Trivia:  Dealing with the Never-Ending Details of Life... 

See also:  [ Greetings Cards ] [ Secret Shelf ] [ Sources Binder ]

    There are always going to be details in your life which can drive you nuts.  I call this minutia homemaking "trivia".  These details cannot be ignored, for they make life nice, lovely, and rich.  However, they can also bring such havoc to your schedule that you may wonder how you will deal with all of them.

    May I suggest that with every piece of "trivia", you ask yourself a simple question or two.  "Am I going to be doing this more than once?"  

    If no, think again.  Almost everything that we do once, we are likely to do again, either sooner or later.

    If yes, then ask:  "How can I systemize this process so it will be easier and faster the next time around?"  It is the systemization of trivia that brings more and more time and organization into your life.  For instance, you can systematically learn to handle the sending of greeting cards, you can learn how to best purchase and prepare gifts, you can find the best ways to keep track of coupons and important shopping information.  You can practice making each and every activity in your life more orderly, faster, and more expedient.  And with doing so, you will find greater order in your life.

    Never just do anything for just "this time".  Do all projects which are likely to be repeated in such as manner as to make the next time and every time easier.  Live life like there are going to be plenty of tomorrows, all of them with the needs you faced today.

    Find more helpful ideas in the "House of Order" Handbook, Chapter 18, "Trivia".