Keep. Toss. Edit.

Your sock drawer will thank you.

What are your strengths? You know, your CliftonStrengths?

(It’s that self-assessment every high-achieving professional took in the early 2000’s. Back then it was called StrengthsFinder 2.0.)

One of my top strengths is Arranger. Arrangers are born to organize. From scheduling travel to staffing teams, we align and realign things until we find the most ideal configuration possible.

I knew I was an Arranger ever since I was a little kid.

When I was in elementary school, I would have sleepovers at my best friend’s house. Every sleepover I would rope her into two activities: sliding down the stairs on her spare mattress, and organizing her bedroom.

I couldn’t help myself. I loved cleaning her room. I would categorize her Barbies, sort her Lisa Frank stationary, and catalog her Spice Girls cds. (Remember the Spice Girls? Remember cds?!)

My friend would be into it for the first hour or so, then she’d lose steam. I, on the other hand, was a little Marie Kondo in the making. I would keep going until the job was done.

My brain is always trying to figure out the most efficient way to do things. It gives me peace of mind.

Arranging may not generate the same energy for you as it does for me. (Not everyone gets a high from folding socks, I know.)

What matters, though, is that arranging can help you conserve energy.

Saving energy is important when you’re under a lot of stress, because dealing with stress takes a lot of energy.

Resilience is your capacity to recover from difficult situations, but it takes energy in order to bounce back.

If you’re running on low, you’re more likely to burn out. If you’re fully charged, you’re prepared to weather any storm that may come your way.

The best time to stockpile your energy is when you’re not in the thick of burnout. That’s when you have the bandwidth to build up your reserves.

So where does this energy come from? I’m glad you asked.

How you recharge is ultimately up to you. Maximize the things that give you energy and minimize the things that don’t.

Take advantage of the moments when you have breathing room (i.e. when shit isn’t hitting the fan) to audit your lifestyle.

What are things in your life that make you feel replenished? What are things in your life that make you feel depleted?

If you need some guidance, put on your Arranger hat with these three steps:

If something gives you energy, keep it.
If something drains you of energy, toss it.
If something could be simplified, edit it.

Let’s break this down further.

Keep

Prioritize the things that fuel you and make you feel alive. These are your non-negotiables. You should feel “off” or not quite like yourself when you don’t include them in your daily routine.

Example: Nature

If you’re a granola-lover, spending time outdoors should be a regular activity on your schedule. When you breathe in fresh air or feel the grass between your toes (or whatever else you like to do outside), you are your highest self. So go ahead and create that recurring calendar appointment for teatime in the garden. You not only deserve it - you need it.

Toss

Take out the trash. For the things that don’t serve you or don’t make you feel good, ask yourself if you really need them around. If they are necessary in your everyday life, see if you can make them stink less by minimizing their influence.

Example: Technology

Ugh. No matter how much you’d love to delete your entire inbox, emails are here to stay. One option you do have is to turn off your notifications. You don’t need a red dot glaring at you, nudging you to open an app for the umpteenth time. Regain control - choose to sort through mail only when you feel like it. Now isn’t that empowering?

Edit

Refine and simplify your lifestyle. Are there things in your life that could be organized, systemized, automated, or delegated? Your goal is to go on autopilot whenever you can so that getting through your day feels like a breeze.

Example: Meals

If you break into a sweat every time you wonder “What’s for dinner?” this one's for you. Figuring out what to eat can be a real pain, especially since you have to do it every single day. Save the decision making for more important things by putting meals on rotation. Can Tuesdays be taco night? Great. Now you can move on to other things.

As you go through your week, think of ways you can recharge. Can you go on a hike? Can you turn off Instagram notifications? Can your partner take charge of Taco Tuesdays?

I’m feeling so fresh and so clean already.