Gretchen Rubin

I had the pleasure of hearing Gretchen Rubin speak at the Annual NAPO (National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals) Conference last week in Ft. Worth, Texas.  As an avid listener of her podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, I was really excited for her keynote. Here are some of my biggest takeaways.

Photo Credit: Annette Adamska


–   Resist the urge to take freebies. They usually just send up becoming clutter. Just because it’s free doesn’t mean you need it. Reusable tote bags are a great example– while functional, you only need so many before they become clutter.

–   The One-Minute Rule. If it takes one minute or less, do it now. This is a great way to get small tasks off your to-do list. Rubin says by doing this “you’re getting rid of the scum on the surface of life.”

–   The Power Hour. Take time to do one-time tasks that consistently weigh on your mind, but could be indefinitely postponed. An example would be creating a photo album of a family trip.

–   And finally my favorite tip, “The Ex-Factor Test.” When going through your closet ask yourself, “If I were to run into an ex, would I want to be seen wearing this piece of clothing? Would I feel good about it?” In other words, is this something you love? Something you feel good in? If not, time to let it go.

If you’re interested in learning more about Gretchen Rubin, I recommend checking out her website: https://gretchenrubin.com.

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