3 Keys Thursday: 3 Key STYLE ideas Inspired by a Calendar

Dodgerton Skillhause via Morguefile

Ever since I was little, I've loved stationery. I have a particular affinity for notebooks, Post-it notes (and tabs) and planners/calendars. From the vantage point of my desk, I have five calendars within view, which is more than a bit excessive for a small space occupied almost completely by a desk, a counter and a bookcase. I can explain....

But that's another post.

One of those calendars, as I've mentioned before, is my Page-a-Day calendar inspired by Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project. On several occasions, this calendar has functioned as a blog prompt, and today is another one of those occasions.

Some of the calendar pages are simply three ideas, resolutions or questions, and last Friday's resolutions -- or two of them, at least -- brought to mind key concepts of STYLE.

Gretchen's resolution: Put your keys in the same place every day.
STYLE concept: Yes, it has a home!
Finding homes, or places that you put things every time, is a key organizational concept. If something has a home, it's less likely to be left out to create clutter, and you're more likely to be able to find it when you need it. And, if the homes you choose are suited to your personal and organizational styles, it's as easy to put things away as it is to put them down.

Clear your closets.
STYLE concept: Let it go!
If you've read The Happiness Project, you know Gretchen gained tremendous satisfaction from closet organization. If you don't share her enthusiasm for that particular task, try breaking it down and tackling closets (or drawers or files) one section at a time. This is a great activity for a rainy day, or one that's really hot or cold, provided the indoor temperature is to your liking. And remember that clearing doesn't mean tossing. Sometimes the things that just don't work for you anymore will be a perfect fit for someone else.

Today's third key is my resolution, based on the STYLE philosophy:

Think outside the box. The way I'm using my Happiness Project calendar is a good example. Instead of using it for its intended purpose (as a way of marking time), I use it as a means to reaffirm a mindset and, sometimes, as an inspiration. Looking for new ways to group, store and organize items or thinking of how to use old storage in new ways is a great way to troubleshoot and update your organizational systems.

Organizing by STYLE means looking for solutions that work for you, based on your styles. When traditional (in the box, if you will) solutions don't work, don't assume you are the problem. Instead, look for a solution that matches your styles. Minimizing my use of file cabinets and binders (which allegedly work for "everyone else") and changing to out-of-the-box solutions that match the way I think helped me to create systems that work for me.

What will you do for your styles today?