- The “chaos method” creates an initial messy situation in order to be able to better assess space and organize objects effectively.
- Completely empty the space to be rearranged, group the items into categories, and then arrange them logically.
- It applies the five-second rule to eliminate unnecessary items and recover space.
How manytimes have you set your alarm early to go out for a run but were late because you couldn’t find your shirt, your shorts, your right sock while holding your left one you cursed yourself for not packing everything the night before?
Maybe, as you were leaving the house, you also told yourself that if you made up your mind once and for all to get your wardrobe in order without waiting for the pile of clothing to fold and sort itself out, you might have some chance of not wasting all that time and starting your workout on time.
In your defense, it must be said that organizing your wardrobe may seem like a simple task, but it is actually more complex than it looks.
You spend a lot of time tidying up only to see it disappear in a matter of seconds as you throw tank top after tank top in the air again before finding the one you’ve decided you want to wear at all costs. What if you took a completely different approach from what you were taught and started ordering your wardrobe in a chaotic manner?
This is clearly nonsense, yet following the chaos method could prove surprisingly effective.
The method of chaos
When tidying up, the most common tendency is to sort everything into categories, fold or hang each item and put it in its place.
The arrangement should be convenient and functional, so the items you use most should be within easy reach to avoid last-minute treasure hunts. Sometimes you manage to organize everything perfectly the first time, other times you wonder what starry reasoning went into rearranging the items the moment you can’t find one, magically vanishing. Seeking order at all costs may not prove to be the best strategy. It requires a lot of time and energy, especially if you end up constantly rearranging spaces.
If you often find yourself in this situation, you should try adopting the chaos method, an alternative strategy of creating clutter to achieve better organization.
How it works
The idea comes from Kim Jones, who is actually an organizer by trade.
Jones explains how to apply the method by giving the example of moving house: when one finds oneself having to empty box after box, instead of opening one at a time and arranging its contents, Jones suggests emptying all the boxes at once, stacking all the items in a chaotic manner.
At this point, after observing the individual objects, one can proceed to arrange them, making an overall assessment of the space occupied by each one to find its best location.
This technique allows for an overall view that avoids making mistakes in assessing the space available. Dealing with all the clutter once helps the mind sort objects more efficiently, grouping them into categories and distributing them optimally.
The analysis of chaos
Once you learn how it works, the chaos method can also be applied to tidy up other spaces, such as your closet and the overflowing drawers of your finsher jerseys.
Open the doors wide and spill the contents of drawers and boxes into the center of the room making a big pile without making any differentiation.
At this point, don’t panic.
Getting anxious is not among the options contemplated.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the clutter, approach the mountain of clothing and start sorting them into small groups.
Create separate piles for each category: one for long pants and one for shorts, one for socks, and so on.
This move will give you a clear view of how many garments you own and how much space each category actually requires. After you have completed this chaos analysis phase you can finally start putting your garments away in a more or less orderly fashion according to a logic of use, trying to make the best use of the space you have.
The five-second rule
While you ‘re tidying up by de-cluttering, you can take the opportunity to do some cleaning in your wardrobe by getting rid of old, worn out or clothes you never wear.
To help you make a decision that in some cases could take several minutes use the five-second rule: grab an item and in five seconds decide whether to keep it, give it away, sell it or throw it away.
Keep boxes or bags handy to store anything that will never return to your wardrobe.
As a box or bag fills up take it away so that visually it is clear what you are missing that needs to be put in order.
Starting with clutter to create order may seem like a subversion of the rules of organization you are used to.
In reality, it’s just a different way of seeing the reality around you. (Via Lifehacker)