home?

Guiding Principals
* "Love it" or "Lose it"
* Almost Anything or Everything can be recorded electronically
* Batching my work for later means I rarely sit down to do the batch

Baby-steps idea #1: If I'm keeping the object for the information, log it into Google Docs for 5 min before bed, then toss out - I've already started trying to implement this, a little at a time. For example, there is an empty bottle of lotion in my bathroom medicine cabinet that I've been keeping because I want to find that exact brand again. I loved that lotion. Why not write it down online and toss out the empty? Clutter reduced, information not lost. I plan to do this tonight at home. At work, I found a scrap of paper I've been carrying around for years and years, just so I wouldn't forget one little gift idea for a friend. Today I jotted that idea down in my address book under that friend's entry, then tossed the paper into the recycling.

Baby-steps idea #2: For display at work, get a presentation folder as my "happy book" to feature one thing at a time - Again, I started this book today. I have to move cubicles on Thursday, from an office cube of my own to a shared space with almost a dozen co-workers. I will have about 20% of the space I currently have. So rather than hang lots of photos and comics around me in my office, I have a presentation binder now. All the items I really *love* are in the book, and 2 small items are in the presentation sleeve on the front of the book. Then every week or so, I can swap out for different photos. This week: My niece Megan's senior photo, and one photo of my nephew Jack. Next week, I will flip the senior photo frame to the other side, so I can see my other niece Kara, and I'll switch the photo of Jack to a different image. I've been keeping the comics I love, and recycling the comics that are just funny but not long-term keepers.

Baby-steps idea #3: Habit for my mail: Open then file, shred, or recycle ASAP (filing in 3-ring binders), don't save "for later" - There's that "batching" habit that I need to break. I will start attacking this later at home. However, I do have a strength for filing things in 3-ring binders. I have returned to this habit at work recently, so I'll just be reinforcing that technique more broadly.

Baby-steps idea #4: Put a pretty basket out where I can place nice items for donation, & take donations to Goodwill weekly - I already have a strength for certain weekly chores: I do laundry weekly, pick up my mail weekly or more frequently, buy groceries weekly. I want to start giving away some of the things in my home that are nice but not *loved* by me. So I think if I aim for taking donations weekly, those other weekly chores can be a cue for taking donations out of the house.

Using one principle from the 6 Changes method, here are some small steps to accomplish, one new item per week:
* Week One (Mon Mar 1-Sun Mar 7) - Daily New Habit #1: Log one piece of information, toss out the paper or thing that was clutter
* Week Two (Mon Mar 8-Sun Mar 14) - Weekly New Habit #1: Take a set of donations to Goodwill this week.
* Week Three (Mon Mar 15-Sun Mar 21) - Daily New Habit #2: Find one pair of shoes that are out of place, put them away
* Week Four (Mon Mar 22-Sun Mar 28) - Weekly New Habit #2: Sync phone information every Monday
* Week Five (Mon Mar 29-Sun Apr 4) - Daily New Habit #3: Find one Contact in my Address book to condense or edit or fix
* Week Six (Mon Apr 5- Sun Apr 11) - Weekly New Habit #3: Back-up "drive_files" every Monday

Another strength of mine: I use Google Calendars with efficient habits. I plan to start a Calendar that just keeps track of my daily and/or weekly reminders for these habit building tasks.

Finally: Some brain-storming. These are the target locations in my home that need some sort of attack plan: (a) Email backlogs, (b) the Jewelry shelf, (c) the SCA jewelry and pins table, (d) paperwork stacked by the loft ladder, (e) old shoes in the closet, (f) boxes by the closet, (g) boxes in the loft, (h) sewing to-do pile, (i) computer from Theresa, (j) boxes under the kitchen table, (k) pile in the living room next to the couch, where the sewing body form is sitting, (l) boxes in front of the sewing supplies bookcase.

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Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: Anh, for being such a pleasant co-worker to spend time working on projects together