Getting the (wash-) IN basket to empty

Getting wash done

I love the way David starts the RoadMap seminar: "this is all about the lazy way of getting things done". It just got me thinking. Where can I find more time for fun?

Getting the wash-IN basket to empty. It can be done in 2 minutes. Not all of it. However each stage in the process need not take longer. Be that collecting or processing, organising or reviewing - doing the wash, even big piles of it, takes me a couple of minutes at each stage.

Collect all the socks

We all need to do the wash. The piles grow everyday, especially with children. Mostly clothes just get dumped on the floor. In the oddest places too, like a left sock under the car seat or a sweater next to the sofa and a hat on the kitchen table. As a visiting friend once pointed out "this house is lived in!".

Collection is a continuous daily task to the wash-in basket.

Process, organise and colour code

What is this? Processing the wash-in basket gets done quickly. Involving the children can make this a fun task. It also takes the mystery out of what happens to my dirty trousers. And gives understanding to the question: where is my favorite shirt?

• COLLECT - all the socks and dirty stuff
• PROCESS - sort and colour code, one at a time
• ORGANISE - machine or hand wash? Dryer or hang it up?
• REVIEW - fold or iron, keep it or pass stuff on
• DO - putting it back, one thing at a time!

Like Michael Sliwinski mentioned in his last post on GTDtimes, doing things, like the wash, is all about the 2 minute rule.

Delegate it

I delegate tasks for the children. In fact they organise their own lists of who does what each week (more on lists in another posting). Collecting and putting away the wash for example are great habits to foster.